Some ideas for what you should have in your CV and how best to present it.
Include contact information, name, address, telephone numbers and email address. You do not need to put your nationality, date of birth, religion, marital status or gender unless you feel it will enhance your application.
International students may want to put their nationality and visa status so that it is clear to the employer.
This is optional, more often used with skills based or hybrid format. It can be used to make a successful pitch to an employer identifying your key skills and experiences.
Include your career aspirations and what key skills or selling points you have to offer.
Include university qualifications degree, postgraduate qualifications.
List pre-university qualifications (A Levels, Access course), summarise earlier qualifications such as GCSEs.
International qualifications may need brief explanation if you are not applying in your home country.
You can put the most recent first or you can split into relevant and other work experience to emphasise relevant work even if it isn't in date order.
All jobs and voluntary work can be used. When describing your experience include achievements and emphasise relevant skills developed.
You can group similar jobs together eg 3 jobs in retail with different employers.
Include IT skills and languages with level of competency.
Include what you do in your spare time. Keep this short and identify the skills you demonstrate through the activity eg as Football Coach, interpersonal or motivational skills.
Usually 2: one academic based, one recent employer. Give name, contact details including email addresses.
Talk to referees to check they are happy to act as your referees and tell them the type of posts you are applying for, give them a copy of the CV.
