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CV preparation guide – from Chess Partnership

What is the purpose of a CV?

It is a tool to be used by you as an introduction to an employer or recruitment company. It is your way of getting noticed.
It is a guide for an interviewer.

How long should a CV be?

One to two pages. No longer than two pages - an interviewer does not have the time to read all of the information.

How should I lay out my CV?

Part one: Name and contact details.

List your home address, home telephone and mobile number.
Only give your work telephone number if it is appropriate to be contacted at work.
Give your email address if you have one. If using your work email, make sure that you are comfortable with who can access it.
If you are moving or changing countries, give both your temporary and permanent contact details.

Part Two: Career history.

You should start with your most recent position first.
Your responsibilities and achievements should be in bullet point format - this makes the CV easier to read. Paragraph format makes it difficult to find information.
List achievements that are measurable (ie: increased profit from X to Y, reduced staff turnover from X% to Y%)
Give figures wherever possible.
You do not want to write more than five bullet points per job and only for the most recent three jobs. All others should be described briefly.
If you have had more than one position within a single company, list each position but do not be repetitive in the description of your responsibilities or achievements.

Part Three: Education, Qualifications and Training.

Start with the most recent, industry related qualifications.
Training courses should be listed separately and include all company and statutory training courses.

Part Four: Interests.

List your personal details, such as Date of Birth and Marital Status.
Nationality and language skills are important when applying internationally.
You can't always be at work and should show that you have a balance between work related and non-work related activities. List your interests and hobbies, including any sports, clubs or associations that you participate in.

What else do I need to know?

Don't exaggerate the facts. Be prepared for an interviewer to question you on ALL of the contents of your CV.
Use a clear font/type-set. A fancy font may look pretty, but is often inappropriate.
Always proofread a CV for mistakes or errors. It is often helpful to ask a family member or friend to check your CV too.
Use good quality and plain paper.

Article courtesy of recruitment consultants Chess Partnership