Author | :Cathy Sims |
Published | :Oct 17, 2007 |
Your CV is the ultimate marketing tool you have at your disposal to create a lasting impression. It is not a shopping list of information. It is a carefully researched, self assessment of the value you are able to contribute to a company.
The focus is all about achievements and the future - being able to translate this into hard skills that you are able to offer an employer of choice - not just any employer.
A well structured CV should include:
1. Biographical detail:
Your full name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and any other relevant information you need to add.
2. Education:
This should include your academic and extra curricula activities.
3. Work experience:
Detail your vacation, part time and volunteer work that you have participated in. No experience is irrelevant to a job; all responsibilities demonstrate skills. Detail the skills, experiences and learning points you gained.
4. Developed skills:
Detail an account of the skills you have gained, personal and functional skills and their transferable relevance to the job you are applying to.
5. Career objectives:
Indicate your interest for the immediate future, not five or 10 years ahead. What are you looking for now? This can also be done in a covering letter if you choose.
References:
Always check with referees that they are willing to provide information before putting their names on your CV. Between 2 and 4 referees are sufficient. Referees should be able to answer questions on your work ethic while studying, your achievements and your standing in society.
1. Biographical detail:
Your full name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and any other relevant information you need to add.
2. Education:
This should include your academic and extra curricula activities.
3. Work experience:
Detail your vacation, part time and volunteer work that you have participated in. No experience is irrelevant to a job; all responsibilities demonstrate skills. Detail the skills, experiences and learning points you gained.
4. Developed skills:
Detail an account of the skills you have gained, personal and functional skills and their transferable relevance to the job you are applying to.
5. Career objectives:
Indicate your interest for the immediate future, not five or 10 years ahead. What are you looking for now? This can also be done in a covering letter if you choose.
References:
Always check with referees that they are willing to provide information before putting their names on your CV. Between 2 and 4 referees are sufficient. Referees should be able to answer questions on your work ethic while studying, your achievements and your standing in society.
Additional points to consider:
- Focus on content – not length. Between two and three pages is ideal. The interview is there to elaborate on information.
- It is used predominantly as a screening out tool for companies – hence the importance of demonstrating achievement and the value you can add to a company.
- Choose quality paper and ensure your layout is good. Avoid long explanatory paragraphs and choose a font that is easy reading. Always spell check your document and get friends/career service professionals to review and give you further input.
- Add supporting documents of your achievements and academics results. Use the most recent – generally recruiters are not interested in your results or achievements from junior school.
- It is worthwhile to start your CV in first year and every year adding to your achievements and experiences so that once you get to final year, you have put together an insightful account of your time while studying.
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