Originally published here.
If you’re looking to land your first job, you’re going to need a CV.
Writing your first CV is a big challenge, but I believe anybody can create a strong CV – even when you don’t have any work experience.
In this post, I’m going to explain what a CV is, and show you an example first CV template along with some CV writing guidance, so that you can create your own CV that will get you plenty of job interviews.
What is a CV?
A CV (short for curriculum vitae) is a written document which you send to employers when you apply for jobs, and it contains relevant information about you, such as your education, skills, and knowledge.
It’s usually a 1 – 2 page document written using a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
It’s purpose is to get the attention of employers, and persuade them to call you in for a job interview.
Quick tip: You should think of your CV as your marketing material – like a leaflet or advert for your services as an employee, selling your most valuable skills to employers.
Who reads your CV?
When you apply for a job, your CV will be read and reviewed by either a hiring manager, or a recruiter.
Hiring managers are people within a company who are looking to hire a person for their team. For example, a shop manager who is looking to hire a shop assistant. This is the person you will normally end up working for directly when you are successful in getting the job.
Recruiters are people whose sole job is to find good candidates for hiring managers. They might work directly for a company, or externally for an agency. They will review your CV and speak with you, before passing your CV on to the hiring manager if you are successful.
If you can impress recruiters and hiring managers by showing them you have the right skills for their jobs, you will get plenty of job interviews and move one step closer to landing your dream job.
And your CV is the key to making that good first impression.
How to write your first CV
Now that you’ve seen a good example of a first CV, I will walk you through how to write a CV that will win you lots of job interviews.
Quick tip: Before you start writing your CV, research the types of jobs you will be applying for online and make a list of the skills and knowledge your target employers are looking for – then try to include as many as possible when writing the CV.
Structure and format
The first thing you need to consider when writing your CV, is how easy it will be for recruiters and hiring managers to read it.
Recruiters and hiring managers tend to be very busy and often have to review lots of CVs every day, so you need to make it easy and quick for them to read your CV, and digest the important information
CV formatting
Use these formatting tips to get started;
Create a text-based document using Microsoft Word or Google Docs – Don’t add images because they will congest the page.
Keep it simple by using a clear font (Arial, Tahomo etc.) and black text on a white background
Give it a professional appearance and make it easy to navigate by clearly dividing the CV sections with bold headings and borders
Break text up as much as possible using bullet points, to create a pleasant reading experience
Keep the CV somewhere between 1 and 2 pages long. If you don’t have any experience, 1 page should be enough.
Name and contact details
Your name and contact details should be clearly visible at the top of the CV, so that readers know who you are, and how to get in touch with you.
The only contact detail you need to include are your location, telephone number and email address.
You do not need to include your full address, DOB, martial status or anything more – these things are unnecessary at this stage of an application and will waste space
Your CV profile
Your CV profile (or personal statement) is an introductory paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV.
It’s the very first thing a reader will see when they open the CV, so you need to ensure that it grabs their attention, and sells your most valuable attributes.
You can read the complete sample here.