CV Tips

(Scroll down for extra tips on CVs and for a pdf Template with Tips)

There is no such thing as a perfect CV and there are many different schools of thought on the best approach. However, a CV must be easy to read, structured and contain relevant information. Your People First Recruitment consultant will be able to advise you individually on your CV, its content and layout. However, here is an article and a few pointers below to get you started:

Presentation

  • Use only one font
  • Use bullet points where possible
  • Keep the layout clean and organised
  • Limit your CV to a maximum of two sides of A4
  • Double-check your CV for spelling and grammatical errors and ask a friend to check your CV before you send it out.

Content

  • Make sure your CV is factual and concise
  • Back up your skills with examples of your achievements
  • Always be honest about facts including qualifications
  • Provide all your work history and explain any employment gaps – never try to cover up any gaps by tweaking the dates

Layout

  • The most important information should appear on the first page
  • Write a personal profile of yourself to highlight your strengths, achievements and qualities (this should be about 50 words maximum)
  • Include details of your education and qualifications, as well as names of schools and results achieved
  • Detail your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your present or most recent job

Here are links to articles with more advice, and at the bottom are PDFs with sample CV templates

General Tips

43 Best Resume Tips for Landing a Job in 2023
5 Things To Add To Your Resume In 2023

Click here for more General Tips

Update/Tidy your CV

How to write the bullet points on your résumé in order to stand out
4 Strategies To Declutter Your Resume
5 Signs That You Need To Update Your Resume

Click here for more tips - Update/Tidy your CV 

Don't make these Mistakes

CV Red Flags: 5 Warning Signs Employers Look For
17 things (plus one extra) to NOT Put in Your CV (and why)
3 résumé mistakes that can sabotage your job application

Click here for more tips - Don't make these Mistakes 

Cover Letters

A Cover Letter – To Write Or Not To Write?
7 Cover Letter Words and Phrases That Are Costing You the Job

Click here for more tips - Cover Letters

CV Gaps

Are we done with the CV gap taboo?

CV Length

How Far Back Should A Resume Go?
Is a Two-Page Resume Ever OK?

Click here for more tips  - CV Length

Linkedin Tips

5 Secrets To A LinkedIn Profile That Can Compete In The 2023 Job Market
7 Linkedin Blunders to Avoid

Click here for more tips  - Linkedin 

Beat the Robots!

5 Tips To Beat The Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Changes To The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Can Block Your Resume From Being Seen

Click here for more tips - Beat the Robots

Your Age

CV ageism: Can you be the 'wrong’ age for a job?

Please download this sample CV, with tips included, to help create your own.

Here is a blank CV template for you to use.