What makes good cv

When it comes to applying for a new job, your CV could be just the ticket to get you that initial foot in the door and secure an interview — but how do you ensure your CV is added to the interview pile rather than thrown straight in the bin? Putting together a successful CV is easy once you know how. It's a case of taking all your skills and experience and tailoring them to the job you're applying for.

But what if you don't meet the right criteria? Well, I've put together the following tips to help you get started in creating a successful CV and securing your first or next arts job. There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some common sections you should cover. A successful CV is always carefully and clearly presented, and printed on clean, crisp white paper. The layout should always be clean and well structured and CVs should never be crumpled or folded, so use an A4 envelope to post your applications.

Always remember the CV hotspot — the upper middle area of the first page is where the recruiter's eye will naturally fall, so make sure you include your most important information there. A good CV is clear, concise and makes every point necessary without waffling. You don't need pages and pages of paper — you just keep things short and sweet. A CV is a reassurance to a potential employer, it's a chance to tick the right boxes.

And if everything is satisfied, there's a better chance of a job interview. Also, employers receive dozens of CVs all the time so it's unlikely they'll read each one cover to cover. Most will make a judgment about a CV within sections, so stick to a maximum of two pages of A4 paper. You use it when you apply for jobs.

Because this document is named differently across different countries, a lot of folks keep asking:. Just like they do with chips and french fries, football and soccer, or Queen Elizabeth and Queen Bey.

So, if you're applying to a European company, you should create a CV. But if you're applying to a US-based employer, you should make a resume. And no, a CV is not a cover letter. A curriculum vitae is a detailed list of specifications, while a cover letter is a full-blown marketing campaign. Imagine you are the recruiter and you have to review job applications. Do you thoroughly read all of them? Recruiters spend only 6 seconds scanning each CV.

So the very first impression is key. Use 11 to 12 pt font size and single spacing. For your name and section titles, pick 14 to 16 pt font size. Set one-inch margins for all four sides. Make sure your CV headings are uniform—make them larger and in bold but go easy on italics and underlining. Too many graphics might make it illegible. Hiring, nowadays, is one hell of a hectic business.

But pay close attention to the job description. If such is the case, send your CV in Word. Time to dive in! Recruiters will use it to research you online. Want to avoid it? After listing their contact information on a CV, most candidates jump right into their work experience or education. A CV summary, in turn, highlights your career progress and achievements.

Now, have a look at some examples. Here are sample nursing CV objectives and summaries. Not awful, right? See the difference? The latter candidate focused solely on what she can offer her future employer. And yes, name-dropping is something you, too, should definitely do in your CV objective. Spell check? Like your experience section, your education should be listed in reverse chronological order.

Include the name of the institutions and the dates you were there, followed by the qualifications and grades you achieved. If you have recently left education, you may write your degree, A-levels or GCSEs or equivalents like so:.

Institution name — Dates attended from — to. If you have a degree, you could list a few of the most relevant modules, assignments or projects underneath.

For professionals that are a little further along in their careers, or have many certificates in their repertoire, you can lay your qualifications out in this way:. Qualification, grade — Institution — Year. There is a range of additional sections that may strengthen your CV and highlight your skills. Here are just a few you can include if you have room:. You should aim to detail four to five abilities at most. Hobbies and interests: If you feel that your CV is lacking, you can boost your document by inserting a hobbies and interests section at the end.

This can help to show how well you fit into the company or the industry. Draw on interests that make you stand out or are relevant to the job. Don't include poor grades, or unfortunate work experiences. Don't include references unless specifically requested - they can be requested upon interview. Don't include a photograph unless specifically requested Do not include matters about your health or any disabilities you have.

Do not include any political affiliations. Don't include weight, height, marital status or children you have. Don't include humor. Don't show your existing salary or expected salary unless requested. Do not include 'reason for leaving' from your last job Do not use graphics or images. Do not use any abbreviations as these can be very confusing and distracting Do not use jargon or colloquial language.

Do not type, 'CV', 'Curriculum vitae' as the title. Common Mistakes Misspelling the name of the company or the addressee. Not having a reply address on the CV. Remember to add all your contact details name, telephone number, mobile, email, and address so that the potential employer can reach you. Be sure that there are no spelling errors, poor word choice, or misuse of language.