CV hints and tips
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is an outline of someone’s educational and professional history that is submitted as part of a job application. You may need a couple of versions that focus on different aspects of your career.
Your CV must be accurate and truthful, highlighting your strengths and experience.
Before you start
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Research the job and the organisation you are applying to thoroughly.
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Make sure you have all of the information that is available for the role, (e.g.person specification and job description).
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Don’t feel shy about asking about the job and application process, the more you know the better.
Layout
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Make sure information is clear and concise.
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Font size should be between 10 - 12 pts.
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Stick to using black font.
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Use a professional looking type face, (e.g. Arial, Myriad Pro, Helvetica).
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Do not use clip art or inappropriate photo’s and pictures.
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Use bullet points to clearly lay out information.
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If you do need to submit a photo of yourself (if you are using an agent) make sure the photo is exactly what you look like and is of a high professional standard. Think carefully before including a photo of yourself in your C.V. It is really only necessary if you are auditioning for roles.
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Don’t underestimate white space – too much information on the page will put people off reading it.
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Don’t exceed 2 A4 pages in length – it needs to be concise.
Content
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Make sure you have your full name, address and contact details at the top of the page.
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Show your educational history, with the most recent institute first.
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Your employment history should also show your current/most recent job first. Include any work experience if you feel this would add value to your application.
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Choose two referees. These are people who will provide information about you to your prospective employer. It is important that they know you well and that you have asked them before putting their name and contact details down. If you have a lot of information to fit into your two pages references can be ‘on request’.
Useful resources
