C.O.O.L. ROTARY

Want to know how to write a CV that will impress an employer?   We have created comprehensive guidelines to help you. If you are trying to create a general purpose CV we will show you how to write one that really works.

The advantage of a good CV is that it provides a picture of who you are that can be matched against the employer’s job specification. Another advantage is for yourself. It allows you to think hard and bring out your best attributes. Knowing who you really are is key to seeking the right job.

A CV is usually defined as a short document highlighting an individual’s:

• Education
• Profession
• Accomplishments

This is produced by a person searching for employment and is given to prospective employers when applying for a job.  CVs look to emphasize skills, qualities and other information towards matching candidates with the job selection criteria. It’s a marketing tool. With your CV you will be able to promote yourself.

In the competitive and fast-moving job market, you only have thirty seconds to impress a potential employer with your CV. With a good CV you can maximize your chances and stand out from all the other applicants.

Your CV should:

• Promote and sell you by clearly representing your work history, skills and experience.
• Have its content free of spelling and grammatical errors.
• Always be sent with an effective and meaningful covering letter.
• Make a good impression by detailing your capabilities and strengths in a positive way.

When writing your CV please make sure to stick to the truth. Be sure it is printed on good quality A4 size paper and never attach extra documents, letters or certificates. Read your CV a few times, and then ask a friend or family member to read it as well. Make sure there are no spelling errors and that it is not dirty as this will be fatal. It might sound obvious, but be truthful. Never try to fix dates and jobs to hide periods of unemployment. The most basic of checks will expose your deceit and ruin any chance of getting the job.

Before you begin writing your CV, sit down with a paper and pen. Look at the jobs that you are applying for. Consider how your skills, education, and experience compare with the skills that the job requires. You should spend time researching details about the job that interests you and information about the employer – their structure, products, successes, and approach.

 What to Include in Your CV

Personal information: name, address, birth date, phone number, email address, webpage (if available).

Education: List places of education where you have studied – most recent education first. Include subjects taken in each year of your study.

Work experience: List your most recent experience first. Give the name of your employer, job title, and most importantly, what you actually did and achieved in that job.

Interests: Potential employers will be particularly interested in activities where you have leadership or responsibility, or which involve you in relating to others in a team. Give only enough detail to explain. If you have been involved in any type of volunteer work, do give details.

Special skills: List your capability in other languages, computing experience, or possession of a driving license.

Length: All you need to say should fit onto one sheet. But do not jumble it together – you can probably spread it over two sheets if it is too much for just one.

Optional extra: It can be good to start with a personal objective statement. This is a two or three sentence outline of your skills, qualities, expectations, and plans.

Covering letter: When sending in a CV or job application form, you must include a covering letter. The purpose of the letter is:

To clearly say what job you are interested in. If you are sending in a CV hoping that they may have work for you, explain what sort of work you are interested in.

To say why you want that particular job with that particular employer

Start your letter with an underline heading giving the job title you are interested in. (If you saw the job advertised, say where you saw it.) Try to find sample business letters so that you can follow style and layout.

The letter should only be on one side of A4 paper. It must be polite and easy to read. Also mention when you are available for an interview.