What is a CV?

CV is short for the Latin term "curriculum vitae" which means "the story of your life". A CV is an outline of your education and experience. Its purpose is to get you an interview.

When would you use a CV?

You would use a CV where

A job advert requests a CV. Send your CV with a Covering Letter.
A job advert asks you to apply in writing. Send your CV with a Covering Letter or write a longer letter of application.
You want to make speculative approaches to organisations. This is where you contact organisations where you would like to work.

What is it for?

Your CV is your own personal marketing tool. It gives you the chance to 'sell' your skills and experiences to the potential employer. You should use it to emphasise your strong points - to make your application stand out. Your aim is to get the employer to interview you.

Employers use CVs to decide whom to interview, or CVs may be sorted to decide whom not to interview. Employers might throw out all the untidy CVs. Presentation is very important.

You will not know exactly what the employer is looking for. However, by preparing a well-presented CV containing information that supports your application in the most positive way, you give yourself the best chance of getting the all-important interview.

CVs can also set the agenda for interviews and will have a strong influence on what will be discussed. Therefore, it is vital to remember that you are likely to be questioned on any information in your CV.

Organising Information in your CV

Most CVs will include the following sections:

Deciding what to put on your CV

It is important to write a positive CV. You will be able to do this whatever your age or experience. Highlight all your positive experiences, hobbies, sports, work experience including part time jobs, voluntary or community work, helping people as well as your qualifications.

If answering a job advertisement, read it very carefully and list the job requirements - job title, experience, skills, qualifications.

List the best examples of how you meet these requirements. It is important that this information goes into your CV. Emphasise the most relevant of your duties, responsibilities, employment skills, achievements, qualifications, so that the employer can clearly see your suitability for the job.

In particular, school leavers and students will need to show examples of commitment and dedication through stressing achievements in sports and hobbies, activities (work related or otherwise) and certainly where you have gained a position of leadership or were part of a team that competed for or achieved national or international honours.

Covering Letters

When you send a CV you must also send a Covering Letter. Covering letters must be written for specific jobs or organisations.

CV Builder

Use our online CV Builder to help you construct your CV. This takes you through an easy to use step by step process of creating your CV. You can create up to 5 different CVs and store them on our site, ready to retrieve and update whenever required.

Other useful pages