We are sure you are all aware how crucial it is to have the ideal CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first introduction to you but how do you set about writing it? What information should you include and what should you leave out? We at AllPlymouthJobs want to aid you in increasing your possibility of getting that desire so here are hints for making the right first impression.

The Basics

We are all aware it's obvious but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should always be typed to give it the greatest clarity possible. It should also be well presented. Think about how it appears on the page. There should be obvious headings and breaks between sections. A prospective employer will likely look through dozens of CVs for a job so they should be able to read the relevant information at a glance before short listing it for a more thorough read through. A imperfectly laid out CV which is difficult to read will probably end up in the rubbish.

Personal Statement

The majority employers want a CV to start with a personal statement as it allows them to see immediately what you are about. What should this contain?

• Who are you and what have you been doing in your working life? What have you enjoyed about previous jobs?


• What do you want to do? Outline your goals?


• How do you intend to go about achieving these goals?


• What do you think are your key skills? What can you bring to a potential employer?

Ensure you give these questions considered thought before you come up with an answer as they should be expected to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing might say:

' I am clever, hardworking and determined about any challenges I come up against. My workto date has all been very customerorientated and I find this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last ten years in a sales environment and I enjoy the interaction with different sorts of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the chance to use. During my time at Houses R US Estate Agents particularly enjoyed learning lots about the procedural and legal avenues of the conveyancing process and feel that I took to it quickly. I am really keen to take on a challenging position with the chance to progress and train where possible. I am also extremely IT proficient and really take pleasure using computers as part of my working life.'

Education

The next section should be your education if it is especially relevant to the job to which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in Law and you are applying for a legal position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you are of the opinion that your education is not particularly important and you are applying on the value of your experience then it is worth considering putting your work history first.

Your education should be listed in reverse order with the most recent education received first. There is no need to go into great detail here, purely state where you studied and what grades you achieved. It is not necessary to put the dates of study if you do not want to as, under the Age Discrimination Law, you are not required to make any reference to your age and including dates from which your age may be obvious. Remember to include information of any other certificates you may have achieved which may be relevant to the position.

Work History

Like education, it should be laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the top. You should give the name of the company and the period of time you worked for them (this need not be dates but you should indicate for how much time you were employed in that position). It is also useful to state where the employer was based, e.g. Plymouth. You should also clearly indicate what your job title was. Under this explain succinctly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should help a potential employer determine whether your experience makes you suitable for their vacancy. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.

It is not advisable to put your salary for each position undertaken on your CV as this can make an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a role and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, more difficult. Similarly the same could also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.

Other Information

It is common for people to put a small amount of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. It is advisable to keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you have a driving licence and whether you own your own car etc.

There has also been a noticeable shift away from employers liking to see photos on a CV. For most positions it is not necessary to include a photo but if you want to it ought to be passport photo sized and professional looking.

Spelling and Punctuation

It is essential that you ensure all spelling and punctuation are perfect. Literacy is often highly important to employers so use the 'Spell Check' option on your computer.

Second Opinion

Ask someone to read through your CV. Ask them to double check that it looks presentable and easy to read. You should also ask them to check your spelling and grammar.

Covering Letter

When applying for a role try to incorporate a covering letter. This should indicate why you are applying for this job in particular and a little bit about the experience and/or skills you have which would be significant to them (avoid repeating too much from the CV itself).

Each Job is Different

Don't forget that it may not be 'one CV fits all', it is worth spending a few minutes checking your CV before each time you send it to make sure it makes the greatest impact for each particular position. You may want to think about changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.