General Article How to write a CV

Topic Selected: Careers and Employability Book Volume: 405

Why you need a CV

A CV is a short, written summary of your skills, achievements and experience which relate to a role you want. You use it in the first stage of applying for jobs. Employers often ask for a CV instead of an application form but sometimes you’ll need both.

It’s your first chance to promote yourself to an employer. A good CV will get you to an interview.

Use it to apply for advertised jobs, or to introduce yourself to employers you’d like to work for. They may have vacancies that aren’t advertised.

Start your CV

Start with the job advert for the role you’re applying for, so you can refer to the:

  • job description
  • person specification
  • company details

Think about how your skills and experience match what the employer is looking for and gather the information you’ll need, including:

  • your qualifications
  • your past jobs and volunteering experience
  • your past employers’ details
  • evidence of any training courses you’ve completed

You should tailor your CV to suit the job descri...

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