From Blank Page to Perfect CV -Expert Tips and Downloadable Templates

Writing a CV can be a hard and uninspiring process. Let us take the guesswork out of it for you!

A simple, but effective opening line can frame the rest of the cv.

You will be surprised how many CVs do not have a phone number on it! Essential on every CV is a?contact number,?postcode?and probably your?LinkedIn account!

Word, every time! Then save it as a PDF later if you want to. But build it in Word.?

We get it, PDF looks nicer, but recruitment systems universally accept Word. Company systems are often old and will turn that beautiful PDF into an unformatted jumble! If you need a PDF – have a Word copy too.

Avoid tables and graphics where possible.

Open your cv with a personal profile.

This is an important 2-3 sentence part of your cv. It helps tie together all of your experience, with your future and what you are looking for.

Don't go too far over 3 sentences, it loses its effectiveness!

It can be useful to have both an achievements section for wider, more overarching achievements that define your cv, whilst also having some achievements embedded into the specific roles.

So few people explain what their companies do. This is important as companies can either be large and complex or smaller and less known.

An Example:

Tesco PLC are a large listed retail business, turning over ￡60bn across 4100 stores in the UK. This role was part of their Tesco Express, convience store offering.

OR

Madeup Steel Ltd are a ￡15m steel stockholding business. Family owned, the company supply steel to large automotive OEMS such as Ford.

Instead of

"involved with budgeting"

try

Partnering both operational and finance stakeholders across the budgeting process for 3 UK entities (￡15m)"

Always think

• Can I include figures (turnover, percentages?)
• Who does the duty engage with (Finance / non finance)
• How often (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)
• Where does the report go (FD, CFO, Ops director)

Don't feel tied down to 1-2 pages. One page should only really be used if you are at the start of your career. Two or three pages are optimal, whilst we would only use four pages for interim or very experienced CVs.

Don’t go past four; it won’t be read!

• It's useful to include your clients or a description of your clients if you're from industry
• Include system skills
• Hobbies are always a nice addition

• Graduate CV – A template that has a focus on soft skills and education over raw career experience. Great for those with a limited Accounting background. Good to get your personality across!

GRADUATE CV DOWNLOAD

• Part and Newly Qualified?–?Good for those with 2 – 10 years of accounting experience. The focus here is on the experience and creating a CV that is easy to read. Also shows off key academics and system skills.

PART / NEWLY QUALIFIED CV DOWNLOAD

• ACA First Time Mover – A strong template for mixing key skills with career history. This CV aims to differentiate your skills from your colleagues in the same Audit / TS year.

PRACTICE MOVER CV DOWNLOAD

• Senior Finance – A flexible template that is designed to be changed each time you apply directly for a role. This template aims to distil a long career into the key points that are needed for the job in question whilst still offering the right amount of further detail for the employer.?

SENIOR FINANCE CV DOWNLOAD