A great Curriculum Vitae (CV) is your key to getting an interview.

Your CV should be a clear outline of you and your experience. It should include the following:

Personal Details

Name in full
Full address with postcode
Contact numbers and email address
Date of Birth
Driving licence – if it's clean say so
Nationality

Employment History

Detail your career chronologically starting with your present/most recent job, include: job title, company industry and turnover, dates e.g. June 1999 – present, brief description of duties, responsibilities and achievements.

Education, training and professional qualifications

Starting with university first, For Secondary School include number of exams passed and at what level, don't list all subjects (the fact that you got a GSCE in PE will not help you secure a Credit Control job).

Any specialist training courses (relevant to job).

Additional Information

Computer Skills: include relevant accounting packages.

Languages: foreign languages and to what level (conversational/fluent).

References

Available on request – full details can be provided when required.

Things to Remember

• Employees will receive numerous CVs for a vacancy so first impressions count. A badly laid out CV won't be read. A long lengthy CV will send a client to sleep, keep it to the point and save some information to discuss at interview

• Check for spelling mistakes, get someone else to read it to ensure it is grammatically correct

• Never send a photocopy

• Make sure it is typed and in black and white

• Never put your salary details on it as this may rule you out before getting an interview

• Your CV should be a maximum of 3 pages

• Ensure there are no gaps on your CV – if there are make sure these are explained