Write a Winning Curriculum Vitae

The modern CV must be targeted, relevant and concise. It is important that you review your CV for every new position and ensure that all the information is appropriate for that particular position. Always ask yourself - am I presenting all my skills, abilities, qualifications which make me suitable for this position, in the best possible manner?

The purpose of a CV is to persuade the employer that you should be interviewed for the position.

To do this, your CV must show that you have the qualities the employer is looking for. Here is a good way to do this:

Match the Job
For many students and graduates their first job after graduating isn't one which they have done before. It seems to call for new skills and abilities. So how can you show that you have the qualities the job requires if you haven't done a similar job in the past? The secret is to look for things which you have done which called for the same qualities as the job you are applying for.

Step One : Find out what the job involves.

Read the job description if this is available. Otherwise find a job description for a similar position in the files in the Resource Room
Read any brochures or reports which the employer has produced/provided
Read any general information about the type of work you will have to do
Talk to people who are doing similar work.

Step Two : Think about the job

What tasks would the daily routine involve?
What skills would the job call for?
What type of personality would suit the job?
Step Three : Think about yourself

Do you have the skills the job calls for?
Do you have the right sort of temperament or personality?

Step Four : Be clear about the match


Accentuate the skills, qualities and abilities you have which are necessary for the position.


There are four main areas at which employers look when reading your CV:

Education.
You can use this section to show you have the ability to think clearly, draw conclusions, work without supervision etc. Try to be specific; it's best to point to particular aspects of your degree course or other education rather than just making a general comment.

Work Experience (including how you have spent your vacations.)
A summer job, voluntary work or travel can often be used to show that you can get on with people, work in a team, work under pressure and meet deadlines etc.

Leisure Interests.
Your leisure pursuits, particularly if they involve other people, may show that you can plan and organise, co-operate with others, compete, work hard to achieve results, lead teams etc.

Specific Skills.
Some jobs call for specific skills in areas such as computing and foreign languages. Even relatively easily acquired skills such as driving and the ability to use a word processing package are often useful.

Isolate the essential elements of the job. Then look for the things you've done which you can present as having similar features.

Give evidence: If you are applying for a job where you have to be orderly and methodical, you could mention activities you carried out in a systematic way, eg being secretary of a society or a vacation job which called for attention to detail.