How to create a resume

How to write a CV- Make a resume that is unique and gets you a chance for an interview.

How to write a CV- Why it is important to have a CV.

A CV is a brief document that describes your abilities, accomplishments, and work history that are relevant to the job you’re interested in. You use it when you start applying for jobs. Sometimes employers want you to give them a CV instead of filling out an application form. However, there are also times when they may ask for both the CV and the form.

This is your first opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer. Having a good CV will increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

Use it to apply for jobs that are being advertised or to tell employers you want to work for about yourself. They might have available positions that they haven’t posted.

Introduction

Begin with the job advertisement for the position you want to apply for, so you can mention the following:

• Job description -A job description tells you what tasks you will have to do and what skills or experience you need for a specific job.
• Person specification – The requirements for a person to be considered for a job.
• Company details – Information about a business

Consider how your abilities and previous work align with what the employer is seeking. Collect the necessary information, such as:

• your qualifications
• your past jobs and volunteering experience
• Your previous employers’ details
• Proof of any training classes you have finished

You need to adjust your CV to match the job requirements and the company. If there isn’t a detailed explanation of the job you want to apply for, you can check our job profiles for an idea of the skills required and the usual tasks involved in that job.

Layout

There are different CV styles, so use the one which best matches the role and the stage you’re at in your life or career.

• traditional CV or chronological CV: lists your work and education history, starting with the most recent
• skills based or targeted CV: focuses on your job-related skills and personal qualities
• technical CV: used in professions like IT and engineering, it highlights the skills you have that are important in your industry
• creative CV: used in creative and digital arts and can link to an online portfolio, contain video or infographics, or include digital tools that make you stand out from the crowd
• academic CV: generally longer than a traditional or skills-based CV and often used for teaching and research careers

Your completed CV should only be two pages long unless it is an academic CV.

SAMPLE CV & COVERING LETTER FORMATS

General CV Template: Download

Covering Letter Template: Download

 

Contact information or ways to get in touch.

You have to give information on how employers can contact you if they want to invite you for an interview.

You should only include your:

• name at the top of the page – no need to add ‘CV’ or ‘curriculum vitae’
• phone number which employers can reach you on during the working day
• email address – always use a professional sounding email address

You can also provide a link to your professional networking profile, like LinkedIn.

Do not include your age, date of birth, marital status or nationality.

Personal profile

Personal profile is a detailed description of a person’s background, skills, experiences, and achievements. It provides an overview of who they are and what they have accomplished.
This is a brief description that tells others who you are and what you want to achieve. This information should be placed right below your name and contact information.

Consider the type of job you desire and what qualities the employer is seeking. Make your profile sound like you are the best fit for the job.

A person’s education background or schooling experience.

If you’re just starting out in your career or don’t have a lot of work experience, you can put this section after your personal profile. No matter which order you pick, you must include the following things:

• names of your qualifications
• school, college or university where you studied
• dates you attended

SAMPLE CV & COVERING LETTER FORMATS

General CV Template: Download

Covering Letter Template: Download

Previous jobs

Include placements, volunteering and any paid jobs you’ve had. You should list these with the most recent first, and include:

• the employer details
• the job title
• the dates you worked there
• what you did, usually 2 to 3 lines

Use active words to highlight your strengths and skills, to describe things you’ve done like:

• organised
• created
• built
• managed
• planned

Give positive examples of your achievements rather than just listing responsibilities. Use the STAR method to help.

If you’ve had a lot of jobs, you can use a skills-based CV to group them.

 

Issues with the periods of time when you were not employed

A skills-based CV is helpful when you have periods of time where you were not employed. Tell me about the skills you learned and how you learned them while you were not working.

If you need help explaining times when you were not able to work, you can get advice from organisations like:

• Rethink if you’ve been affected by mental illness
• Carers UK for returning to work after caring
• Nacro for support if you have a criminal record

If you’re applying for your first job, you can focus on skills you’ve learned through:

• projects
• part-time work
• work experience
• internships and placements
• volunteering

Hobbies, interests or achievements

Try to show the skills you have through your hobbies and interests. Focus on examples that show you have relevant skills for the job.

This section of a CV is useful if you do not have much work experience.

References

You can leave out the details of your references at this point, or mention that ‘references are available on request’.

The recruiter will ask for these when you get through to the next stage.

Tips for writing a CV

Employers get lots of CVs to look at and have to decide quickly who they are going to interview. Here are some tips to make your CV stand out for all the right reasons.

When writing your CV remember to:

• research the company and the job before you start
• choose a CV style that fits your situation or one that employers in that sector prefer
• use a clear font like Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri, size 11 or bigger and always use the same style throughout
• use headings, bullet points and spacing to break information up to make it easier to read
• be clear and to the point and keep it to 2 sides of A4
• match the words you use to the keywords in the job description
• get someone else to read it, and double check your spelling and grammar
• save a backup copy and convert it to PDF format for emailing

SAMPLE CV & COVERING LETTER FORMATS

General CV Template: Download

How to write a cover letter

A cover letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application.

It’s a short letter, usually 3 to 5 paragraphs long.

When to include a cover letter

You should always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV.

You can write it as an email if you’re applying online or print a copy to go with a paper application.

Research

When writing a cover letter, let the employer know you’re keen by showing that you’ve researched the company. Learn more about what they do through:

• their website
• recent news articles
• talking to people you know who work there

Send it to the right person

It’s important to try to address your cover letter to someone by name. Check you have the details of the person you need to send it to.

You’ll need their name and preferred title. For example, ‘Dr’, ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Ms’, and their job title. You should also make sure you have the right company name and address, including postcode.

If you do not know their name

If the job advert does not include a name you can check the company website. Try to find details of the head of the department, head of human resources or a recruitment manager.

If you still cannot find a name, you can start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Introduction

Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. You can mention the job title, and reference number if there is one.

If you’re asking about any job openings and not applying to a vacancy, tell them what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.

Show you’re right for the job

Highlight the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is looking for.

Convince them that you’re enthusiastic about working for them. Let them know you share their work values, culture and style.

Give extra information

If you have gaps in your employment history, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were out of work.

If you’ve mentioned on your CV that you have a disability, you might want to talk more about this in your cover letter. Organisations like Disability UK can give you advice on how to do this. You do not have to mention your disability at this stage if you prefer not to.

You can get more help with specialist advice on finding work if you have a disability.

Ending your cover letter

Thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, and tell them you’re looking forward to hearing from them.

Let them know how they can best contact you. Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV.

Yours sincerely or yours faithfully

If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’.

If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.

Tips for writing a cover letter

When writing your cover letter, remember to:

• write a new one for every job you apply for and make sure it’s tailored to the company and the specific role
• use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent
• make sure the company name and recruiter’s details are correct
• use the right language and tone: keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert
• show you’ve done your research into the job and the company
• highlight your most relevant skills and experience to stand out from other applicants
• back up any statements you make with facts and use the STAR method
• double check spelling and grammar before you send it
• keep a copy of your cover letter as they may ask you about it in an interview

Covering Letter Template: Download