CV Guidance

Contact Information
Include your full name, phone number, email address, and location (city or town).

Personal Statement
Write a brief, tailored statement highlighting your career goals, skills, and what you can bring to the job.

CV Format

• Choose a clean, professional format with clear headings and consistent fonts.
• Use bullet points for easy readability.

CV Length
Aim for a CV length of 1-2 pages, focusing on relevant information.

Tailor Your CV
Customise your CV for each job application by emphasising relevant skills and experiences. Review the job description carefully and identify the skills and qualifications the employer is seeking. Match your skills to these requirements to make your CV more relevant and appealing to the hiring manager. Additionally, use specific examples or achievements to demonstrate how you’ve applied these skills in your previous roles. This helps provide evidence of your capabilities and makes your CV more compelling to potential employers.

Work Experience

• List your work history in reverse chronological order (most recent job first).
• Include job titles, company names, dates of employment, and brief descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.

Achievements and Impact

• Highlight quantifiable achievements and the impact you had in previous roles (e.g., “Increased sales by 20% in Q3 2022”, “Managed a team of 10 employees”).
• Use action verbs (e.g., “Managed,” “Implemented,” “Led”) to start bullet points.

Education
List your educational qualifications, including degrees, institutions, graduation dates, and any honours or awards.

Skills

• Include both hard skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork).
• Tailor your skills section to match the job requirements.

Certifications and Training

• Include relevant certifications, courses, workshops, and training programs.
• Mention the issuing organisation, dates, and any significant details.

Additional Sections
Add sections like Languages, Hobbies/Interests, Publications, or Volunteer Work if they are relevant to the job.

Use Keywords
Incorporate keywords from the job description to increase your CV’s chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Be Concise

• Use concise language and avoid unnecessary details or jargon.
• Focus on what’s most relevant to the position.

Proofread

• Carefully proofread your CV to eliminate typos, grammatical errors, and formatting issues.
• Ask someone else to review it for a fresh perspective.

Honesty
Be truthful and accurate in your CV. Misrepresenting information can harm your credibility.

Formatting and Design

• Keep the formatting consistent throughout your CV.
• Use a professional font (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman) and maintain a clean layout.

Be Specific

• Provide specific examples of your achievements and experiences.
• Avoid vague statements that lack context.

Include References
If required, mention that references are available upon request.

Update Regularly
Keep your CV up to date with your most recent experiences and qualifications.

Seek Feedback
Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, or professional networks to improve your CV.

Digital Literacy and Tech Skills In today’s digital age, having proficiency in digital tools and technologies is crucial. Mention specific software, programming languages, or tools you are proficient in, especially if they are relevant to your industry. For example, if you’re in marketing, mention your proficiency in using tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite, or social media management platforms.

Communication Skills Strong communication skills are essential in almost every job. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Mention any specific communication-related achievements, such as delivering presentations, writing reports, or managing team communication.

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Employers value individuals who can analyse complex situations, identify problems, and develop effective solutions. Use examples from your work experience to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities. Show how you’ve tackled challenges, improved processes, or resolved issues.

Adaptability and Flexibility The business landscape is constantly evolving, and employers seek candidates who can adapt to change and thrive in dynamic environments. Showcase instances where you’ve adapted to new technologies, taken on diverse responsibilities, or quickly learned new skills.

Teamwork and Collaboration Collaboration is key in many workplaces. Highlight your ability to work effectively in teams and your contributions to team projects. Mention any leadership roles you’ve taken on within teams or how you’ve resolved conflicts and promoted teamwork.