Do not underestimate the importance of writing a CV. It is the most important document you will produce and the key to unlocking job opportunities. A prospective employer will make a snap judgement about you and your eligibility for a job on the basis of a bit of paper so it is essential you get past the first hurdle of your search for employment by making the most of your CV. The most intelligent/qualified people can fail to get through to interview if there CV is lacking so make sure yours is up to scratch!

Hold your readers attention Your future employee will quite probably see thousands of CV’s so firstly it is important your CV grabs and holds the attention of the reader. Do not make it too fancy or complicated; the reader will no doubt be skimming CV’s looking for key facts to ascertain if you are a suitable candidate so make sure you keep it clear and concise. Wordy, elaborate CV’s often hide a lack of content so stick to the facts to avoid ending up in the paper shredder.

CV length although there are no set guidelines to the length of a CV as your qualifications and career history will dictate the length it is important to be as concise as possible. Ideally one page of content is neater and more digestible but two sides of A4 still sticking to the one sheet format are acceptable. Avoid lengthy descriptive passages at all costs and be selective with your content. If you are an MD of a company the fact you were a prefect at school becomes irrelevant so ditch all outdated achievements and stick to your most recent and best. Remember also that the CV is your foot in the door, your interview (should you get one) is your chance to elaborate. A cover letter will also help you add detail to a CV so make sure every application you make includes one.

The Basic Format
- Start with your personal details so name, address and contact details- These should be clearly listed at the top of the page particularly your preferred contact details
- Follow up with a profile of yourself- this should be a concise paragraph summarising your experience, skills and immediate career goals
- Next list your career history in reverse chronological order- keep this brief with concise descriptions of responsibilities and skills using the top profile section and cover letter to elaborate
- Then list your professional/academic qualifications in reverse chronological order
- Finally remember you are an individual add some colour by listing personal interests and achievements this may make you more memorable and help as a differentiator but be aware of too much detail
- References- if space is tight it is acceptable to write ‘please contact for references’ make sure though that you have contacted your referees in advance

Tailor your CV It is helpful to have a generic CV template on file which you can then tailor to suit individual employers needs. Make sure your CV shows that you have an understanding of what the job you are applying for entails by only selecting skills and achievements that are relevant. Your prospective employer will no doubt have a mental tick list of criteria you should be meeting so read the job advert carefully and try and second guess what this might be. This is where the cover letter also comes into its own as it allows you to show your understanding of the role and detail why you feel your skills are a good fit.

Stick to the truth when tailoring a CV it may be tempting to bend the truth to match the job description but this is never advisable. Remember that any discerning employer will check your employment and academic history to check you are all you claim so never lie on your CV. Embellishing the truth is also unadvisable; whilst it is important to showcase your achievements provide facts and evidence to back up assertions never make grandiose claims about your ability.

Don’t let minor inaccuracies let you down there is no excuse for spelling or grammar mistakes. Read your CV careful and then get someone else to read it. A fresh pair of eyes will often spot silly mistakes you have read as accurate.

Check the personal requirements of the employer have they asked for a hardcopy? If so print your CV on quality paper and send it as directed. If they have asked for supporting collateral make sure this is all included but do not send unnecessary content an employer will ask for evidence of degree certificates etc if you successfully secure an interview
Remember your CV is the key to your next job so take your time to get it right!