How to write a CV: Tips for 2022
The first thing you need when writing a good CV is to make sure you know your goal. You need to write your CV with the job in mind. The right CV will get you an interview quickly, but a badly written CV may mean you don’t even get a rejection, you just never hear about the role again.
There are a few things you need to do to get the most out of your CV and show prospective employers why you are the only person for the job.
This guide will give you our top tips and the best CV examples showing you how to write a great CV that gets noticed.
What is a CV?
‘CV’ is a shortened form for ‘Curriculum Vitae,’ a Latin phrase that literally means ‘course of life;’ it is a brief summary of your education, qualifications, and previous employment. It is how you present yourself to the outside world, specifically the workplace. It is a form of personal marketing so make sure when you write your CV that it shows you in the best light possible.
Remember, that writing a CV is often just one part of the application process as a cover letter and completed application form may also be required.
What information should be included when writing my CV?
A CV’s format is flexible, and many different styles are used. The content of your CV should be tailored to the job in question. There are also elements that most employers would expect to see:
Name, professional title and contact details
The title of your CV, at the very top of the CV, should be your name, professional title and contact details.
Don’t bother adding ‘Curriculum Vitae’ as a heading, the heading should be your name – anything else is just a waste of space when creating your CV.
What contact details should I provide?
Well, email address and contact number(s) are all that is required now. An address is not required, and do not add your age, nationality, date of birth or marital status. These are NOT required.
Feel free to add an up-to-date professional profile, such as LinkedIn.
Personal Information
This is just a few lines about you, who you are, what you hope to accomplish, and your objectives. If possible, tailor it to the job you’re applying for. The individual described in your Personal Profile (you) should appear to be the ideal candidate for the job.
Work Experience and History
This is your chance to really shine. Include previous positions, experience, volunteering, placements, or internships. You should list them in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Your most recent position should be the most important to your potential employer.
Top Tip: If you have a lot of experience/previous positions, you don’t need to include roles from more than 10 years ago – unless, of course, they are particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying.
Education
Again, in reverse chronological order, the most recent first. This should include, for each item:
Institution (School, College, University)
Qualification with Grades/Distinctions etc.
Dates attended/completed
If you have a degree, then listing a few relevant modules, projects or assignments underneath is a good idea.
Additional sections
If you have room, or again, if they are particularly relevant to the role for which you are applying, then you can add extra sections for things such as:
Key Skills
When creating your CV, take advantage of this opportunity to include some key skills (also known as’soft skills’ or ‘core skills’) that are extremely relevant to the job you are applying for. Things like experience with a specific piece of software or application, courses you’ve taken, or anything else that will help you land your dream job.
Hobbies and Interests
Try and keep this section of your CV interesting, if you use it. Include unusual hobbies, ones that add to your suitability for the role. Try to avoid really common hobbies and interests, such as reading, walking, etc.
Make sure you draw on and list, interests that make you stand out.
Achievements
Your achievements are significant things you’ve accomplished in the roles you’ve held. Going above and beyond the responsibilities or tasks associated with those roles.
When you submit a job application, emphasising your achievements can help you convince the company that you’d be a perfect fit for the position.
Candidates who are further along in their careers may be able to emphasise professional achievements, while entry-level candidates might need to concentrate on academic awards.
Referees/References
No longer expected, but if you wish to include this section, feel free to do so, but you can always just add ‘references available on request’ or leave it off altogether when creating your CV, would be our general advice.
Formatting and general guidelines on how to create a good CV
Keep it brief – a standard length for a CV in the UK is just two sides of A4, but depending on the circumstances (the job or sector you’re applying to or your experience level), a single page or up to three pages is also acceptable
Headings – just like this piece, clear headings for your CV content makes things easier to read and the document easier to digest
File type – for best all-round readability, save it as a pdf – this can be done in most word processing software such as Word and Google Docs, by ‘printing to pdf’. Or you can use a tool to do a conversion, there are many available online.
Font type – Good, clear fonts like Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri, are ideal – definitely not Comic Sans!
Font size – body text should be 10 to 12 point and headings between 14 and 18. Make sure it’s readable, don’t cram too much in or reduce the size of the margins, standard-size margins should be fine
Proofread it – from personal experience, get someone else to proofread it and then give it a final once over. Make sure the font and layout are consistent throughout. Don’t say how detail-oriented you are then leave a glaring typo in your CV!
Tailoring and keywords – if you’re applying for a job, you REALLY want, make sure you’re drafting your CV for the role and add relevant keywords
ATS – What? Ok, Applicant Tracking Systems – these are bots that ‘read’ and often, reject, up to three-quarters of CVs before a human even gets to see them. They use an algorithm to select what they perceive to be the best and most relevant CVs and put them into a shortlist for human review. We have specific advice on how to win over the ATS bots
If writing a CV seems like too much effort
You could try the shortcut and use our very own CV Builder tool – it’s free and will do much of the hard work for you, leaving you to fine-tune it for your needs…
Get it right, get applying
Getting your CV right the first time means you’ll be able to find work faster. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and that is with your CV!
So, take our CV advice and get creative. The better and more relevant it is to the role, the more likely you will be offered an interview, so after following this guide and creating a winning, powerful CV (tailored to the role you are applying for), you can then take the next step and upload your CV to apply for and hopefully secure your next job.
