How to prepare a great CV

CV Preparation
The first and often most difficult hurdle in the selection process is the ‘CV’ stage. It is important that your CV provides an accurate and succinct description of your education and qualifications but should also reflect personal attributes such as achievements and interests.
There are many opinions on the best format of a CV but in general the following points are:
– Personal information should include your full name, address and contact details, including mobile telephone number. If relevant to the type of position applied for, possession of a driving licence and access to transport should be stated. You do not need to include marital status, gender or details of dependents.
– Education/Qualifications: Ideally this information should precede career history and should include establishments attended with relevant dates, name of qualification, awarding body, and level of qualification. Avoid ambivalent language particularly where studies were incomplete or where awards are pending.
– Career History: Starting with the most recent position, state the employer, its business, location and your job title. If more than one position was held during your period of employment this should be stated. Duties and responsibilities should be outlined, preferably in bullet-point format and should include any relevant, factual information e.g. number of staff supervised/managed, budgetary management (£’s), revenue generated (£’s), number supported. All periods of employment should be accounted for and dates should include month/year commenced and finished. Do not leave gaps which are unaccounted for.
– Technical knowledge: Include software packages, operating systems, training received.