This morning I trawlled through lots of C.Vs that were dreadful! I knew that the candidates themselves had strong abilities but their C.Vs did not reflect this.
I put together a basic guide for my candidates and thought I would share it with the forum.
This is a Basic C.V Template. It asks the minimum information required for employers. You can add and alter the sections as you wish or feel necessary....but this is the basic layout required.
Suitable for:-
Administrative / Secretarial / Accounts / Sales / Warehousing / Production / Retail etc..
BASIC C.V TEMPLATE.Your C.V should ideally be no more than two pages long.
PERSONAL DETAILS.Name, Address, all contact numbers, email etc… You can also include information such as driving licence if you wish. Remember to ensure all information is accurate. A incorrect contact number can mean that your employer will move on to their next candidate. They will not necessarily track you down. Also DO NOT put your age on your C.V.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. This is the section in where you need to sell yourself! Highlight your personal qualities that you feel would make you attractive to a future employer e.g Good timekeeping, Reliable, Honest, Methodical etc..You can tailor this section towards the job role you are applying for.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY.Always start your Employment History with you current position first, then work back through your career. Clearly state what position you held at the company, Company name and the location. Include dates where possible, use approximations if you can not recollect the exact date. Bulletpoint your experience in each role. Think clearly about all aspects of your job. DO NOT put your salary details down on each job...You could be pricing yourself either out of the job your applying for or undervaluing yourself.
COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE.List the programs you have used or have a knowledge of. This can also be experience gained from a home P.C as well as work related. If you do not have any computer skills, leave out this section.
FURTHER EXPERIENCE / INFORMATION / SKILLS OBTAINED.List information of any special licences you hold eg: NVQs, BTEC etc. Counterbalance and Reach Forklift, Dangerous Goods Handling, First Aid Certificates, etc…Also include any special training you have received Customer Service Training, Retail Courses plus any additional Internal Courses gained through work.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.List Address details of the School / College you attended and the years in which you attended. Include Grades
HOBBIES & INTERESTSList your hobbies and interests.
REFERENCESInclude the Contact Names and Addresses of two to three references. References must be work related, not a Personal Friend. One of the references must also be your last employer.
If you have been self employed you can use your Accountant as a reference.
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Additional C.V NotesYou do not need to include a photograph on your C.V.
Be factual on your C.V. Try to bullet point where you can rather than long waffling sentences..Its your skills that your future employer wants to focus on..not your creative writing abilities!
Its advised that C.Vs are no longer than two pages. This does not mean however two pages of minuscule typing to fit everything on or alternatively 2 pages of giant font to give you two pages!. 12pt font is considered a good average size for C.Vs. Two pages is only a guideline..between 1 and 3 is considered acceptable.
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COVER LETTER ADVICEKeep your cover letter plain and simple...No one wants to receive a essay about your life story as well as a C.V. You can elaborate on those areas at interview. You need to let your C.V do the talking. Make sure it is exactly how you wish to "sell yourself" to a company. Its the best tool for getting the interview..not the covering letter
I suggest something along the lines of the following.....
Dear Sir or Madam
My name is...........and I have recently seen your position of ..............(quote any ref numbers here also), as advertised on/in (mention website or newspaper here) and the date you saw the advert.
I feel that I have the qualifications, experience and accreditation you are seeking for this role. Please find enclosed my C.V submitted for your perusal.
I am a American Citizen and I have full status to work within the UK. Please see enclosed a copy of my Visa (include a photocopy in with the letter) I am happy to show you the original at interview.
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Thank You
Yours sincerely
YOUR NAME
If you want to be traditional..you can hand write the covering letter but if your handwriting is dreadful...type it out.
