CVs
There is no perfect way to do a CV and there are many sources of help and advice out there – some good and some not so good. Ask ten people and you often get ten different pieces of advice!
Iain and Helen from UHI Futures are here to offer you advice which is based on experience, research and feedback they receive from the world of recruitment. It’s a great place to start with your CV.
However, before you start, please remember a CV is your marketing tool. A CV can be used for jobs, graduate placements, internships, volunteering and further study options. Creating a CV takes time and often several drafts before arriving at the version you are happy with. Start by making notes of what you want to include – things like your employment history, qualifications, skills. Then you can move on to structure and layout….one step at a time!
You should also reflect on the different types of CV that can be created – there are Chronological CVs, Skills based CVs, Technical CVs, Academic CVs. Take a bit of time to consider this - we recommend a look at the Prospects CV advice pages before you start.
What should your CV contain?
What should your CV contain?
Some initial CV tips - your CV should:
- be no longer than 2 sides of A4 (Academic CVs can be longer)
- sell and promote what you have to offer
- be concise and easy to read
- contain as a minimum your contact details, a summary of your education, a summary of your work experience and information about references. CVs can contain other information, such as key skills, key achievements and a personal profile
- be rewritten or heavily edited for each job you apply for in order to target it at the employer. You should never send a generic CV for a job.
- be an accurate reflection of you!
- be free of spelling and grammatical errors
Top CV Mistakes
Top CV Mistakes
Top CV mistakes – we can all make them! Don’t let a simple CV mistake stand between you and your next move. Make sure you watch this before going any further with your CV:
Using CV Templates
Using CV Templates
And finally, a word on the use of CV templates. Not everyone can lay out and format a CV to the standard required. If this is you, a template may well be the best way forward – just be careful which ones you choose and make sure that it is a UK version to ensure correct terminology and spelling.
MS Word also contains a range of CV templates – have a look and see if they work for you.