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Writing a CV

The purpose of the curriculum vitae (CV) is to get you that all-important interview and understanding how to write a CV correctly will increase your chances of achieving that. Here, we share our recruitment experts’ top CV tips which will have you leaving a great first impression.

When writing a CV, it must be sharply focused and designed to grab the employer’s attention. Having analysed what the employer wants and assessed what you’ve got to offer, you must match the two as closely as possible on your CV.

An example of a good CV is one that uses the words and phrases that appear in the advertisement and highlights the skills and experience specifically requested. Remember to include transferable skills. Try to deduce what other unspecified skills might be required. Make sure to record all your relevant qualifications and experience. The CV format should see your work history read in reverse chronological order (most recent job or current job first, then working back, so the first job you had is last).

One of the main aspects to consider when learning how to write a CV that engages, is to ensure that it is tailored for the role. It needs to specifically address the employer’s needs. Whilst writing a CV, prioritise and highlight the skills and accomplishments which you think would fit the employer’s expectations of the ideal employee. Remember the distinction between claims and credibility. Make statements about your skills and achievements and back them up with hard evidence.

As a leading Construction and Engineering recruitment agency, we know that an effective method to demonstrate your skills (as well as experience) is to show examples of the problems you encountered, the actions you took and the results you obtained. Concentrate on how the company benefited in terms of improved productivity, sales, profits, customer relations, etc.

Use action verbs when listing accomplishments in your CV, e.g. ‘conducted’, ‘established’, ‘implemented’, ‘increased’, ‘investigated’, ‘negotiated’, ‘reorganised’. Quantify, personalise, and be specific in your descriptions. When describing your work experience, use job titles or skill headings that match the job you are applying for. Be positive and forward-looking. Use past accomplishments as an indicator of future results. Concentrate on how your prospective employer will benefit from your skills, qualifications and experience.

Since your CV will be competing with hundreds of others, visual layout is very important. The CV format must be carefully structured, uncluttered and easy to scan. Headings should be appropriate. Use white space and bullet points to break the text. It should seldom be longer than two or three A4 sheets (depending on years of experience). After you have finished writing a CV, remember to check for spelling, grammar and typographical errors.

Please download our CV template here.

 

Curriculum Vitae – CV Advice Check List:

  • Are your achievements expressed in terms of the benefits and value you have added to your employers?
  • Are your achievements clearly corroborated by evidence and examples?
  • Have you indicated how you achieved what you did?
  • Are your key strengths and abilities obvious and demonstrable?
  • Are your strengths linked to your achievements and accountabilities?
  • Does it encourage the reader to read the rest of it after they’ve read the first half page?
  • Does it explain what you do beyond your job description?
  • Is it well-structured and organised?
  • Is it visually appealing?
  • Is it likely to differentiate you significantly from the rest of the candidates?
  • Is the language simple and straightforward?
  • Does it criticise your employers?

For more CV help, get in touch with the Consultive team.