 Writing a CV
Your curriculum vitae is probably one of the most important documents you will ever create. This section provides you with all the information you need to construct a powerful and convincing CV.
And once you’ve read all these useful tips, use our powerful software to create your own online CV (coming soon).What is a CV?
Why do I need a CV?
Creating an Effective CV
Different Types of CV
Careeer Summary
Covering Letter
Sample CV Templates
What is a CV?
Curriculum Vitae literally means ‘the path of your life’. Its aim is to give potential employers a concise, accurate and persuasive summary of you and your career to date.
Employers generally use CVs to screen initial batches of job applications and to determine which candidates should be invited for interview. Creating an effective CV is therefore a fundamental first step in obtaining a new job.
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Why Do I Need A CV?
Most people make the mistake of believing that they only need a CV when they are about to apply for jobs. This is not the case. Keeping your CV up-to-date is a great way of making sure that you continue to think about what you’re achieving in your career and where you are heading. Keeping an up-to-date CV will also help you to:
Identify your key strengths and weaknesses and gaps in experience;
Understand your own value in the job market;
Monitor and manage your career progression.
And when you decide the time is right to apply for a new job, your CV will:
Differentiate you from other candidates;
Help you to progress past the initial job application stage;
Provide a framework for potential interview questions and discussion points;
Help you to present yourself in the best possible light.
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Creating an Effective CV
There is no definitive CV structure and nor are there hard and fast rules about what should or shouldn’t be covered. The CV that is perfect for one job may be wholly inappropriate for another and your CV should be customised to suit your own personality and experience.
There are however many issues you should consider when creating a CV. The following sections give you guidance on how to create an effective CV that will portray you in the strongest possible terms.
Structure:
There are two main types of CV ‘Time Based’ and ‘Skills Based’. Generally speaking, your CV should fall into one of these categories;
Your CV should be concise aim for an absolute maximum of 3 pages, but ideally 1-2 pages;
Focus on your most recent/relevant experience and/or qualifications;
Include details of any hobbies and interests that will help to differentiate you from other candidates.
Format and Style:
Your CV should be neat, well ordered and maintain a consistent and professional style throughout;
Fonts, layout, justification and spacing should all be consistent throughout the document;
Use a conventional font such as Times New Roman or Arial;
Text should be clear and easy to read wherever possible use short sentences;
Try and think about what the employer will be looking for and adapt your CV accordingly;
Avoid using passive words (e.g. maintained, provided, ordered, supported) use strong active words instead (e.g. managed, negotiated, controlled);
Avoid using jokes, witticisms, ‘chatty’ text or gimmicks;
Don’t use jargon, buzzwords or abbreviations;
Don’t overuse 'I' - it can make you sound self important or arrogant;
Make sure your CV has been spell checked and that at least one other person has looked through it to identify any spelling mistakes that have been overlooked;
Consider changing the style, format and focus of your CV to reflect the job being applied for.
Content:
Your CV will generally need to cover the following main areas:
Personal details (name, contact details etc.);
Career Summary/Profile (optional);
Employment history (most recent first);
Academic and professional qualifications;
Hobbies and interests.
It is vital that you understand your key selling points and that you present these strongly in your CV. Focus on your achievements, rather than simply on your experience and qualifications, and ensure that your CV presents a strong picture of you in each of the following key areas:
Inter-personal skills;
Attitude and motivation;
Technical skills and experience.
Knowing what specific information to include or exclude in a CV is often difficult and can depend on the level and type of job that is being applied for. However, the following list should serve as a general guide to which items should be included or excluded:
Include:
Full contact details (address, phone, e-mail);
All relevant and recent work experience;
All relevant academic qualifications;
Membership of any professional associations;
Details of any voluntary work you have done;
Your willingness to relocate (if you are);
Details of any awards or publications;
Any foreign language skills;
Your date of birth or age (unless you feel very strongly that it might prejudice the employer);
Any other important information!
Exclude:
Irrelevant or obsolete work experience (e.g. vacation work);
Irrelevant or mundane academic qualifications;
Any exams that you have failed;
Health problems or major illnesses (these are better covered in the interview);
Trade union, political or religious activities and affiliations;
Details of very risky or time consuming hobbies or interests;
Photographs;
Salary details (current or expected);
References/Details of Referees (these can be provided at a later stage;
Reasons for leaving previous jobs (again, better covered in the interview);
Clichéd hobbies or interests (e.g. television, eating out etc.);
Any other irrelevant information!
Certain other items are less clear cut and can equally well be included or excluded. These include:
A career summary or profile (this can be a very effective way of selling yourself to potential employers);
Marital status;
Number of children or dependants;
Birthplace/Nationality.
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Media:
Use high quality A4 white paper for paper based applications;
Ensure that the print quality is good and never submit photocopied pages;
Don’t submit CVs on floppy disks most companies will neither have the time to save and print them nor want to risk loading them onto their systems;
Don’t E-mail CVs to employers unless specifically requested.
Accuracy of Information:
Market your experience in the best possible light, but do not lie, embellish or use hyperbole. It is OK to leave out specific information if you would rather cover it face-to-face with an interviewer, but you should try to avoid obvious or major gaps.
Recipients:
Your CV is a very important and personal document - be very selective in who you send it to. It is good practice to enclose a (typed) covering letter when submitting CVs Always ensure that you send your CV to the right person (usually the decision maker). Top of Page
Different Types of CV
There are two main types of CV, ‘Time Based’ and ‘Skills Based’.
The Time Based CV lists employments chronologically, from the most recent backwards. This type of CV is more conventional and tends to be preferred by employers.
The Skills Based CV emphasises abilities and achievements rather than the roles you have undertaken. Although this type of CV can be very effective, employers can be sceptical as it can be used to cover up dubious career histories. You should consider using this type of CV in the following circumstances:
If you are changing career field;
If you have worked in lots of different fields or for lots of different employers;
If you have had significant career breaks.
Note that in general, the type of CV chosen is less important than its content. It is usually better to focus your effort on what is covered and how it is presented, rather than striving for a particular style of CV.
Finally, be aware that your CV will provide the basis for interviews with prospective employers. Always be prepared to provide more information/depth on everything contained within your CV.Top of Page
Career Summary
Constructing your own Career Summary or profile can be a very useful exercise, regardless of whether you actually use it in your CV.
You should aim to produce a summary of around 30 words, covering the following key areas:
Your skills;
Your knowledge;
Your experience;
Your attitudes.
Constructing a Career Summary
Try brainstorming each of these 4 key areas, jotting down everything that comes to mind. Think about yourself in the third person perhaps as a recruitment consultant. What would that person have to say about you and how would they describe you?
Then, put yourself in the mind of the potential employer and take out everything that is irrelevant, unimportant or doesn’t portray you in a sufficiently strong light. Rank the remaining items in order of importance and construct your summary from the most important items.
Once you have done this, keep refining the summary until you are happy with it, using other people’s input wherever possible.
Example Career Summaries
A recently qualified actuary with 3 years’ experience of designing and pricing life and pensions products. An excellent team player with strong communication skills and a track record of delivering high quality, innovative solutions.
A highly experienced and motivated scheme actuary with excellent inter-personal skills. Thrives on developing strong relationships with clients and providing excellent standards of service.Top of Page
The Covering Letter
You should always submit your CV with a covering letter. Not only is this courteous, but it gives you an additional opportunity to sell yourself to the employer.
Your letter should be concise and to the point, but will need to cover the following areas:
Why you are writing to the employer;
The benefits to the employer of taking you on;
A closing paragraph stating that you would like to meet up and proposing possible dates (if appropriate).
Typical Letter
Dear Mr Smith
RE: Pricing Actuary Vacancy Ref. 12345
I was interested to note in this month’s Actuary that you are looking to recruit a Senior Pricing Actuary for your Manchester office.
I have worked for XYZ plc since 1995 and have led a product pricing team of 13 people for the past 2 years. I am a strong team player with excellent inter-personal and technical skills and am looking to develop my skills within a larger and more dynamic environment.
I have enclosed my CV and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you further. I can be contacted after 2pm on the telephone number above and would be available to attend an interview any time during the next 6 weeks.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Joe Bloggs
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Sample CV Templates
These CV templates will help you to create a good looking CV that includes all the relevant information you need. (Right click on either file and choose 'Save Target As...')
CV Template (Undergraduate) | CV Template (Employed) |
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