In this blog Elly Hanna, one of our CV feedback experts from Venn Group, takes you step by step through creating a great CV.
The definition of a CV is a brief written account of your personal details, your education, and the jobs you have had. Sounds simple… well it is.
To create a CV, you just need to know all about… you! So below, I will give you some simple guidelines on how to get ‘you’ on paper.
The most difficult part is adapting your CV for the job you are applying for. That is key, as each job is unique and one of a kind. So, I’ll cover adapting your CV for each and every job application too.
Creating your CV
When you make a start, don’t overthink it. Just get the information below on paper:
Personal details
- Name
- Phone number
- LinkedIn profile (if you have one that is up to date and will reflect your CV)
Personal profile
This is a short personal statement, adapted to the job you are applying for.
Employment experience
You should be thorough and detailed. Think about every task you performed and every skill you used.
An example layout is below:
Company name, job title (Dates, for example February 2021 – August 2021)
- Provided administrative support for a team of twenty
- Effectively managed their diaries
- Prepared and collated meeting agendas
- Created meeting minutes and action plans
- Supported with typing and letter creation
- Redirected calls and took messages
- Dealt with enquiries professionally and politely
Education
Starting with the most recent, you should list:
Year taken, institution, qualification or certification, grade if applicable
You now have a ‘master’ or template CV which will become the starting point for every application.
Making your CV stand out
Now you should start to tailor your CV. Make sure you have the job advert or person specification to hand. You should also take a look at the company website as they will often tell you what they look for in an employee.
Then follow the below steps:
- Mirror the job details by moving relevant experience to the top of the bullet points and removing anything that would have no relevance to the job
- Create your personal profile. This is where you should highlight your suitability for the role. A profile must be positive and engaging. It should contain who you are, what you have achieved and what you bring to the company. It’s important to get this right as often a covering letter or email will be separated from your CV.
Here is an example:
Who are you? A conscientious administrator with excellent timekeeping skills
What have you achieved? Having successfully balanced study, part-time work and caring responsibilities using strong organisational and time management skills.
What will you bring to the company? I am committed to starting my career and delivering resourceful administration support to your team.
A conscientious administrator with excellent timekeeping skills, having successfully balanced study, part-time work and caring responsibilities using strong organisational and time management skills. I am committed to starting my career and delivering resourceful administration support to your team.
A good profile will be concise, unique to the job you are applying for and filled with strong adjectives and verbs.
Final checks
Lastly, check and check again.
For grammar – read it out loud
For spelling – read it backwards
You could also ask a friend to check for you, or use a free online tool like Grammarly to help you check.
Our CV and job application feedback service is free to young women aged 18 to 30 who live in England or Wales.
