What To Put In A Good CV

What to put in a good CV...

Before you start

Sit down with a piece of paper. Look at the job(s) that you are applying for. Consider how your skills, education, and experience compare with the skills that the job requires. How much information do you have about the job description?

Sometimes employers do not give enough information. Ask for more detail if needed. Spend time researching detail about the job(s) that interest you and information about the employer - their structure, products, successes, and approach - from:
Their own publicity, reports and publications
A library (business reports, trade papers)
College career office
Newspaper reports
The Internet

WHAT TO INCLUDE
Personal details
Name, home address, college address, phone number, email address, date of birth.
Do you have your own web homepage? Include it (if it's good!).
If your name does not obviously show if you are male or female, include this!

Education
Give places of education where you have studied - most recent education first. Include subject options taken in each year of your course. Include any special project, thesis, or dissertation work.
Pre-college courses (high school, etc.) should then be included, including grades. Subjects taken and passed just before college will be of most interest. Earlier courses, taken at say age 15-16, may not need much detail.

Work experience
List your most recent experience first. Give the name of your employer, job title, and very important, what you actually did and achieved in that job. Part-time work should be included.

Interests
They will be particularly interested in activities where you have leadership or responsibility, or which involve you in relating to others in a team. A one-person interest, such as stamp collecting, may be of less interest to them, unless it connects with the work you wish to do. Give only enough detail to explain. (If you were captain of a sports team, they do not want to know the exact date you started, how many games you played, and how many wins you had! They will ask at the interview, if they are interested.) If you have published any articles, jointly or by yourself, give details.
If you have been involved in any type of volunteer work, do give details.

Skills
Ability in other languages, computing experience, or possession of a driving licence should be included.

References
Usually give two names - one from your place of study, and one from any work situation you have had.  If this does not apply, then an older family friend who has known you for some time is ok. Make sure that referees are willing to give you a reference. Give their day and evening phone numbers if possible.

Length
Maybe all you need to say will fit onto one sheet of A4. But do not crowd it - you will probably need two sheets. Do not normally go longer than this. Put page numbers at the bottom of the pages - a little detail that may impress.

Style
There are two main styles of CV, with variations within them.

Chronological
Information is included under general headings - education, work experience, etc., with the most recent events first.

Skills based
You think through the necessary skills needed for the job you are applying for. Then you list all your personal details under these skill headings. This is called 'targeting your CV', and is becoming more common.
 
Optional extras
It can be good to start with a Personal interest/Objective statement. This is a two or three sentence overview of your skills, qualities, hopes, and plans. It should encourage the employer to read the rest.
You could add a photo of yourself - either scanned in by computer, or stuck on. But make sure it is a good one. Get a friend (or a working photographer) to take a good portrait. The pictures that come out from automatic photo-machines do not show you at your best!

Presentation
This needs to be clear and to the point with all relevant information. Make sure you have the dates that you worked for each position, also the ages of the children that you have looked after as parents are interested in seeing what ages you have got experience with.
See below a good CV.

GOOD Curriculum Vitae

Contact Details

Joanne Smith
52 Burnt Hill
Surrey
SG22 1RN
Telephone:
Mobile:
E-mail Address:

Personal Details

Date of Birth:
Martial Status:
Nationality:
Driving Licence
Clear CRB Disclosure

Personal Interests

I am a Responsible, reliable, fun and NNEB qualified nanny, with 10 years experience in the childcare industry. I work well in a team and am fully motivated whilst working alone. I enjoy all creative activities such as making cards, mosaics, pottery and needlework. I also enjoy walking, horse riding and yoga. Recently I have become interested in complementary therapies especially reflexology and Reiki.
 
Employment History

2003 – Present
Sole charge nanny
Mr & Mrs Smith

Sole charge full time nanny position for three children 4 months old, 3 years old and 6 years old. Duties included school runs all nursery duties and day-to-day care of the children’s needs.

Education

1999-2000   Harlow College
                    I achieved the following qualifications    
                 2 NVQ Level Early Years Care and Education
                      NNEB (in childcare)
                       
                      Certificate in Good Practise in working Well With Under 3’s
                      OCR Level 2 Certificate for teaching Assistant
                      First Aid Certificate
 
References Available on request

Sometimes the only way to improve is to learn from mistakes - preferably other peoples' mistakes. With this in mind, we've put together what could just be the most awful CV you've ever seen.

BAD CURRICULUM VITAE
Personal Details
Name:Diana Saster
Date of Birth:29th Febuary 1995
Address: 13, Hapless Road, London sw10 2ju
Telephone: 081 123 4567
Sex:Female
Marital Status:Single
Nationality: English
Education
1983-1987 Hapless Road Junior School
1987-1994 Hapless Road Senior School: 10 GCSEs, 
1994 - to date  Any college , Anytown, studying for a childcare
Work History
1988-1989: nanny
look after children
1994-1995: Assistant Bar Manager for the Pink Flamingo, Anytown
I became familiar with the full range of products supplied in the bar and enjoyed striking up a rapport with customers. (Left after disagreement with the manager)
Extracurricular Activities
Entertainments Officer for the College Drinking Society
Captain of the University Women's Hockey Team
General Skills
Conversational Mandarin
Word Procesing Skills
Driving Licence (7 points)
References
Dr Jones, Any College, Anytown
Mr Derek Saster 13 Hapless Road, London