Some basic rules to bear in mind when creating your Curriculum Vitae.
Remember your CV is a representation of you and is the first impression that a new employer has of you.
So, Think like an employer – consider what the employer is looking for in a candidate and arrange your most significant skills and experiences as early as possible in your CV
Meaning in principle you need to adapt the CV for every job offer !!!!
The CV should consist of the following:
1. Personal details
• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Marital status
• Nationality
2. Academic history, qualifications & skills
• Include both school and university/college qualifications
• State all relevant courses attended and list all IT system knowledge
3. Career history
• Reverse Chronological order with no gaps ( your last 1-2 jobs are important, not what you did 7 years ago)
• Include the name of the company, job title and dates employed
• Include job duties obtained
4. Positions of responsibility
• Summarised details
5. Interests
• Do not invent interests as you are often asked about these on interview
• Be specific and expand on what you do
• Interests are helpful to an employer and can help the interviewer decide whether or not you would fit into the company’s culture
6. Referees
• Do not include referee details on your CV
• State references available on request
• Be prepared to have reference details for the past five years
And remember, always:
• Type your CV and be ready to email your CV as a Microsoft Word document
• Text should be a minimum of point size 11 – 12 so it is easy to read
• Avoid photographs on your CV unless requested. If necessary, attach a photograph separately
• Keep it simple and use bullets, tabs and formatting to make your CV easy to read
• Do check your CV for spelling and grammar errors. One error on your CV will often hinder your application
• Keep your CV to two-three pages when possible
• Learn your CV with regards to dates as you will be asked about these on interview