CANDIDATES
CV Tips & Structure
CV Template
We have created a CV template that you can download here:
Writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) can be an arduous task. More often than not, candidates write their own CV and occasionally they will use a professional to write it for them. If you go down this route, we would suggest using a specialist with knowledge of the sector you’re looking to work in, rather than a generalist. When using a recruitment agency, the CV is typically formatted in the recruitment agency's structure so the physical presentation is not always as important as the actual content. That said, if you’re applying to a position directly then the presentation will be just as important. As a general rule, we typically suggest writing your CV in the first person and ensuring it is 2-3 pages maximum.
Career Advice
Keep it Simple
Hiring Managers are typically very busy and will often be put off by long CVs or may not have the time to work through the whole CV. It’s important to keep you CV short, concise and ensure it’s structured so that the most relevant information is towards the top of the CV. Make sure that you keep a positive and formal tone throughout and make sure that everything you write is relevant, and tailored to the position you are applying to I.e. make sure your ambitions and motivations match up with the requirements of the position and make sure that the skills and competencies also match up with the responsibilities of the position. Finally make sure you that you thoroughly check it and get somebody else to check it for spelling and grammar mistakes.
Personal Details
Name, Address, Telephone number and email address.
Personal Statement
This is the first part of your CV and the first thing somebody is going to read so it needs to have an impact. It should be 4-6 sentence long and between 50 and 200 words. The personal statement should include, who you are, what you can offer and what you're looking for. It’s important to not overuse buzzwords and to keep it short and impactful.
Employment and Achievements
We suggest writing your CV in reverse chronological order with your current position at the top of the list. We’d typically suggest 6-8 bullet points for each position describing your role and responsibility and then a further 2-3 bullet points under each detailing your achievements. It’s really important to include technical information in your employment history that is specific to the position you are applying for i.e. for an accountant, accounting rules, client sizes, portfolio size, sector knowledge and experience etc. If you have had lots of jobs then include them on your CV but make sure your most recent and most relevant positions have more detail than perhaps a job you had over 15+ years ago or a job which has no relevance o the position you are applying for.
Qualifications
Make sure that all of the information you include in your CV is accurate and not misleading as this could cause you issues at interview stage. Display GCSE, A Level, higher education and any professional qualifications or additional qualifications that are relevant to the position.
Key Skills
It’s important again to make sure that you list your key skills that are relevant to the position in order of priority and fit for the vacancy. As an example, things to consider are technical skills, managements skills, software skills, communication skills.
Hobbies & Interests
This is down to the individual. At TPF Recruitment, we feel that it allows you to get your personality across to the hiring manager e.g. whether you enjoy team activates or individual activities. Think about how your hobbies and interests will be perceived and present them in the best possible way.
References
There is no need to include reference details on your CV, you can detail them as “subject to request”.