CV Style
 | What you should do |
- Simplicity: Your CV should be clearly written, consistent, simple and easy to read.
- Headings: Have headings for each section e.g. personal, education, career history, this will make your CV easy to navigate. Highlight key headings/details within the CV by using bold or underlined text, try to avoid using this within the actual content as it may be distracting.
- Positive first statement: The first statement under a heading should be positive and make an impact as this is the first sentence an employer will read. Do not save the best until last, put the best first!
- Use a word-processing package rather than a spreadsheet. Remember that most CVs are sent via email these days and it must look as visually pleasing on the screen as it would on paper. Ensure that the format of the document is one that employers will be able to open easily, such as .doc. If your CV is saved in an unusual format and cannot be opened then they are unlikely to take your application further.
- CV Length: Whilst you do not want your CV to be ‘war and peace’, it is important not to omit any areas of your experience just to keep the word count down. This is particularly relevant as your career progresses. A CV is typically 2-3 pages long; it should not be longer than 5 pages, with length depending on seniority and level of work experience. An employer would not expect a senior candidate to have a one page CV, and would want to take the time to read through the detail of past experience to ensure that they are hiring the right person. Equally an employer would not expect a junior candidate (i.e. has been out of full-time education for a couple of years and just leaving first professional job) to have a seven page CV.
- Use positive terminology: ‘I will...’ rather than ‘I might...’, ‘Achieved...’, ‘Confident at...’, ‘Determined to...’ Emphasise what YOU have done rather than ‘our team did...’, ‘we...’, ‘with a colleague...’ It is important to demonstrate that you can work in a team, but they are looking to hire a person, not a team and need to know what your contribution has been.
