How to Structure a CV
How to structure a CV is a contentious issue and an important one. Your CV represents you, and is often the only indication potential employers will have about how suitable you are, so it’s crucial to get it right. Follow our CV plan, and you’re sure of success!
Sections
Follow this template, and your CV will be attracting recruiters and interviews in no time!
Contact details – put your contact details (name, email, and telephone number) at the top of your CV, so the recruiter does not have to search for them, because chances are if they cannot see your details, your CV will end up in the bin.
Personal statement – the personal statement on your CV should include a summary of what you’re currently doing in terms of work or study. Additionally, you should explain what job you’re looking for, for example, “at the moment, I am seeking employment as an Administrator, and feel I am an excellent candidate for this type of role.”
Skills – this section of your CV should be bullet points and needs to include all your key skills, like communication, organisation, or teamwork. Keep the bullet points to one or two words.
Achievements – this section of your CV should be a brief paragraph, summarising any extracurricular activities you’ve done, or things you do outside of work. For example, volunteer work, fundraisers, or internships.
Experience – list the jobs you’ve had, starting with the most recent position. State the job title, dates to and from, and the company. Your duties should be in the form of bullet points and must be kept concise.
Qualifications – this section should follow the same format as the experience section of your CV and must list all of your education and qualifications.
Hobbies – your CV should include some personal touches, and a great way to express your individuality is to list your hobbies. Keep this section of your CV to a bullet-pointed list, and make it true to you.
References – do not include any of the personal details of your references on your CV, instead simply state ‘references available on request.
What to Avoid
Personal details: contrary to popular belief, the only personal details you need to include on your CV are your name, email, and contact telephone number. It’s not necessary to include your date of birth, address, or any other personal details. As well as this, do not include the details of your references, but add ‘references available on request.
Long paragraphs: a potential employer does not have the time to read a CV that is text-heavy, so you need to make your CV as clear and easy to digest as possible. Keep it concise, and don’t feel the need to use lots of flowery languages, as it will put people off. The maximum length of a CV is about 2 pages of A4, so if you’re CV is longer than that it’s time for a rethink.
Sweeping statements: while some will tell you that everyone lies on their CV, this is not true, and it’s terrible advice! Your CV should be a reflection of you, and if you promise something you cannot provide, you won’t last long.
If you need help creating a winning CV, why not check out our helpful courses?
Certificate in CV Writing and Interview Skills
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