Your CV is your first opportunity to make a great first impression on a prospective employer. But how do you know where to start? CVs can be intimidating if you don’t have a clear structure to follow, that’s why the Unitemps team has produced a template CV for you to use.
In a rush? Download the CV template.
Header and contact details
The header of your CV contains a few key components, such as your full name, current job title and address – either your full address, or city/area if you wish to keep it private. It should also include a phone number and email address, so that hiring managers can get in touch.
If you have a professional portfolio, website or networking profile that contains more information about yourself, include this in the header below your address.
Personal statement
Your personal statement sits at the start of your CV and acts as a short summary of the information to come. Think of it as a sales pitch for yourself and remember it’s the first thing a potential employer will read, so it’s important to make yourself stand out.
Employment history
This section is where you can show off all relevant work experience, in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent experience.
As your career grows, you will tailor this section to show only relevant work experience to the job that you are applying for. Although it can be tempting to list every job you’ve had, your employer doesn’t need to know this. (Unless it is relevant, of course.)
Education
Your education history can be shown off here. Include detailed information on your education, including the names of the institutions, dates that you attended, modules studied and grades attained (or forecast to achieve). This way, the hiring manager can get a good understanding of your specialties.
Core skills
This section is where you list all your in-demand skills and projects related to your field. Try to tailor this section to include relevant skills to the job you are applying for, they can usually be found in the job description or person specification.
Hobbies and interests
If your CV is already reaching two A4 pages, this section is optional. If not, it’s a great opportunity to include what you like to do outside of work. The hiring managers can get a better idea of how you would fit in the team by including your hobbies or interests. Remember to keep everything related to the job you are applying for and add notable features such as running a marathon or volunteer work.
References
Your references are people whose contact details are passed onto the recruiter, so they can vouch for your character, work performance, and can confirm the information on your CV. The reference section is at the end of a CV and can either show the names and contact details of the referees, or state that “references are available upon request”. Either way, the hiring manager will know there are legitimate people who can vouch for your character.
- Two references are usually enough. Before you put a reference down, be sure to ask the reference for their permission
- Depending on who your references are, let them know that you are applying for jobs. It’s usually a good idea to send them your most recent CV so you know they have your most up to date details
Top tips
- Avoid generic wording, such as ‘responsible for’ and instead use active verbs such as ‘led’, ‘created’ and ‘achieved’
- Think about the term ‘show, don’t tell’. Use active words, backed up with concrete examples, instead of wishy-washy phrases
- It’s vital that you leave a good impression! Proof-read your entire document before you send it off
- Ensure that your phone number is up to date and that your email address is correctly typed. This could be the difference between getting an interview or not
- If you live between your university and home addresses, choose the one closest to the job that you are applying for
- Although it isn’t necessary, if you have a LinkedIn account, it is good practice to include a link
Now you are an expert in CV writing! Need more help? Download our free CV template. Remove the information in each section and add in your own.
Not sure what role you want to apply for yet? Check out all Unitemps current vacancies. Good luck applying for your next role!
Last updated on 15 August 2024
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