Job Seekers

CV Advice


Ask us for advice

Please ask one of our consultants to give you some advice on CV layout and content. In the meantime, set out below are some useful tips to assist you.

From the outset, please remember that a well presented and professional document will represent you as a professional candidate.

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CV Dos

  • Use your CV to communicate your strengths and articulate your experience.
  • Emphasise your most recent roles, and summarise those further back. Remember to include dates and explain any gaps.
  • Present your experience to accurately reflect your experience in a positive light.
  • Tailor your CV to each job application and position.

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CV Don'ts

  • If your CV is poorly presented and written, it undermines your chances of securing a position. Ensure that you review it objectively. Rewrite it, the first draft isn’t always the best!
  • Make sure you accurately reflect your experience. Ensure there is consistency in the information that you provide.

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Length

A CV should not be more than 2-3 pages long. When writing your CV, ensure that you are being concise and economical with words. Do not give long, rambling explanations. Bullet points can be a good way of keeping you focused on the pertinent information that your experience contains, and can be easily edited to address the key elements of any role for which you are applying.

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Content

A clearly laid out CV is key to making a good impression. Don’t clutter it too much with elaborate layouts, however it should include:

Personal Details
Make sure you provide all your contact details. If you have a mobile number, make sure it is included.

Education/Qualifications
Most recent and most relevant first. If you have completed any relevant training courses, include these also.

Career History
Establish briefly employer details and in bullet point format a description of responsibilities and achievements related to the positions held. Again, provide more detail on the current position, most relevant experience.

Interests
No need to elaborate greatly, but good to include some non-work related interests!

References
Only include those referees that can be contacted directly. Including your current employer as a referee is not a good idea if they don’t know you are leaving! It is also acceptable to state “references are available on request”.

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