Have you ever had to write a Curriculum Vitae? Did you find it difficult? This article will tell what effective techniques and language to use to make your CV stand out of the crowd and get you the dream job!

A CV is a document which you give to an employer when you apply for a job. It is a summary of your education, skills and work that you have done. In the UK we call it a CV,or Curriculum Vitae, in the USA resume. CVs are often a little longer, and more like a list of jobs, duties, educational qualifications and hobbies; a resume is usually only one page long, and concentrates more on selling yourself, saying why you’re so good and listing your qualities as a worker.

Five tips for a good CV

Your CV has to go through five different levels when it’s received by a potential employer.

1. When the employer receives it.
2. On a long list. This is the beginning of selection.
3. On short list. This is when they whittle the long list down.
4. At inverview
5. On file.

Here are five tips to help you get to the fifth, final level.

1. Keep it to two pages or less, remember quality is better than quantity. Keep it concise and clear.
2. Spell check.
3. Keep your CV relevant to the employer. All CVs must be written with individual employers in mind.The job description is the secret to success! The employer is literally telling you what they’re looking for, so apply your skills and experience to the keywords they use.Yes, that means a different CV for each application!
4. Make your CV easy to read, no smaller than font size 12, Arial/Times New Roman. Use bullet points.
5. Do a skills audit. Can you creatively match your skills to the job?

Five mistakes to avoid with your CV

And here’s some advice on what not to do…

1. Sending a CV with no covering letter.
2. Sending a CV that is far too long or way too short.
3. Not matching skills to job specification. All CVs must be written with individual employers in mind. Yes, that means a different CV for each application! (If you submit the same CV/resume to every job you apply to, you’re doing it wrong. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits all resume for every position, even for the same position at different companies. Create a master document, and modify it to reflect the interests of the specific company you’re applying to.
4. Major spelling or grammatical errors; use spell check or get someone to do it for you.)
5. Lying.

FAQs ( Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: How can I make my CV stand out?
A: Remember, employers are looking for quality not quantity. This can be evidenced by what you’ve done outside of college or work; voluntary work etc. Don’t be afraid of white space on the page, it lets the text breathe. Remember, sometimes less is more.

Q: Help! I can’t write a personal profile!
A: Ask someone else to do it for you – that way you can get true objectivity about yourself. Or think of how a movie is sold on the back of a DVD case; it’s the same deal – selling the product. In a personal profile YOU are the product!

Q: How should I deliver my CV?
A: Most employers will state a preference on their website, whether by email or hard copy. If in doubt, ring up and ask.

Q: Do I have to put my date of birth on my CV?
A: No. Legislation makes it illegal to discriminate on age.

Example of a CV

Powerful Vocabulary

In CVs it is crucial to use positive vocabulary to impress the person who is going to give you the job.

This exercise will help you find words and phrases to describe:

• customer service skills
• administration skills
• how you work in a team
• how you use your initiative

We have more indepth info and exercises on the site for members.