At Snowdon Tate we receive large numbers of CVs and they fall into two broad categories - easy to read and hard to read. The Curriculum Vitae - literally a record of life - is one of the most important documents that you will ever have to write so take the time you need to get it right.
Spelling mistakes demonstrate to the reader that you haven't bothered to check your work - not a good start. If you are not sure - get someone else to proof-read it and criticise it. If it is poorly laid out it suggests poor planning. If it is set out in an illogical sequence it implies that the author is confused. Different type faces and sizes suggest indecision and so on. If an advertisement asks for salary and benefits then provide them either in the CV or covering note - It is frustrating when a specific request is made for details and they are not supplied and we have to ask again.
So what is right? CV's are individual and personal and should give a flavour of the personality of the author. So, short of the type of unforgivable mistakes we have identified above, there is no right or wrong.
The CVs which we find the easiest to digest flow along these lines:
Length:
Try to convey what you want to on two pages of A4. Use bullet points and short sentences.
Headline:
Like a National paper you must make an initial impact. We respond well to CVs which head the page with your name and then provide a short summary about you and what makes you so employable - your headline - a major marketing piece of your CV.
Contact Details:
Immediately under the summary so that we can find easily where to reach you. Include all contact points to make it easy for us.
Date of Birth:
Traditional in UK to include it.
Languages:
Include.
Driving license:
Include if have one.
Employment Summary:
List of job titles only and dates starting with most recent and working backwards. Don't leave any gaps and don't start half way through your career.
Employment details:
If the company is not well known explain its size and what is does in one line. Add your title and responsibilities and main achievements - quantify where ever possible. Make it as impressive as you can but don't lie. Highlight strengths and use positive action words and be a succinct as you can. Do not just list the job description. We want to know what you achieved.
Education:
Under the contact details include all institutions and dates and number of 'O' levels and subjects and grades for 'A' levels and degrees.
Salary & Benefits:
If you are not including these details in the CV then do include them in a covering note or letter.
Interests:
This is the only section where we can find out what makes you tick outside of work - so use it to give us a more complete picture of yourself.
Referees:
Not necessary at this stage unless you wish to include them in which case we will not approach them without you prior consent.
Format:
Most CVs are submitted electronically and we always request to receive CVs in this way as it makes handling much more straight-forward. Once you have written the CV do print it out - we often find a stray word falling onto the next page which otherwise is completely blank.
Remember, you are trying to impress the reader with your CV. It is your marketing document and the gateway to an interview if you get it right. Give the document to a few people to test it out and do change it. Keep it up to date and when you have amended it upload your new version on the registration section of our site so that we are always up to date.
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