HOME ABOUT JOBS HELP & ADVICE EMPLOYERS AREA BLOG CONTACT US You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression – so it’s important to get it right from the start. Your CV has to make an impact and grab the recruiter’s attention, stimulating interest to invite you for interview. Here are some useful guidelines to help you create a great CV that will help you stand out from the crowd. How to Create a Good CV Your CV should accomplish 3 things; 1. Create a good first impression 2. Clearly detail your experience and achievements 3. Secure an interview DO Keep it brief! Aim for 2 pages - 3 max Ensure it is well laid out & easy to read; use bullet points / tabs and bold text where relevant, justify text and leave some white space Check for spelling and grammatical errors, don’t just rely on spell check on your PC get somebody else to read over it too Include enough information to make it interesting, making them want to know more. Too much information will bore them! Focus on key points that you can expand on at interview Put your work history in chronological order putting your most recent experience first Ensure your employment dates are concurrent and make sure you account for any gaps Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for focussing on the words used in the advert Be honest...if you fabricate the truth you will be caught out! Make it positive highlighting your strengths, successes and achievements Attach a short covering letter/email to accompany your CV identifying the job you are applying for. You can use this letter to provide more details on areas where space was limited on your CV Make sure you have the names/contact details of 2 referees who are happy to provide a good reference DON'T Waffle or make it too ‘wordy’ Use unusual fonts or decorative borders / photos etc Give inaccurate or misleading information, if a recruiter picks up on false claims you could be put in an awkward position during interview and rapidly rejected. Leave career gaps unanswered...it may look suspicious. If you have spent time travelling or bringing up your family then say so. Mention irrelevant personal circumstances! CV FORMAT -What it should include; Your Personal Details Put your title and full name, address, phone/mobile numbers and email address at the top of the page A Personal Profile A professional short snapshot about you, your key strengths, skills, qualities and experience including a brief of what you are looking for and future aspirations, using positive words that will make you appeal to the recruiter Key Skills If relevant, list some work-related achievements and competencies relating to the position that will make you stand out. Keep it short and concise. Work History Start with the most recent first and work backwards. If you have a long work history with lots of short-term temporary positions then summarise them. Put the company name & nature of its business, your position and accurate from and to dates. Then list the key duties & responsibilities in bullet format making it easy to read. Don’t include reasons for leaving each job on your CV but be prepared to answer this at interview. Education / Qualifications Put these in date order listing the most recent first, putting your highest grade of each qualification first. Don’t detail all GCSE’s unless you have left education in recent years, just summarise them. IT / Software Skills State your IT skills and experience here along with your level of proficiency i.e basic, good or excellent for each. Additional Information Bullet point anything relevant here such as clean driving licence and car owner, Visa Details, Language skills, voluntary/charity/fundraising projects you are involved in, first aider etc FINALLY CHECK IT – CHECK IT and CHECK IT again! TESTIMONIALS I have been with Proactive Personnel for two years & can honestly say they are one of the best agencies I have used. Unlike most agencies they actually get back to you rather than just get numbers on their books. They found me a great placement which I love and sup... Sarah, Commercial Candidate Read more... Jobseekers Jobs About Us Divisions Registering With Us Help & Advice Jobseeker FAQ Timesheets Employers Why Choose Proactive Placement Methods Divisions Submit a Vacancy Proactive Personnel Ltd Contact Us Testimonials Join Our Team Articles Terms & Conditions Privacy Statement Cookie Policy Modern Slavery ©Copyright 2021 Proactive Personnel Ltd Learn more I Understand