• 1. What is a CV?
• 2. Sections of a CV
• 3. CV Content and Length
• 4. CV Presentation
• 5. CV Writing Tips
• Back to Career Centre

Step 2 - Sections of a CV | Guildford Local Jobs

Getting the format right is much harder than it sounds. Not only does the CV have to be the correct length, but needs to have the right balance too. In addition to all of this it needs to look good, and read easily. If a CV doesn't look the part then there is a chance that it may never be read. Employers are very busy people, and don't always have time to read every CV. No matter how good the content is on your CV, if it does not look professional enough it could go straight in the bin.

Most CV's include some but not always all of the following sections: Name and contact details, Personal profile, Work experience, Qualifications Professional qualifications, Professional memberships, Skills, Competencies, Other personal details, Interests, References

You should not only take care as to what you include, but also what you exclude and the order in which you list everything. Remember you do not have to list every last detail of every last job.

Personal Profiles | Guildford Local Jobs

If you break your CV down into sections, the hardest section to get right is the profile. Professionals often find that at least 90% of profiles received need improving. And the vast majority need completely re-writing as many people have great difficulty writing a good profile. This is highly significant because a good profile is often what sets a good CV apart from an average CV.

When you write a profile it is your chance to make an excellent first impression and also highlight important skills and traits you possess in addition to those highlighted elsewhere on your CV.

The best profiles are written with the employer in mind. If you can get into the employer's mind this is a significant advantage. Other tips for profiles include writing in the third person, focusing on selling your skills, and ensuring the profile reads well, preferably in a slick and professional manner.

Work Experience | Guildford Local Jobs

Employers like to see achievements in your work experience. Most people mention responsibilities but some people forget about achievements.

You should include evidence to show that you can work on your own initiative, or as part of a team and deliver results. If you can quantify your achievements then all the better. For example, the Interests section is not obligatory. Unless you have something really impressive to say which is relevant to the job, then it is arguably better to leave it out of your CV, especially if the space saved can be better used elsewhere.

Some people do more harm than good by adding interests. For example, some people include interests which may deter certain employers. These include dangerous sports, involvement with political groups, or membership of particular religions.

Most of the time you do not know who will be reading your CV, so you cannot second guess their reaction if you include dangerous or potentially emotive interests. It could well be that the person reading your CV could belong to exactly the same political party as you, and share exactly the same religious beliefs and passion for skydiving. But don't count on it! Often it is better to play safe. If you really want to add interests then include some which have some relevance on the job, or at least show positions of responsibility, intellectual ability, or a level of fitness.

If it up to you whether you include interests or not. However, it is usually best to omit interests unless you either have something very impressive to say, or your CV looks unbalanced and the addition of an interest section will help balance it out.

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