Your CV is a vital tool when you're looking for work; Mike Kelley from First Impressions, Professional CV Service, explains the basics of writing an effective Curriculum Vitae.
The Aim of your CV
The aim of the CV is to get interviews. To achieve this, your CV must be read properly - i.e. pass the 15 second filter and be placed on the pile for reading later.
How to write a CV for Graduates and School Leavers
Please be careful if you decide to write your own CV. There is a significant amount of "CV Help" misinformation and poor advice regarding CV writing etc. There are also people who are all too willing to "help" give advice on how to write a CV - again this is dangerous as it will probably be "general CV writing help and advice" and not "graduate or person specific".
There is no such thing as a perfect CV which applies to everyone
I am not going to show you the perfect CV here so that you can copy it by just writing over someone's details with your own. This will not create the impression that potential employers are looking for. Your personality will not come through, just uninteresting, soulless words. The recruiter's will sink when yet again, he or she recognizes another regular CV format with all the standard buzzwords - and they'll be more likely to reject your CV.
Qualifications as a Recent Graduate or School Leaver:
Include the results of each subject. Do not, however, include the results of exams that you have failed.
If you have recently graduated or have a number of relevant professional qualifications, these should be written on the first page of your Graduates CV, list any education or training that relates to your job target. As you gain more experience, your education / professional development is best placed on the second page, (a one page CV may be sufficient for a recent young graduate). For recent graduates, list information such as college activities and any notable projects that relate directly to your job target.
Showing general or high school education and activities on a Curriculum Vitae is only appropriate if you are under 20 years old and have no education or training beyond high school. Once you have completed either college courses or specialized technical training, drop your high school information altogether. Don't waste space by listing training that is not directly or indirectly related to you target job area.
Continuing education shows that you care about life-long learning and self-development, so think about any relevant training since your formal education was completed. Relevancy is the key word here. Always look at your Curriculum Vitae from the perspective of a potential employer.
Remember you never get a second chance to make a great first impression http://www.cv-service.org
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