A CV is essentially a sales document to communicate your experience, education, skills, notable achievements and hobbies that are relevant to the specific role you are targeting. It is important that it is concise, to the point, clear, grammatically correct, readable and preferably well under 2 pages in length.
If the format is off-putting, or the tone is too detailed, you can forget about getting that role. Think of it as a TV commercial. Many are just chewing gum for the eyes. They do not catch the viewers attention. They have lost the whole point of creating an advert. TO ADVERTISE. Aren’t the best TV adverts simple?
Here are some simply tips for creating your first CV.
Do not over exaggerate your skills or experience. Be realistic about what you can offer.
Keep the formatting simple, using bullet points and relevant facts.
Start off with a Profile/Career summary section on page 1, keeping it under 8 lines.
Make sure your email and phone number is written clearly on both the CV and Cover Letter.
Make the Interests and Hobbies section short. Do not use specifics in regards to types of clubs you follow or write anything controversial.
If you have any IT/Software skills relevant to the role, make sure they are inputted into the Profile section at the top.
Make sure your Cover Letter is targeted specifically for the role and the Job Title is placed in Italics or Bold at the top of the page, just below the Name/Address.
If you are targeting the CV to a specific country, check the formalities of what is required by employers in that country.
MOST IMPORTANT: Be authentic.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD CV FORMATS IN WORD
The following Formats can be used for First-time school leavers or for anyone looking to create a simple and effective CV that can be amended going forward to suit different roles.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD WORD FILE – A Good Example of Your First CV
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD WORD FILE – Skill Based CV (Good for applying to be an Apprentice)
VIDEO TUTORIALS