We all know how important it is to have the ideal CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first introduction to you but how do you go about writing it? What details should you make sure it contains and what should you leave out? We at AllWorthingJobs want to help you in increasing your chances of getting that superb so here are hints for making the right first impression.

The Basics

We are sure you all know it's clear but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should on all occasions be typed to give it the best clarity possible. It should also be excellently presented. Consider how it appears on the page. There should be obvious headings and breaks between details. A prospective employer will is likely to look through dozens of CVs for a job so they should be able to read the important information immediately before short listing it for a additional thorough read through. A shoddily laid out CV which is difficult to read will probably end up in the bin.

Personal Statement

Most employers would like a CV to start with a personal statement as it permits them to see immediately what you are about. What should this include?

• Who are you and what have you been doing in your working life? What have you enjoyed about previous jobs?


• What do you want to do? Outline your goals?


• How are you going to go about achieving these goals?


• What do you think are your key skills? What can you bring to a potential employer?

Ensure you give these questions real thought before you answer them as they probable to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing could say:

' I am bright, a conscientious worker and determined about any challenges I take on. My careerto date has all been very customerorientated and I find this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last four years in a sales environment and I find enjoyable the contact with different sorts of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the opportunity to use. During my time at Z X Estate Agents particularly enjoyed learning as much as possible about the technical and legal parts of the conveyancing process and felt that I absorbed it quickly. I am really keen to take on a challenging role with the chance to progress and train where possible. I am also very IT proficient and really take pleasure using computers as part of my working life.'

Education

The next section should be your educational history if it is particularly relevant to the job to which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in Finance and you are applying for a finance position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you feel your educational history is not especially relevant and you are applying on the value of your experience then it is worth possibly putting your work history first.

Your education should be noted in reverse order with the most recent education done at the top. You do not need to go into great detail here, purely state where you studied and what grades you achieved. It is not essential to put the dates of study if you do not wish to as, under the Age Discrimination Law, you are not obliged to make any reference to your age and including dates from which your age may be obvious. Remember to include information of any extra certificates you might have be awarded which may be significant to the position.

Work History

Like education, it is important that this is laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the top. You should state the name of the business and the period of time you were employed (this does not necessarily have to be dates but you should state for how much time you were employed in that position). It is also important to indicate where the employer was based, e.g. Worthing. You should also clearly indicate what your job title was. Underneath explain briefly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should help a perspective employer discern whether your experience makes you right for their position. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.

It is not a good idea to put your salary for each employment undertaken on your CV as this can cause an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a position and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, harder. The same can also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.

Other Information

It is not uncommon for job seekers to put a small amount of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. We would recommend keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you have a driving licence and whether you own your own car etc.

Employers do not necessarily want to see photos on a CV. For most roles it is not necessary to include a photo but if you want to it should be passport photo sized and professional looking.

Spelling and Punctuation

It is essential that you ensure all spelling and punctuation are correct. Literacy is often highly required to employers so use the 'Spell Check' option on your computer.

Second Opinion

Ask someone to read through your CV. Ask them to double check that it looks presentable and easy to read. You should also ask them to check your spelling and grammar.

Covering Letter

When applying for a position try to include a covering letter. This should state why you are applying for this job in particular and a small amount about the experience and/or skills you have which could be significant to them (avoid repeating too much from the CV itself).

Each Job is Different

Don't forget that it may not be 'one CV fits all', it is worth spending a few moments reviewing your CV before each occasion you send it to make sure it makes the biggest impact for each particular vacancy. You may want to consider changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.