Before you start work on your CV it is vital to plan all the information that you want to include. Collate the information that you have about your career history, responsibilities and achievements. You should also organise any details that you have about your schooling, qualifications and training.

Review your dates and information to make sure that they are all correct and that there are not any periods of time that are not accounted for.

We also suggest that you think about your personality and how you would like to project yourself in your CV. Write down some positive words that reflect who you are, and think about the skills and attributes that you have developed outside of the workplace. This could include volunteering work or any hobbies or interests that you are involved in.

Finally make sure you understand what the role you are applying for requires. Your CV should be targeted and specific to the job you are applying for as this is much more effective than a generic CV.

Incorrect details can look unprofessional so check that your name, contact details and phone numbers are all correct!

The personal profile on your CV is an opportunity to introduce yourself to your potential employer. You should use it to convey your personality and any strengths that you will bring to the role. As this is the very first part of your CV that an employer will read it needs to be positive and engaging. Remember to write about yourself in the third person as this gives your CV a more corporate feel and makes it easier to read.

Begin by introducing yourself. Use affirmative phrases to describe yourself such as “a strong communicator” or “an organised and resourceful employee”. After you have written your introduction explain your current role including information such as how long you have been employed, promotions and any increased responsibilities that you have taken on during your time in the role. Finally write about what you want to do in the future and ensure that this fits the job role you are applying for.

This area of your CV allows you to tailor it to match the job specification that you are applying for. Make sure your read the job advert carefully and highlight the skills that apply to what you can offer them. However make sure that you don’t copy them word for word as it is far better to create a CV that shows you as a natural fit for the job rather than one that looks too contrived.

We feel that usually 5-10 bullet points suffice as you do not want your CV to become unwieldy. For management roles you should also include figures and financial results.

When writing your CV, list your educational establishments and the qualifications you gained in chronological order with the most recent qualification first. If you have a recent educational background or limited career history you may want to add the modules or subject that you studied. There is no need to write down every single GCSE or O level taken. Simply write it as 5 GCSE passes including Mathematics and English.

You may want to add in any work related training you have done but if you have had large amounts, or your role is related to industry specific qualifications, it may be worth having a separate section or you could include it in the key skills and achievements section instead.

Start with your most recent role and list the company name, dates of employment and all of the positions in the company that you have held. We recommend having around 5 bullet points per role which highlight the key responsibilities of the position and it is also a good idea to include examples of your main successes and achievements.

If you have had a long career you can reduce the number of bullet points as you work your way back chronologically giving a brief overview for each one.

You only need to add a couple of lines in this section of your CV but you should be realistic about what would make a positive impression on a future employer. Additional spoken languages or any voluntary work undertaken would be a good fit for this section.

Don’t forget to add that referees are available on request as the final touch to your CV.