How to write a winning CV

With some extra lockdown time on your hands now is a great time to spruce up your CV with our guide ‘How to write a winning CV’.

The format of a winning CV
• Any single version of the CV should aim to cover 2 pages and no more than 3.
• CV preparation can be organised to provide you with a database of skills, experience and achievements from which you should select material to reflect the requirements of the specific job role.
• Put the most important matching points first, even if they are less important in terms of your present job or were skills or achievements that go back some time.
• Do not feel obliged to add superfluous details about your marital status, children, religion or political affiliations, etc.
• A CV should begin with a short summary of who you are. Make sure that this is objective and avoid all the subjective clichés such as ‘excellent self-starter’, ‘good team player’, ‘natural leader and good communicator’. These qualities can be demonstrated through your tangible achievements which follow in the CV.
• The opening statement can be tailored to pick up on the key features of a given job description.
• Remember that your CV will form part of the script for the interviewer’s questions.
• Do not allow gaps or unclear explanations to take up the precious time allotted to you so, try to neatly match their requirements.

Illustrate your achievements.
• It is not sufficient to simply state the posts and responsibilities that you have held. It is vital to illustrate how well you have carried out this work through your list of achievements.
• How does an achievement differ from responsibility? An achievement is a statement of how you have added value to an organisation.

Make sure to sell yourself.
• Always express your skills and qualities in the present tense – you may not be using them right now, but you still have these facilities.
• Positive features need to jump off the page.
• CV should be printed and well designed.
• So that the material is clear and visually attractive yet so many CVs do not reach this standard. Make sure that yours does; otherwise it is a complete waste of effort.
• Be objective. Get someone independent to look at your CV when you have completed it – not a friend or family member. Be prepared to refine it a number of times until it is right.
• Do not forget your skills outside of work. There may be something that you do in your personal time that has a direct bearing on your suitability for a particular post.
• A CV should also give some idea of your future potential. If you are presently studying for an
additional qualification say so.

If you need some additional advice then do send us an up to date CV to info@drawrecruitment.com.