How To Write a CV

On average, recruiters spend between 6-8 seconds looking at your CV before deciding whether to progress with your application. With such a short space of time to impress, you’re going to want to make sure that your CV stands out from the pile.

Whether you’re fresh out of university and on the hunt for your first graduate role, or you’ve been in the working world for some time and are looking for your dream job, Viva Money brings you the ultimate guide to writing a CV.

First things first: what should I include in my CV?

9% of people in the UK have never written a CV, and knowing where to start can feel like a minefield. If you’re wondering how to write a CV, we’ve put together a CV checklist and broken each section down to help you get started.

• Your name and contact details

  The first thing you’ll need to do when considering how to create a CV is to list some basic personal details, such as your name, telephone number, and email address. This will make it easy for recruiters and potential employers to contact you.If your LinkedIn page is up to date, you might also consider sharing a link to your profile.

• Introduction/ personal profile

  Your CV should include a brief introduction section, often referred to as a ‘personal profile.’ First impressions are important, so this is where you really need to shine. In a few lines, describe your personal qualities, explain what it is that you do, and sum up why you’re a great candidate for the job. Keep it brief and to the point.

• Employment history

  Starting with your current or most recent position, provide a rundown of your employment history, including each company name, your dates of employment, job title, and main duties. Be sure to explain any gaps in your employment history; for example, you went travelling or took some time out to raise your family. If you’ve completed work placements as part of a university or college course, you may wish to include these here too, although be sure to specify that they were placements rather than permanent employment. You shouldn’t need to go into too much detail here.

• Education history

  List the name of the school/ college/ university you attended, the dates you studied, and the qualifications you achieved. As with the employment history section, you should start with your most recent qualification and work your way backwards.

• Other accolades

  This is where you may wish to include any relevant workplace or university achievements and awards. Have you received formal recognition for your exemplary customer service? Did you lead a successful project at work that led to positive outcomes for the business? This section is the perfect place to draw attention to your accomplishments. If you’re drafting your first-ever CV, you could include things like being recognised for having 100% attendance at school or college or any positions you held, like Prefect or Head Girl. Recruiters are likely to view this as a huge positive.

• Hobbies

  The final couple of lines on your CV allows the recruiter to get to know you on a more personal level. In a few short sentences, share your hobbies and passions. As many as 40% of jobseekers admit to lying on their CV to make it look better, but being dishonest isn’t worth the risk. Do not state that you have a passion for cycling if you’ve not ridden a bike in over a decade. You’re going to look foolish if the recruiter is a keen cyclist and starts throwing lingo at you! Have confidence in yourself; you might not think that your hobbies sound all that interesting, but someone else might, and people will appreciate your individuality and authenticity.

Things you should not include on your CV

• A photo of yourself

  Unless specified (for example, you’re applying for a modelling job), there’s no reason to include a photograph of yourself on your CV. In the UK, there are laws in place that specify that it is illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace based on how they look. Including a photo on your CV could be a litigious concern, which employers will be keen to avoid.

• Your age, date of birth, nationality, and marital status

  You should be aware that employers are also unable to discriminate against age, nationality, and marital status, so be mindful that these details are not necessary to include on a CV.

• Sensetive information

  While it’s important to explain any gaps in your employment history, you should refrain from oversharing personal information. Recruiters do not need to know that you relocated because of a messy divorce. Stating ‘personal reasons’ or ‘family commitments’ is enough.

• Your reason(s) for leaving your previous role(s)

  Data released in 2023 revealed that one in three British workers have left jobs as a result of bad management. With these statistics in mind, your own explanations as to why you’ve quit former positions may not always be positive. As you want your CV to give the best first impression possible, any negatives are best left out.

Should I include references on my CV?

Referees are people who can vouch for your character and work ethic. This could be your university tutor, current or previous boss, or even a neighbour you regularly babysit for. It’s up to you whether you supply reference details on your CV.
If you’re successful in an interview, you’ll be asked to provide contact details for your current or most recent employer.
Depending on the type of work you’re applying for, some recruiters may request both employment and personal references.
Recruiters should give you a heads-up when they’re ready to approach your referees, especially your current employer.

Before you submit your CV

• Pay attention to the visuals

  Your CV should be easy to read and appealing to look at. Where possible, use bullet points and short, concise sentences, rather than large paragraphs of text.
  Avoid fancy fonts, colours, and emojis – some recruiters may see this as unprofessional. Instead, use plain fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial, and keep the font size around 12.
  Two sides of A4 should be enough; however, if you’re new to the working world, you might find that your CV is considerably shorter. Try not to worry about this; every single one of us has had to start somewhere. Blow them away with your cover letter instead!

• Add a cover letter

  60% of recruiters ask for a cover letter to accompany a CV, and 85% state that they either always or frequently read them.
  Regardless of whether they’re a requirement or not, including a cover letter could put you one step ahead.
  A cover letter should address the position you’re applying for, summarise any relevant experience, your qualities, and why you should be considered for the role.
  Remember to tailor your cover letter to the position you’re going for and pay close attention to the job description – do not talk extensively about your career in sales if you’re applying for a role as a chef.

• Double- then triple-check

  77% of recruiters have an unfavourable opinion of poor spelling and grammar, so take the time to carefully check over your CV and cover letter before you send. The Read Aloud tool on Word is handy when proof-reading your work.
  Alternatively, it might be an idea to ask someone else to have a scan through your documents - they may be able to spot errors that you’ve missed.

• Consider your email adress

  Back in 2008, princessbubblesxox or starwarsking might have been considered pretty cool email addresses amongst our peers… But quirky handles are not considered ‘professional’ by recruiters.
  Before sending out your CV, have a think about the email address you’re using. Setting up a new, more professional account is easy to do.

Create a CV online for free

Wondering where to get started and how to make a CV? CV examples can be found on various sites such as My Perfect CV and Live Career.
Many people struggle to write about themselves, and therefore find CVs difficult to draft.
If you need a bit of extra support in making your CV look its best, there are various websites and apps that allow you to download free CV templates online, such as Microsoft 365 and CV Template.

You've got this!

Your CV is now preened to perfection and ready to be sent out. Congratulations – you’re one step closer to securing your dream job!
If you’re invited to an interview, try to stay calm. Statistics show that only 20% of applicants make it to the interview stage, so you already have something to be immensely proud of. The fact you’ve been chosen suggests that the recruiter has already seen potential in you and your skillset. Have confidence in yourself and remember that you’ve got this.
Good luck!

The information contained in this article is meant as a general guide and does not constitute or should be taken as advice. September 2024.