This is the place to build a great CV
Preparing a CV for the first time can be daunting, but it is not as hard as you may think, especially if you are given the right kind of guidance.
We have pooled together a number of tips and resources to help you get started with a new CV, or to give your existing CV a welcome make-over.
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CV Preparation - Getting started
Getting Your CV Ready
Today most employers will either ask you to complete an application form or ask you to send a copy of your C.V. to them when you apply for a job with their company.
There are also many websites that a designed to help you look for work and these too give you the opportunity to save your CV online.
So what is a C.V.?
A C.V is a summary of your working history, skills, qualifications and personal qualities that will demonstrate your ability to do the job. The aim of your CV is to show any potential employer that you are the best person for the job; therefore it is important that you take your time when putting it together to ensure you produce the best CV possible that accurately reflects who you are, what you can do, and what benefit you could bring to their company.
What should you include?
Personal Details
Your name, address and contact details. Enlarge and embolden your name so that it stands out, but don’t take up too much space on the page. Don’t include your marital status, gender, date of birth or photo unless they have asked for it.
Personal Profile
This should be a positive and informative statement about yourself, covering your main experience, qualifications, abilities, achievements, transferable skills and knowledge.
The profile should be to the point, personal and specific. and run to about 50 – 75 words or up to 5 sentences. (See some completed examples here)
Key Skills and Training
Use this section to highlight and bullet-point your most recent and important skills, training or qualifications.
After your personal profile this is the next thing that a potential employer will read about you and your abilities.
If you don’t have many qualifications then highlight your experience, if the job requires a specific skill or qualification which you have then make sure you put it near the top of this section.
Don’t forget to think about your transferable skills to make sure that you get the best fit possible with the requirements of the role.
Employment History
Give details of the jobs that you have had, starting with the most recent one first then working backwards.
For each job give the dates you were there, the name of the employer, and your job title. Then summarise your key duties and responsibilities.
If you have a lengthy work history you may want to prioritise or highlight the jobs that are relevant to the post you are applying for so that they don’t get lost in the mix.
If you have done, or still do any voluntary work then make sure that you include this either in your work history if you volunteered during any time you were unemployed, or in the hobbies and interests section. Volunteering experience is just as important as any paid employment you have done, and employers value this.
Education and Qualifications
Give details of the qualifications you got from school, college or university. Also give any details of any training courses you have attended.
Hobbies and Interests
Include what you do in your spare time as this will say a lot about you. Also you may have gained skills and experience that will transfer into the work place. If you don’t have any interesting hobbies, maybe this is the time to start a new one or do some volunteering
References
There is no need to give details at this stage of your referees, unless they have requested them. You can provide these at the interview stage, but make sure that you start thinking about who you will ask to provide you with a reference, and get their contact details ready.
Employers consider references to be important, so make sure that you value them as well, be ready to provide your references on request.
Do's and Don'ts
- Make sure you explain any gaps in your employment history, such as looking after children or family members. Gaps jump out and employers will want to know what you did during that time so make sure you put something, it doesn’t have to be too detailed. Something is better than nothing.
- Don’t lie on your CV, things always get found out and the consequences of this will be disastrous.
- Don’t make it too long and wordy, as this will put off employers. Two sides are about right, three is still acceptable, but more is too long.
- Try to avoid the use of abbreviations unless they are specific to the type of work that you are applying for, or if employer will know what they mean.
CV Templates to download and get you started
Knowing how to put your CV together is important so that you present yourself in the best light and make it easy for employers to get to the information about your that they need quickly.
We have prepared a number of simple but effective CV templates that you can download and make your own. The CV already contains some sample information which you can use to guide you in replacing this with your own details.
Lighthouse Project CV Templates
CV Personal Profile Examples
Putting together a personal statement can be quite daunting as many people find it hard to talk about themselves.
To help take the sting out of putting a personal profile together we have collected some examples of completed profiles and a list of the type of things that may help you to best describe yourself and your skills.
Examples of Completed Profile Statements
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I am an experienced joiner with well developed skills and experience in groundwork, concrete finishing and steel fixing and have worked in the construction industry since 1982. I am also a skilled labourer who has supported many different trades over the years. I have a full clean UK driving licence with entitlement of up to 7.5 tonne. I am keen to return to work after a period of training and personal development which has broadened my skills and experiences.
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I am a flexible and experienced insurance administrator with excellent time management skills. I am a good communicator with proven inter personal skills and am used to working in a team whilst also being capable of using own initiative. I am skilled In dealing with problems in a resourceful manner and negotiating to achieve beneficial agreement. I am always enthusiastic to learn and undertake new challenges.
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I am a professionally qualified fire engineer with 7 years experience. I have recently achieved RTITB accreditation in the use of Counterbalance fork lift trucks and I am seeking employment that will make best use of my skills and allow me to develop them further. I am determined and enthusiastic, I have developed good planning & organisational skills and am confident working independently or as part of a team. I am flexible regarding working hours and am able to work a range of shifts.
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I am a hard working, honest individual. I am a good timekeeper, always willing to learn new skills. I am friendly, helpful and polite, have a good sense of humour. I am able to work independently in busy environments and also within a team setting. I am outgoing and tactful, and able to listen effectively when solving problems.
I am a punctual and motivated individual who is able to work in a busy environment and produce high standards of work. I am an excellent team worker and am able to take instructions from all levels and build up good working relationships with all colleagues. I am flexible, reliable and possess excellent time keeping skills.
I am an enthusiastic, self-motivated, reliable, responsible and hard working person. I am a mature team worker and adaptable to all challenging situations. I am able to work well both in a team environment as well as using own initiative. I am able to work well under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines.
I am a dedicated, organized and methodical individual. I have good interpersonal skills, am an excellent team worker and am keen and very willing to learn and develop new skills. I am reliable and dependable and often seek new responsibilities within a wide range of employment areas. I have an active and dynamic approach to work and getting things done. I am determined and decisive. I identify and develop opportunities.
I’m a nice fun and friendly person, I’m honest and punctual, I work well in a team but also on my own as I like to set myself goals which I will achieve, I have good listening and communication skills. I have a creative mind and am always up for new challenges. I am well organized and always plan ahead to make sure I manage my time well.
Examples of personal sentances for your personal profile
- I am an organised and efficient person with an enquiring mind.
- I am a flexible person seeking employment which will allow development, growth and make use of my existing skills.
- am a good listener and learner, and am able to communicate well with people from all walks of life.
- I am a keen, hard working, reliable and excellent time keeper.
- I am a bright and receptive person, able to communicate well with people at all levels.
- I am good at working using my own initiative and I am flexible in my approach to work duties.
- I have a good sense of humour and a pleasant approach.
- I am a hard working individual with experience of assembly line work, drilling, and spraying.
- I am a loyal and trustworthy employee who can work alone or as part of a team.
- I am a quick to learn and willing to adapt to any job.
- I am a competent, loyal, hard working employee with the ability to achieve tasks when working alone or as part of a team.
- I am punctual with an excellent attendance record.
- I have a flexible and positive approach to employment and am willing to train to suit my next working environment.
- I am an organised, efficient and hard working person, and am willing to discover and accept new ideas which can be put into practice effectively.
- I am a good listener and learner, able to communicate well with a group and on an individual level.
- I am able to motivate and direct my talents and skills to meet objectives.
- I always seek to achieve a high standard in whatever work I undertake.
- I am well organised with a clear and positive approach to problem solving.
- I am a well organised, efficient and professional person.
- I am able to communicate easily in both spoken and written forms.
- I am keen to obtain new skills and training and have a flexible approach to all work situations, and find it easy to adapt.
- I am a hard working, loyal and mature worker with a variety of skills to offer.
- I am capable of relating to people at all levels and am prepared to help them overcome problems in a work situation
- I am open minded, receptive and innovative, with an enquiring mind.
- I can work unsupervised alone or as a member of a team and I like to use my skills to make a positive contribution to the workforce.
- I am a family person with responsibilities, very reliable and trustworthy.
- I am willing to learn new skills and have many existing ones to offer.
- I have good interpersonal understanding and communication skills and am a confident team worker with the ability to work on own initiative.
- I am a mature person with a sound engineering background.
- I can organise and prioritise my own workload effectively.
- I have the ability to work under stress and keep within set budgets and targets.
- I am a mature and confident person with sales experience, team leadership skills and the ability to create new sales and build on existing accounts.
- I am a quiet and focused person who can work swiftly and effectively either alone or as part of a team.
- I am a reliable, trustworthy and flexible individual who can learn new skills easily and execute them swiftly.
- I am a confident driver with clean driving licence, I have my own transport and an excellent knowledge of local and national road and motorway networks.
- I am a confident Fork Lift Truck operator with a good all round knowledge of warehouse duties.
- I am an experienced machine operator with a good all round knowledge of factory procedures.
Other things to consider
- Always include a cover letter with your CV (examples available here).Even when you are sending your CV out by email, you need to use the message box as your cover letter.
- Ensure spelling and grammar is correct.
- Don’t make it too long and wordy, as this will put off employers. Two sides are about right, three is still acceptable, but more is too long.
- Make sure you explain any gaps in your employment history, such as looking after children or family members. Gaps jump out and employers will want to know what you did during that time so make sure you put something, it doesn’t have to be too detailed. Something is better than nothing.
- Try to avoid the use of abbreviations unless they are specific to the type of work that you are applying for, or if employer will know what they mean.
- Don’t lie on your CV, things always get found out and the consequences of this will be disastrous.
Build a great CV
Top tips for creating a great CV that will showcase your strengths and skills.
Strengths & Skills
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Job Hunting
Discover all the skills you need to make the best out of looking for work online
Applying for Jobs
Everything you need to know about making job applications and being prepared for interviews
Experience
Don't let lack of experience hold you back from getting the type of job you want. There are many ways to fill the gaps in your experience