What Information Is Needed And What Isn’t

Most people who are job seeking or wanting to progress in their career will need a CV. A curriculum vitae is commonly abbreviated to CV and means

Getting it right isn’t easy and it seems there is a lot of advice and guidance out there but when you find conflicting advice then you can easily become unsure of how to format yours and what to include or not to include.

It is important not to have one identical CV for every job that you apply for. However, what you can do is tailor the original CV to align with the requirements of the job description, ensuring that you make sure that skills and experiences that are relevant to the post can really stand out. This is very important as some employers will skim through a CV, especially if they have a large quantity to process, and will be expert at identifying specifics that they are looking for in a candidate.

While your CV should contain relevant information for the role for which you are applying, there is no need for irrelevant content and excessive information that is difficult to understand. Focus only on the content which showcases both your abilities and experience. Use a professional summary at the outset of your CV which gives a brief but concise overview of experience, skills and any other relevant information.

You may wish to have your CV stand out from the rest by utilising the many colorful designs and graphic artwork that is available but this will not usually impress the prospective employer and persuade them to choose you over all other candidates because it is the content that really counts. Of course, there is nothing wrong at all with having a CV that is aesthetically pleasing but do not be tempted to go overboard with elaborate creativity - unless of course you are applying for a specific type of job where it would be acceptable.

In the not so distant past, it would have been obligatory to include the names and contact details for references but this is no longer the way to do things and is not necessary. Reference details are usually requested from you by the potential employer.

The main goal of your CV is to show why you should be considered for a certain role which you are applying for, so by focusing on information relevant to the role and tailoring your CV to each job interview and opportunity, you will place yourself in a stronger position of getting the attention of potential employers.