CV WRITING

CV WRITING
This is NOT the definitive guide to CVs and cover
letters as every application is individual. You will
always have choices about the emphasis you give
certain parts of your life, the way you write and the
design you use.
 Relevance

Curriculum vitae means

“story of your life”. However,

BASIC with only one or two pages

for your CV you can’t afford
PRINCIPLE to treat this literally. Be
selective about what you
S include. Always ask yourself
the question: “Is this going to
be relevant to the employer
who is reading this?” If it
isn’t, then discard it.
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
TAILORING

Your CV needs to match the particular job you are

applying for. For example, if the job requires skills in
teamwork and creativity, you need to ensure the
employer can clearly see that you have gained these
skills somewhere in your life. Maybe you worked in a
team on a course project or perhaps you had a creative
idea for an event which a society organised. The
important thing is that the employer can see that your
CV is tailored to them and not a generic CV that is being
sent to every employer.
 Layout and design
You can influence where the employer
looks on your CV by the amount of space
you allocate to certain sections. For
BASIC example, in your education section for
PRINCIPLE most circumstances you’ll want to draw
S employers to your qualification. You can
do this by giving it more space than any
other courses or studying you have done.
You should also think carefully about
your choice of headings to highlight key
experience.
BASIC
PRINCIPLS
LANGUAGE
Using positive, action oriented words creates the
impression of a positive, proactive person. Use words
such as “achieved”, “created” and “organised” and avoid
tentative words such as “maybe”, “attempted” and
“perhaps”. The aim is to make your CV as persuasive as
possible. Present information in the most positive light
but remember there is a clear distinction between doing
this and exaggerating. Make sure your spelling and
grammar are accurate.
 Truthfulness

BASIC
PRINCIPLE
S As well as it being against the law to lie on your
CV, you should be willing to talk about anything on
your CV at interview, even details in your interests
and extra-curricular activities sections. You don’t
know what kinds of things your interviewer might
also be interested in or have knowledge about so
make sure they can’t expose anything that isn’t
completely accurate.
L AY O U T &
DESIGN
1.How long should a CV be?

In almost all cases your CV should be

no longer than two sides of A4. The
exception to this is an academic CV,
which will usually have an extra
page about publications and
conferences. Some organisations will
expect a one-page CV, but for most a
two-page CV is acceptable unless
otherwise specified.
 2.What font should I use?

Avoid unusual fonts; they have the

effect of making the reader focus on
the font rather than the content. Sans
serif fonts, like Arial, can make your CV
look clean, neat and most importantly

L AY O U T & readable. Use a font size between 10

and 12.
DESIGN 3.Should I use bullet points or text?

There are no rules about this but try to avoid a CV that is

too “text heavy”. Some of the most effective CVs use a
combination of text and bullet points. Experiment and see
what looks clearest, what is most easy to read and what
has the most impact visually.
L AY O U T & D E S I G N

Whilst either format is almost

always accepted by
employers, it is generally
recommended to send a PDF
Should I send my CV as a
version if possible. A PDF will
Word document or a PDF?
look the same on any
computer, whereas
sometimes a Word document
might affect the layout.
L AY O U T & D E S I G N

However, it is never a
good idea just to copy
Are there any good
one exactly. Your
examples of CVs I can
information is unique and
use? There are a number
to present it in the most
of example CVs on the
favourable light you will
internet.
need to make changes to
any example you find.
 D E S I G N & L AY O U T

6.Should I attach my CV if
I’m completing an online
application form?

Only if specifically asked

to do so.
DESIGN &
L AY O U T

The same basic principles apply, for example

Giving your most relevant information highest

priority on your CV. However, you may want to
consider different CV formats to present your skills.
Even though you have more experience, your CV
still needs to be on a maximum of two pages, so you
may have more editing to do.
C AT E G O R I E S & C O N T E N T
Remember, your CV is a marketing tool used for a specific position.
Many people have

more than one CV depending on the types of positions they are

seeking.

You can target your CV in many ways, such as using different

categories and changing

some of the entries, especially in the categories outside of the

work/professional section.
ORDER YOUR SECTIONS
ACCORDING TO YOUR AUDIENCE

For both your CV and your cover letter, it is

critical that you consider the audience for
each document and order your sections
accordingly.
For example, if you are applying for a
teaching position at a school, you will want
to list your teaching experience first and
your research experience second.
SECTIONS OF A CV

Experience/Work
You don’t have to
In addition to the Experience
include everything
required Education categories, you
you’ve ever done
and Professional can include other
on each CV.
sections.
Volunteer and
other unpaid
experiences can Use the best your experience
be just as approach based and the position
important to on you want.
include as paid
jobs.
 In addition to “Contact
Information,” “Education”,
and “Professional/ Work
Experience,” you should
consider naming sections to

SECTIONS be responsive to the job

description, e.g., Project
OF A CV Management Experience,
Community Service, etc.
Include some of these
optional sections if space
allows:
REFERENCES:

Important note about your chosen references:

•It is best to keep your references as professional as possible.
•The ideal references are:
• Former supervisor
• Former co-workers
• Clients
• Teachers
• Organizations you’ve volunteered for
 REFERENCES

AVOID USING:
• Family
• Friends (boyfriend/girlfriend)
• Any acquaintance who doesn’t know you (or the way you
work)

By using people who can give specific

examples as to how reliable you are,
you will be setting yourself up to look
like an ideal employee.
 REFERENCES

Your reference list can be arranged As always, make sure you ask your
like this: references if you can use them
• Reference Name, Reference relationship before you put them down. Also, if
• Company Name you listed them a while ago, send
• Company Address your references an occasional email
• Reference phone number saying that you are still job
• Reference email searching and that they might be
asked for a reference. This will also
remind them to keep an eye out for
any openings for you!
HOW TO WRITE A CV WITH NO
WORK EXPERIENCE

Luckily, the skills which

employers value most are not
only gained through the
Many students find …when you need experience world of work. The trick to
themselves facing the same to get a job, but you need a writing a CV with no
situation: job to get experience. experience is finding creative
ways to show you have the
transferable skills needed to
make you employable.
HOW TO WRITE A CV WITH NO
WORK EXPERIENCE

If you are wondering how to write your CV with no work

experience then you can use the following tips:

Tip: Make the most of your other qualities: your

skills, attitude, potential and enthusiasm.
 Identify your most impressive qualities
Writing a CV is about your personal sales pitch. The
first thing to do, therefore, is figure out what you’re
HOW TO selling!
WRITE A CV Make a list of all the things you’re good at, regardless
WITH NO of whether they’re “professional” qualities or not.
Then, match each item on your list to top skills
WORK
employers look for.
EXPERIENCE
Are you a on a soccer team? That shows teamwork and
drive. Do you give life skills talks at your local church?
That would highlight your presentation, communication
skills and leadership skills.
 Open with a personal statement

HOW TO
WRITE A This will be the very first thing any potential employer
will read, so getting it right is important.
CV WITH
NO WORK Top tip - Keep it as short and simple as possible
EXPERIENC and limited to about 150 words.
E
Start by introducing yourself with your education level
and a top skill or two (“I am a hardworking and self-
motivated recent graduate”).

Make sure you are clear on what you are applying for
and fashion your personal statement accordingly.
 Focus on your qualifications
Degrees/diplomas are a great source of transferable
skills. If you wrote a dissertation, then you can talk
HOW TO about your research abilities. If you gave presentations
WRITE A CV as part of your degree, you can claim to have
WITH NO experience pitching. You could also mention skills
gained through group project work, independent
WORK
organisation and planning, and any specific knowledge
EXPERIENCE relevant to the role.
HOW TO WRITE A
CV WITH NO WORK
EXPERIENCE
Don’t make the mistake of leaving blank space in
your CV just because you’re lacking in work
experience. The experience section of any CV is
simply a way to demonstrate how past experiences
would be useful to a future employer. Make good use
of your degree /diploma and use it well to highlight
skills learned.
 List skills rather than roles
Most CVs begin by listing the candidate’s most recent employment(s), but if you
haven’t worked before or have only worked in unrelated industries, it’s much
better to start your CV with a list of skills you’ve acquired (refer to the example of
a CV with no work experience).

HOW TO WRITE A CV WITH NO WORK

EXPERIENCE
 HOW TO WRITE A CV WITH NO
WORK EXPERIENCE

Don’t forget “obvious” skills

Do you have a driver’s license? Can you use a range of software

packages? Are you social- media savvy? Often, graduates leave
out skills employers want because they think they are self-
evident or unimportant.

If you can do something which could be useful in the workplace,

put it in. Especially applicable are computer programmes you
can use and languages you can speak (you don’t have to be
fluent for it to be useful, but don’t lie about your ability).
HOW TO WRITE A CV WITH NO
WORK EXPERIENCE

Not being paid for something

doesn’t mean you didn’t gain
valuable business skills from
Treat your extra- it. List your volunteer roles as
curricular activities like you would a job – detailing
jobs the length of time you
volunteered, relevant tasks
you undertook and the skills
you developed.
 Add some personality
HOW TO
WRITE A
CV WITH
NO WORK Did you run a marathon? Maybe you
EXPERIENC won an award? Put it on your CV.
E
Employers receive many applications
for each job. Standing out from the
crowd and being memorable is a
reward towards getting called in for an
interview.
HOW TO WRITE A CV WITH NO
WORK EXPERIENCE

Be mindful of the following….

Don’t lie. No matter how tempting it might be to stretch the truth, lying on your CV is always a
bad idea. You might make it through this round of interviews and even get the job, but you
won’t be able to deliver on the promises your CV offered.

Plus, you’ll probably be caught.

PROOFREAD. It’s not very impressive when a CV is full of typos and inconsistencies. Have a
trusted friend or family member proofread your CV before you submit it.
COVER LET TERS
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a one-page document that is sent
and read in conjunction with your CV. It highlights
relevant skills and achievements.
 What is the purpose of a
cover letter?

The cover letter is a chance

for you to highlight the skills
and achievements which are
especially relevant to that
particular employer. It will be a
brief summary of your
COVER experiences to date, tailored to
the competencies that are
LETTERS required by the employer. It is
also a chance for you to
demonstrate your knowledge of
the organisation to which you
are applying and your
motivation for working there.
Some recruiters will also use
your cover letter to assess your
written communication skills.
COVER LET TERS
What needs to be included in a cover letter?
Recruiters expect you to show that you match the position. The secret
of writing a good cover letter lies in using your qualifications and
experience to show that you are the best person for the position.
One way of going about it is to begin your cover letter by focusing
on your relevant achievements: academic, extra-curricular, work
experience and other interesting aspects of your life. Then move on to
focus on the employer, why you are applying for the job, including
some interesting and relevant facts about that organisation.
Show them that you are capable of thinking clearly and you are a
motivated, proactive learner. Write in a clear and logical manner and
remember, the way you write and present yourself says a lot about you.
COVER LETTERS

Where possible, follow

the employer’s
instructions and any
How long should the advice offered by them. If
cover letter be? this is not available,
around 400 words is
correct and not more than
one page of A4 paper.
COVER LET TERS
What type of language should I use?
Aim for short, sharp sentences that make for
concise, gripping paragraphs, which are good for
busy recruiters who can’t spend a long time reading
each application.
COVER
LETTERS
What is the correct layout of a cover letter?

In general, cover letters are one side of typed A4

and are set out like a formal business letter. The
letter should be about three to four paragraphs
long with each separated by a single line. Do not
indent the paragraphs as this is considered old-
fashioned.
COVER LETTERS

Your name and address

should be clearly shown at
the top, right-hand corner of
the letter. Don’t think that
How should I address my
because this information is
letter?
on your CV you don’t need to
put it on the cover letter.
Pages can become separated
easily.
 How do I know who to write to?

It’s usual to reply to the name used in the advert or application pack. If a
name is not given, call the organisation and ask for a named individual
who deals with recruitment. We strongly advise that you address your
COVER cover letter to a named person. Do make sure you use the correct
spelling of their name. If you are not able to find a named individual, you
LETTERS can use “Dear Sir/Madam”.

The correct greeting in a business letter is always formal. It normally

begins with “Dear” and usually includes the person’s last name and title,
i.e., Professor, Dr., Mr., and Ms. etc. If addressing a female, does the job
advert specify whether they are Mrs., Miss, or Ms.? If it doesn’t say then
it is best to use Ms.
 Which is more important, the CV or the cover
letter?

COVER They are both important. If you want to maximise

LETTERS your chances of success you should treat them both
seriously. The cover letter is often the first thing the
recruiter sees and will set their expectations for
what is to follow. A good cover letter will highlight
your key strengths and motivations for wanting to
work in a particular organisation, the CV will then go
into more detail about what you have achieved. The
recruiter will form an impression of you based on
both documents.
TOP TIPS:
COVER LET TERS

• Keep the language friendly but formal. Think about how

you would speak to an employer at interview.
• Be positive! Use action words but don’t lose sight of your
own style.
• Avoid repeating key words or phrases.
• Always end on a positive note. You can end by
reaffirming your enthusiasm or your suitability.
• Check your letter several times, and then get a friend to
check it, then go away and check it again later.
COVER LET TERS
Which is more important, the CV or the cover
letter?

They are both important. If you want to maximise

your chances of success you should treat them both
seriously. The cover letter is often the first thing the
recruiter sees and will set their expectations for
what is to follow. A good cover letter will highlight
your key strengths and motivations for wanting to
work in a particular organisation, the CV will then go
into more detail about what you have achieved. The
recruiter will form an impression of you based on
both documents.
FU RTHER RESOURCES
You can refer to the following websites for templates and tips.

https://www.monster.co.uk/career-advice/cv-writing-tips/cv-templates
https://resumegenius.com/resume-templates/basic-templates#classic-resume-
templates https://www.oldmutual.co.za/careers-centre/position-your-career/cv-
advice http://www.timesresources.com/cv-advice
http://www.pacecareers.com/resources.html