Preparing a great CV involves presenting your career history, skills, knowledge and experience, understanding the role and the values of the organisation to which you’re applying, and deciding what is relevant and beneficial to include.
Here are seven steps to getting started:
- Prepare a structure/template for writing your CV – for example, you name & contact details centred at the top, a profile , your key successes and skills, your career to date in reverse order, qualifications, education, leisure interests
- Collate all the information about yourself that you need for the above, including precise dates/timelines (month/year)
- Review and record your main achievements
- List your key skills – gained both in and out of the workplace
- Ask people that know you well and trust, personally and professionally, for their perceptions of your key skills and achievements
- Research the company/organisation; thoroughly read the website
- Read the job description and person specification to clearly understand what the prospective employer is looking for
Ensure your information is accurate: dates, names (e.g. qualifications, colleges, employers) since a casual error in one area can cast doubts on another. You are ready to write, using your template.
For tips about how to present your CV, look out for my next blog or follow me on Twitter.
You’ll also see advice about CV writing on my CV page. Please do contact me if you would like us to develop your CV together.
