What to add to your CV really depends on the nature of the job you plan on applying for. However, with most CVs, you’ll need to include some of the following elements regardless of the job you’ve set your sights on:

1- Personal Details…

Include your name, address, phone number/s (home and mobile) as well as your email address. Some people also choose to add their date of birth and marital status – however, it’s not compulsory so that part is completely up to you.

If the job you’re applying for involves working outside the country, then consider adding your nationality as well.

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2- A Personal Summary…

This need only be a couple of sentences long and usually precedes the main body of the CV. It’s basically a very short but punchy summary/overview of what you feel your skills, merits and future aims are. The intention and the desired effect behind composing this short summary is the equivalent of dangling a carrot in front of the reader. It should pique the reader’s interest and make him/her want to read the rest of your CV.

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3- Work Experience…

Start from your most recent and work your way backwards. This can include paid and unpaid work.

If you’ve been working for several years, then you can really only fit in so much! Rather, focus on the last 10 years. You should also explain any gaps in your employment over that time.

On the other hand, if you’ve recently left school/college/university and don’t have that much work experience, you probably have a lot more experience than you think. Did you ever help organise an event, a wedding, a birthday, a fundraiser? That’s work experience. Did you baby-sit, house-sit, pet walk for some time? That’s work experience.

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4- Educational History…

Again, start from your most recent educational achievement and work back. If you hold a degree (or degrees), you don’t need to break it down into different subjects. If you have A-Levels or GCSEs, list all grades from A-C and leave out any grades beyond that. If you studied an A-Level or GCSE equivalent such as a BTEC First or BTEC National, include that too.

(p.s.: if you’ve recently left education and have little work experience, then list your education before your work experience)

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5- Professional Qualifications/ Membership…

…especially if they’re of particular relevance to the job you’re applying for. If you’re in the process of obtaining a professional qualification, mention that as well. It might not carry as full a weight as actually gaining the qualification but it does demonstrate a certain level of commitment and intention on your part.

Are you a member of any professional association? Add that too along with your corresponding member ID.

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6- Training…

If you’ve been sent on any significant training courses in the past in connection to work, then include them. This also includes any job-related courses you might have signed up to off your own back without the company you work/ed for having suggested it.

Similar to listing any professional qualifications you may currently be undertaking, you might also consider listing training courses that you’re in the process of taking.

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7- Skills…

Mention any computer skills you have. This includes both hardware and software skills. Consider listing things you might deem to be outdated. For example, if you’ve only ever used a really old version of a database application, mention it as it might just be a matter of training you up. (it might be quicker than training someone with no knowledge of databases at all).

Do you have any marketing skills, telephone-based skills, language, shorthand or typing skills that might be relevant to the position? If so, list them.

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8- Hobbies and Interests…

Including your hobbies and interests gives your potential employer a chance to see another aspect to you. It might also make for an interesting topic of discussion at your interview!

Sharing your hobbies and interests is also an opportunity to highlight any areas of responsibility you may have within it. For instance, perhaps you’re a volunteer editor for a community magazine or you love playing football and over the years have been teaching the sport to the over 50s.

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9- References…

You can either mention on the CV that references are available upon request or include the contacts of two people who are willing to give you a good reference. Do ensure that you let them know you’d like to use them as references before actually including their names. Even though you might have used them for a previous application, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be willing or able to give you another. It’s also plain courtesy to ask rather than assume.

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10- Other Information…

This section of your CV is where you could include other important information that doesn’t readily fit into any other section.

For instance, if driving is essential to the job, and you do hold a driving licence, include it here. Or if the nature of the job is such that it involves you having a Criminal Records Bureau clearance, and you do have one, then mention it as well as the date in which you obtained it.

Include any other essential information you feel might be relevant to the job.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at 9:51 am and is filed under Recruitment, Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.