How to create an Effective CV

Creating an effective CV can be quite a daunting task. When faced with a blank piece of paper we are often left asking ourselves what information needs to be included. How do I word details so that it looks positive for me? Does it matter if I make spelling mistakes? How should I present it?

The best place to start is to make sure you have all the facts in place. So a good tip is to sit down with a notebook and starting from your earliest age write down all your qualifications, and achievements. You will also need to place dates and places in the CV where you worked and when you left and your role and responsibilities etc. So this may take a bit of referencing old information. However it may also trigger old memories of former experience and what you have achieved. While you are writing, remember to pinpoint factors in your own character and personality which can be evidenced by the work you have done. This is no time to be modest. Put everything down in your notes – you can always sieve and refine later.

Now you have the backbone of what will go into the CV, you need to match those factors with the Job Description itself. It should be taken into consideration that the best CV’s are made specific to each new job you go for. This doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch with each one, but you need to adapt your CV to meet the requirements of each post. So create a table in Microsoft Word, take each point in the job description or person specification, and match it with a qualification, achievement or experience in your own life. For instance if it is stated you need to be a good leader, then find evidence in your career where you have shown team leadership skills.

At this point you can create the skeleton of the CV. You could make it a chronological CV (i.e. starting with the most recent career experience and moving back to schooling) or you could base it on skills. This kind of CV is effective because you can pick out the skills that are asked for in the job description and provide headings within the CV for each area.

Whichever you decide, presentation is very important. In these days of high unemployment it is an employers market. He/she will find numerous CV’s on his desk everyday. You therefore have to grab their attention immediately. So it is a good idea to start the CV off with a bullet pointed summary of your personal skills. Many employers will also go straight to the end of the CV just to read a summary of who you are, so make sure this area highlights all your positive elements and is in tune with job description.

Finally, remember once you have finished, to proof read your CV. It should be typed, so using Microsoft spell checker and grammar checker can be very useful. Ensure all headings are underlined and it looks professional. At the end of the day just like selling in person, this is going to be their first and only impression of you, so make it really good – you will not get a second chance