CV Writing Tips by The
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy.
A powerful CV is clearly the first step in getting a new job - or winning
a promotion. It's typically the first thing a recruiter will see so it
is obviously vital to get it absolutely right. Your CV is the key to unlock
that first - and more important - door.
We all know that CV writing is a controversial subject - part art, part
science - and if you ask any two people their idea of the perfect CV,
you are likely to get two different and rather subjective responses. However,
in consultation with The CV Centre, we have put together a number of do's,
don'ts and common pitfalls, which most personnel professionals would agree
on. If you bear these in mind when preparing your CV, you stand a much
better chance of surviving the 'CV cull'!
Length
Far too long - Probably the principal mistake people make when preparing
their own CVs. The CV Centre recommends keeping CVs brief and cutting
out the waffle. Two pages is generally a maximum, and for those with little
experience one page generally makes more sense. They also use other techniques
such as bullet pointing - these help make your CV easier to read.
Detail
Eliminate unnecessary detail. Take a look at each piece of information
which could be included in your CV and think, 'Does this help your case?'
If it doesn't then leave it out.
History
Concentrate on your recent history and summarise older information. Employers
are usually most interested in your latest achievements and positions.
Interests & Activities
A common mistake is to write far too much in this section. With the CV
trend moving increasingly towards the American résumé style,
which precludes such a section, try to keep it to a minimum.
Professional Preparation
Even having taken the above points into account, writing your own CV
can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Clearly, the best solution
is to take advantage of professional experience and expertise. The CV
Centre is recognised to be the UK's leading CV consultancy; their CVs
are carefully crafted to have the strongest possible appeal to potential
employers, rather than being just an uninspiring typed summary of an individual's
basic information. Their team of consultants also has a broad range of
previous experience within recruitment and personnel management, which
enables them to produce CVs of the highest standards. Visit The
CV Centre to find out how their professional CV writing services
can help to maximise your chances of getting the job you deserve.
