Your CV is an essential part of getting a job. It’s the first thing an employer or a recruiter will see of you, so you want to make a good impression.
Your CV is designed to demonstrate why you’d be a good fit for the role you’re applying for, whether it's a full-time job, an apprenticeship or an internship, to name a few. It includes any professional experience and your education too. But it’s also designed to showcase your personality and how you might be a good fit for the company.
While there is no ‘one way’ to write a CV, there are a couple of elements that most CVs always have:
Keep in mind that the simpler the layout, the more likely it’ll look the same across different devices. If you’re applying for a creative or design role, you might want to play with the layout to help show your practical skills.
Where possible you can tweak and tailor it to the job you’re applying for, rather than send a generic CV that details all your experience and skills. Read the job description for the role you’re applying for, research the employer, and choose the experience and skills that are most relevant.
Our CV Builder tool will guide you through creating your CV, enabling you to highlight your work experience, personal details and skills, and packaging them up in an accessible format that companies can process both quickly and easily.
A reference is a way to back up what you’ve put on your CV and a way for potential employers to check what you’ve said. The person who writes your reference is called a ‘referee’. You can simply write ‘References available on request,’ and provide their contact details later.
You may also be required to add a cover letter when submitting your CV. Here's our advice on how to write a cover letter.
