Trying to decide what to include on your CV can be difficult. You need to demonstrate the appropriate skills and experience to a potential employer to convince them you are the right person for the job.
To do that, you need to give suitable information but in limited space, so not to overwhelm the employer with information. Granted, there is no specific way to write a CV but if you include these 10 essential things on your CV, we don’t think you can go wrong:
1) Details, Details, Details
We’ve listed contact details at number one on our list, as we regard them as being the most important thing to include. Ensure that you include your full name, full address, phone numbers and email addresses and ensure they are up-to-date before submitting a CV.
2) Email Address
It’s a good idea when applying for jobs to create a suitable email address. Stay away from personal email addresses with nicknames, silly words or bad language. Something basic, such as your name; this will demonstrate to a potential employer that you have a professional attitude.
3) Mind The Gap
Job longevity is something all recruiters look at, it’s important to demonstrate why there is a gap in your work history, for instance if you started a course but didn’t get the opportunity to complete it, pop this down on your CV, so employers can see that you have been productive during this period. Also don’t forget to state the dates you were employed at a particular job to demonstrate your job longevity.
4) D.O.B
Putting your date of birth on your application isn’t essential, but knowing your age makes it easier for a potential employer to access and understand your work history and experience.
5) Career History
Try to include as much as your employment history as possible on your CV, without making it too lengthy. The essential things to include are your job title, the company’s name, the dates which you were employed and a list of key responsibilities and achievements which you gained from the role. Try not to miss out any jobs that didn’t work out, as potential employers will notice and question gaps in your work history.
6) Qualifications & Skills
Don’t just list the qualifications which you accomplished in school or college, also include any training which you completed in and outside of the workplace, this will demonstrate to an employer that you are willing to improve your skills and therefore their business. There are plenty of skills which we develop both in and outside of the workplace, ensuring that you include these on your CV is vital. However make sure that you keep them relevant and find the right balance of having too little and too many. Remember to list your qualifications chronologically, with the most recent first.
7) Inject Some Personality
Along with a covering letter, a CV is usually the first point of contact with a potential employer; therefore it is important to demonstrate who you are as a person. You can do this while writing your personal statement, as this is a chance to sell your skills and personality. While including any hobbies and interests, make sure you only include ones which are relevant to the role and don’t go overboard with irrelevant information.
8) Drive Your Way To Success
If you hold a full driving licence and have your own vehicle, include this in your application. This can give you an advantage over other candidates if the role which you’ve applied for involves traveling or is in a rural location.
9)References
Granted, listing your references may not be on your list of priorities when composing a CV, but if you have some referee’s, remember to include their contact details. If you struggle to fit them in, remember to include ‘references available on request’ at the end of your application, so that the employer is aware that it is possible to contact a referee if your application is put forward.
10)Layout
The layout of your CV will contribute to the first impression that an employer has of you. Remember to ensure your CV looks clean and tidy, format your text in a font and size which is easy to read, use bullet points to break up any large amounts of text and don’t be afraid to have some white space on your CV; sometimes less can be more. Last but no means least, remember to spell check your CV before you go for that next job role.