Summer has begun and thousands of students are on the hunt for a summer job. Writing a CV from scratch can be daunting. This may even be the first you’ve ever created but don’t worry! We’re here to give you the lowdown on how you can create a successful CV.
What Is a CV?
CV is short for the latin word Curriculum Vitae. In other parts of the world, it is called resume. A CV is a document which is used to apply for a job. It’s your chance to sell yourself, make an impression and stand out from the crowd. You’ll talk about exam results, your skills, abilities and any previous work experience you have while highlighting how and why you’re the best person for the role.
What should I include In a CV?
Firstly, when writing a CV you should always read the job description prior to applying. This is basically everything the employer is looking for. Think about the skills they require and how your studying experiences and your past work experience (if you have any) relates then include the skills you see fit in your CV.
Contact details – you should include your full name, contact number, email address and home address. You normally wouldn’t need to include your date of birth or an image unless the employer specifically asks for that.
Personal Profile
Use this section to tell the employer a little bit about yourself and why you’re interested in the role. Remember to keep this section brief, roughly 4-5 lines will be sufficient.
Education and Qualifications
You should then list your education from most recent to oldest. Make sure you list the years you were studying, where and what course you were doing and your grades.
Work Experience
In this section you should include the company name, your job title and how long you were working for the company. You should also include your daily responsibilities, the skills and example of how they relate to the role you’re applying to. If you have left education and have been working, you should put your work experience before your education/qualifications.
Relevant Skills
Have you been a part of a sports team? Is team work relevant to the role you’re applying to? If so, list all the skills these experiences have given you which is related to the job role.
Hobbies and Interests
Add hobbies and interests to give recruiters recruiters more insight into your life and personality
CV Tips
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- Keep it short (maximum two A4 pages)
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- Your introductory paragraph should give a good profile of you – you should briefly highlight anything related to the job
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- Make sure the font is easily read
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- Clear headings
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- Proofread! Make sure it makes sense and that all your grammar and spelling is correct. Ask someone else to read it, after all, two sets of eyes are better than one
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- Make sure your social media profiles are appropriate, in other words, make sure there is nothing on there that you wouldn’t want your nan to see
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- If you’re emailing your CV, make sure your email address is suitable for example, steer clear of email addresses like ‘Ilovevodka@gmail.co.uk’
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- Make sure the file name of your CV is clear, such as John Doe CV
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- Be honest
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