Career resources

CV writing

People tend not to like writing about themselves. Some feel a bit odd at having to boast about themselves, while others go the other way and are tempted to oversell themselves, running the risk of getting caught out at a future date. The following key areas should help you on your way.

Presentation and format

• Use a portrait layout rather than landscape
• Use a white background colour (printed copies should be on good quality white paper)
• Use a system font such as Arial or Verdana in black
• Keep the file size down below 50KB
• Avoid italics, garish colours, images, clip art or an ornate border – you want to be noticed for what you say
• Try to keep your CV to no more than two pages (printed copies should be stapled together, rather than bound or placed in a wallet)
• For business compatibility create with Microsoft Word - widely used by recruiters and employers
• Avoid converting into a PDF - recruiters frequently need to cut and paste into a standard format for clients

Structure

• Put your name right at the top of the front page, with your contact details directly underneath. Use personal contact details, rather than work-specific
• Have a clear structure that's easy to understand and read. Your aim is to present facts about yourself concisely and with clarity
• Use bullet points rather than complete sentences, which can sometimes lead to unnecessary wordiness
• Your educational history, academic achievements and work experience should be listed in reverse order – university degree should come before your school exam results
• Never leave gaps. If you took a year out, or carried out interim assignments, say so – otherwise, employers can suspect the worst . Leave nothing to chance
• Leave your hobbies and interests until last – and keep this section short
• Avoid including your date-of-birth or contact details for references
• Do include links to an online portfolio or professional blog (as long as it's relevant)
• Only include social networking links if you use them in a professional manner (eg LinkedIn)

Double-check and proofread

• Check your CV carefully – always run a spell check over it carefully and re-read to ensure accuracy; ask a friend to check it too
• Your CV is the first impression your potential employer will have of you
• Take the time to get it right – you may not have a second chance