How to write your CV

Format

    • Keep it simple.
    • The most common file format is Microsoft Word.
    • Avoid tables and tabs as they can become distorted if cut and paste is used to import your CV.
    • Use easy-to-read font type (Arial) and size (11).
    • Avoid lots of white space and aim for 2 – 3 pages
    • Make sure the first page shows your key achievements – you want your CV to have an immediate impact and make them turn the page.

​Mould Your CV To Fit The Position You Are Applying For:

  • It’s not only important to communicate your abilities, but to show how those abilities fit the position you are applying for.
  • If the position includes travel and you can speak other languages make sure this is on your CV, as this is an important attribute, emphasise it.

Use A Consistent Writing Style:

  • Be clear and concise. Long, ambiguous sentences make for difficult reading.
  • Action words make the reading more interesting and communicate your active, not passive accomplishments.
  • Ensure you do a spell check errors are always a negative especially at senior level, as it’s considered a lack of attention to detail.
  • Hiring Managers want to see evidence, ensure that you provide examples that will showcase your achievements and experience.
  • Include a work history, using action words to describe skills and responsibilities.

Summarise:

  • Your summary should have a clear and concise message.
  • Usually placed at the beginning of your CV, the summary should have enough information and evidence to help a hiring manager decide if it’s worth their time to read further.
  • It should give a clear idea if what, when, where, how, how long and answer the question ‘what can this person add to my business?’
  • The discipline you have focused on with an emphasis on your target i.e. sales, engineering, human resources, operations, change management, turnaround etc.
    Products you have worked with.
  • The level of leadership and management responsibility i.e. manager, director, principle engineer etc.
    Core strengths and key achievements.

​Where:

  • The industries and markets that you have worked in (industrial manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, Oil & Gas etc.)
  • The type of organisation i.e. public company, global or regional, small or large enterprise, etc.
  • Regions you’ve worked in i.e. Europe, USA, Middle East, and Asia etc.

​How Long And How:

  • Your total years of working experience, and the specific time spent in each what and where.
  • This should reflect key data supported achievements and evidence of how well you performed in each what and where.
  • It should also include key information regarding specific knowledge that could be relevant to your experience and performance such as language skills and certifications.
  • We have a sample CV template to assist you in writing your own. To download our CV template, please click here.