Your CV should...

• be a typed document
• be short (2 sides of A4 at most)
• be positive! Try to emphasise your skills, experience and the things you have learned
• be honest

The CV writer in your >log on | move on> learner account will take you through the process of writing a CV step by step, with helpful hints and tips along the way.

What to include...

There is no set format, how you present your CV is up to you, however, you should include at least the following:-

• your name 
• your address 
• your phone number 
• your email address  (use a sensible email address - not a jokey one!)
• your education, training and employment history
• the skills you have that will benefit an employer

Please note: You do not need to include your date of birth. New laws on age discrimination mean that you do not need to put your date of birth, or mention your age on your CV.

Personal Profile / Personal Statement

This is a short statement at the beginning of your CV that allows you to showcase your skills, experience and personal qualities. 

You will find tips on how to write a great personal statement in the CV Writer tool, which you can access via the Your account button. You should try to make your personal statement sound positive through the choice of language you use to talk about yourself - confident, flexible, hard-working or creative .  You should also tailor the statement to the requirements of each job that you apply for to make it clear to the employer that you’re the right person for the job.

Employment / Work Experience History

This is an important part of your CV that potential employers will be interested in.  Put your most recent job or work experience first and make sure you include dates of employment. Employers will be more interested in what you have done recently.

Try not to leave gaps between dates of employment, which will leave employers wanting to know what you were doing during those periods. If you haven’t had much work experience, you should include temporary, part-time or voluntary jobs too. If you have had lots of different jobs, try and emphasise the skills you have developed across them all (for example; working with others, confident communicator or proven IT skills). 

You can find more advice on how to complete this section in CV Writer on >log on | move on>. To access this tool, you will need to log in using the Your account button at the top of the page.

Achievements

Try and include achievements from school such as special awards, sporting achievements, team building projects e.g. Duke of Edinburgh award. You could also mention things you have improved or developed through part time jobs you have (or have had), during work experience, at college or in training - especially things which could be relevant to the job you are applying for.

If you have passed your driving test and possess a full Driving Licence, this is an achievement. Do you have certificates or awards for things you do outside of school or college? 

An achievement doesn't have to be something you've got a certificate for.  You can say what you are most proud of? Did you overcome a fear of public speaking to give a great group presentation? Have you worked hard to reach an academic or personal goal you set for yourself? 

Qualifications and training

If you have had any training for a part time job or volunteering then you can definitely include these too. For example; coaching, first aid, refereeing, training in health and safety or a certificate in food hygiene.

If you have already filled in the Qualifications section of your personal profile in your >log on | move on> learner account, then you can click a button to import this information into your CV!

Interests

Interests can support your application if your hobbies and leisure activities highlight responsibilities, talents and skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Perhaps you belong to a club or society for which you organise activities? Maybe your hobby involves using leadership or teamwork skills. If so, be sure to mention these activities on your CV.

Remember: you can use the Skills Passport in your >log on | move on> learner account to help identify your skills, and lots of these could come from your interests. Think about the things you do in your spare time, what you have learnt from them, and how they might impress an employer.

Other information

It is up to you whether to include this type of section in your CV or not, but for older candidates it can be helpful if there are gaps in your CV. Did you have a gap year between studies? How did you spend this time? If you had a break in your career because you were caring for children, parents or elderly relatives, make this a positive thing. What did you gain from these experiences? Think about the skills you developed.

If the job you're applying for is different from the types of jobs you have done in the past, explain why you are interested in this new type of work.

References

Employers will often ask for someone to confirm that the things you have said in your CV are true. This is called 'requesting a reference' and the person you ask to do this is your 'referee'.

It’s good to have two or more people who can provide you with a work or personal reference. Ideally one should be your most recent employer, or you can ask a member of staff from school or college. It should be someone who can comment on your qualities and skills in relation to the job you are applying for.

If you haven’t had a job yet, or haven’t worked for a while, it could be someone who has known you for a long time and who could provide you with a character reference instead. Your form tutor, or a subject teacher who knows you well would be perfect for this. 

How to use your CV...

• When asking companies to see whether they have any vacancies. You can send your CV with a covering letter to ask whether they have any current or future vacancies.
• To remind you of what you have done. You can use your CV to help you remember dates and information connected to your qualifications and work experience each time you need to fill in an application form, so make sure yours is always up to date!
• To help with applications by phone. Having your CV handy when applying for jobs by phone can act as a prompt if you are asked to give more information about previous jobs. 
• At interviews. Having your CV with you while you’re waiting to be called in for interview can help refresh your memory.  You could also leave a copy with the interviewer if they do not already have one.
• When registering with recruitment agencies online. Agencies may ask to see your CV before you can register with them.

Use the quick and easy CV writer tool in your >log on | move on> account!

There is no need to start with a blank sheet of paper, you can create your own CV using the free and easy to use CV Writer Tool linked to your >log on | move on> account on this website.

If you have already completed the Your Profile, Your Applications or Skills Passport sections in your account, you will already have a lot of the information you need at your fingertips, and some of your >log on | move on> CV will already have this content included. There are helpful tips on every page to support you as you complete each section. 

Remember that it is important to customise your CV for each different job you apply for, so you can ensure its relevance. The > log on | move on> CV Writer has a flexible format and allows you to create and save different versions. 

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