Tips on Writing the Winning CV
When writing and designing your CV it is important firstly to recognise the purpose of this document:
- Inform the prospective employer about your education, work experience and relevant skills. It is your sales pitch.
- Persuade them that you are a strong contender for the role and that you should be afforded the opportunity to attend interview. It should be written for the purpose of securing you an interview.
Once you have decided on your goal you can then set about writing a strong and relevant CV.
Presentation
Keep the font plain and simple and easy to read. Arial or New Time Roman in size 9-12 is recommended. Too many fonts can make the cv appear confusing.
Format
Simple bullet point format is more effective and is easier on the eye. Ensure that each section has a clear and concise heading. Differentiate your headings by bolding them.
Content
The content is crucial. It has to be well structured and targeted. It must be informative and persuasive and must come across in a strong manner. Using action verbs can assist with this i.e. managed, assisted with, trained and supervised....
Concentrate on the pertinent facts and steer away from using jargon and company specific terms that will not be understood.
All details must be honest as the truth will come out at a later stage in the process.
Include statistics and numerics i.e. reduced costs by 25%, increased revenue by 15%. This is especially relevant where you are applying for accountancy or finance based roles.
Make your CV more interesting by listing your achievements and accomplishments in the role rather than just listing off your duties. This will give you a competitive advantage over other applicants.
Avoid the use of clichés as it will make you appear unimaginative.
Your CV is designed to be a summary of your career to date and should typically not be longer than 3 pages.
General Headings
Personal Details
Name
Address
Date of Birth
Contact Number
Email Address
Overview/Summary
This should be no longer than 3 or 4 lines and should capture the readers' attention instantly. You should use short, snappy and descriptttive sentences encouraging the reader to read further.
Educational Details
Commence with the qualification most recently achieved.
Professional Qualifications
Dates Attended
Institution/College/Professional Body
Qualification attained and accreditation
Third Level
Dates Attended
Colleges/Universities attended
Qualification Achieved including specific grade
Second Level
Dates Attended
Name of School
Details of Leaving Certificate Results
Work Experience
Start with your most recent work experience as this is likely to be the most relevant to the role for which you are applying.
Employer
Dates
Job Title
Reporting to
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Achievements in the role
Interests and Hobbies
Detail interests and hobbies that demonstrate skills that are relevant for the job. Avoid listing anything controversial or dangerous.
Membership of clubs
Achievements in sport or other areas
Charitable work
Additional Information
Work related courses or training you may have received.
Awards or recognition you may have received.
IT Systems - Skills and experience
References
Contact details for 2 referees should you wish to include their details. Check with the referees before you place their details on the CV.
Tailor your references to the role for which you have applied.
Otherwise placing a note to say that references are available on request is perfectly acceptable.
Final Check
Ensure that the same font and format are used consistently throughout the CV.
As basic as it may sound always run a spell check. A simple spelling error could eliminate you from the selection process immediately.
Tailor your cv to each job application. You should have 1 generic cv format. You should then amend and adjust this to make it as relevant as possible for each application specifically highlighting your skills and experience for that particular role.
General Tips
Ensure that your cover letter is brief and summarises why you are a suitable candidate for the role in question.
Keep a record of all applications you make so that you can chase and follow up on these.
Do not duplicate on applications as this will make you appear unprofessional and disorganized.
Ensure that you submit your application well in advance of any quoted deadline.
Conduct all communications with your prospective employer in a professional manner.
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