How To Write Cv

Introduction

I have read a number of "Do It Yourself CV" books over the years, and one thing above all has struck me in the introductory pages. More often than not, the author begins by explaining what a minefield it can be to write your own CV, and goes on to say how much of a shame it is that there are so many so-called experts out there giving bad advice about writing CVs. Then they produce their own book full of their own opinions on the subject.
I'm not going to begin by rubbishing other authors. Indeed, I am grateful for the proliferation of differing opinions on the subject. It has enabled me to come to balanced conclusions about how to write an effective CV. My own opinions are based on what I have read about CV creation, CVs I have written for others, and myself and CVs that have been sent to me as a potential employer.

Take a Step Back

The Latin "Curriculum Vitae" means: "The way your life has run". The French "Resume" means "Summary". Start with this in mind. The CV is a summary of YOUR working life, no one else's. Consider carefully what you will include in a CV and how it will look. Most people know roughly what a CV should contain, and that's enough for them. They throw everything they think might be vaguely relevant into it, often using someone else's CV as a guide. Your CV is your first impression. Make it a good one. The person charged with the task of selecting a short list of possible candidates has probably seen every line in the book. "I work well individually and as part of a team" is a very popular line. It has become almost as predictably present on the average CV as the dark lines left by a poor quality photocopy on cheap paper.
If you are responding to a recruitment advert, read it very carefully. Has it been thrown together in a hurry, or is it professionally designed? You can learn a lot about the advertiser by studying their adverts. Make sure you make careful note of exactly how to respond. Some specifically say "no CVs" and instead require an application form to be filled out. Others want your covering letter to be hand written. This will be time well spent, as it is often the case that a candidate is so pleased to find a recruitment advert that suits them that they forget to read the details and rush off a hastily prepared letter and CV, no matter what is required of them.

Find out as much about the company you are applying to as possible. Is this job really for you? The purpose of your CV is primarily to highlight your potential value to the company. It could also be used to provide material for an interview. If you are not confident that the job is right for you, it will be picked up very quickly.
Consider what experience you have that will help you do the job well. I have found that a good and fast way to find out about a company is to visit their web site (if it exists). There is often a wealth of information available, and possibly details about the person you are writing to. It is always helpful to be in possession of more information than you might need, particularly at the

interview stage.
When writing, I try to think constantly of what the reader's reaction will be to what I write. Try to sell them what you think they want to buy. This does not mean to say that you should be untruthful; it means that you should tailor your CV to your audience. Make the most of the information relevant to them, but don't over-egg the pudding. If you give yourself more credit than you deserve, it will bite back if you get an interview when you are asked you to elaborate.

Structure and Presentation
The layout of your CV should be concise, informative and easy to read, printed on good quality paper. If the reader has a pile of CVs to read, they don't want to spend more time than necessary poring through your reams of beautifully written prose. Use short sentences and don't go off at a tangent. Left justify your type (a style otherwise known as "ragged right") and use a serif font. Whichever font you use, decide on a style and stick with it throughout. There is nothing more off-putting than a document filled with different fonts, text sizes and colors.
Avoid gimmicks such as brightly colored paper, or a CV folded into the shape of an aero plane. They may provide a few moments of light relief for the reader, but it is generally accepted that it is the content that gets you the job, not your ability to be different. Recruitment is a serious business and should be treated as such. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and the employer might specifically request an "off the wall" CV if it is relevant to a creative job. I can't remember the last time I saw such a request, however, and I work in the graphic design industry. As an employer of designers, I can confidently say that if I want to see a portfolio, I'll ask for a portfolio. I don't want to see it integrated with the CV. And while we're on the subject of serious business', don't try to be funny. Avoid humor and over-familiarity.

Content
CVs have been produced in many forms. There are two basic layouts I would like to mention here, and they both relate to CVs of a general nature. It is up to you to make it your own. Its content reads something like this below:
Name
Occupation
Address
Telephone Number
Date of Birth
Nationality
Marital Status
Health
Driving License
Religion
National Insurance Number
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Professional Qualifications
Employment History (Present, Previous etc)
Other (interests, Skills, achievements)

As you can see, the latter arrangement omits various details, which are irrelevant to the average employer, such as "Next of Kin" and "Religion". If the position is likely to be particularly hazardous in nature, or if you might be working abroad, they may become salient. Only include details such as these if you are specifically asked to do so, or if you feel they will be relevant to the position. If you manage to fit all of the information onto a single side of A4, then so much the better. This doesn't mean you should use a tiny font with reduced leading. It means that you should be selective in what you say.
The main difference between the two approaches is that in the latter example, relevant work experience is brought to the fore. The reader will be presented with the information of interest straight off the bat. Education is, of course, very important, but actual work experience is always given more weight. If your employment history is left to the end, the reader has to crunch through everything else before they find the information that is instrumental in getting you to the next stage.