IIP, REC and FSB

The first step on the way to landing you ideal job is to get an interview. Your CV is your brochure, a sales tool for you to sell yourself. Make sure your CV gets you noticed and ensure that you are seen every time!

Set your CV out in the following sequence:

	Personal Details
	Name, Address, Telephone Numbers, Email
	Personal Profile
	Sum yourself up in one sentence. Your personal profile is your unique selling point, and it provides the employer with a snapshot of you and your career. Include qualifications relevant to your career and aspirations, any work experience you have had and a key achievement in your last position.
	Key Skills
	Your company needs me! Your CV is a selling tool, telling the employer what you can do and why they should employ you. As well as your career history, list the skills that make you right for the job.
	Career History
	So what did you do? Write a brief job description of each job. Clarify the company's activities and your contribution.
	Education & Qualifications
	Clearly state your qualifications and grades together with any professional qualifications and certificates gained. Be prepared to back this up with written copies of your achievements.
	Other interests
	Include hobbies; highlight any team sports, showing you work well with others.

Do not claim too much credit. Keep your CV short (two pages maximum) and to the point. It should clearly show your suitability for the job, documenting key achievements as well as personal and company accomplishments.

Basic styling. Most employers prefer a CV that starts with your latest job and works backwards.

Keep it clean. Allow plenty of white space on the CV, and use headings and section breaks. If information is hard to find, the employer may move to the next applicant.

Proof Read and keep it simple. The most common mistakes usually involve spelling and grammar. Ensure the structure progresses logically and just use one type font throughout to keep it simple and easy to read.