A guide to writing a successful CV

Your CV is one of the most important things you'll ever write, so it is well worth investing some time into getting it right.

A CV is the first thing a future employer will look at, and the only insight they will have into the type of person you are, your previous work experience and what you can offer to their business if they were to employ you.

O'Neils Recruitment want to make sure that all of our candidates get it right first time. There isn't room for mistakes. We'll provide you with helpful advice and tips on how to present yourself as well as possible on paper, the rest is down to you.

Below we offer some advice on how to write a good CV. ?

Tell the truth

Above all, tell the truth on your CV. An employer will digest your CV in detail prior to interview and you should be prepared to answer questions on any part of it. It becomes obvious very quickly when a candidate has lied or exaggerated on a CV, so don't be caught out, be prepared to discuss every point made.

Promote yourself

This is your chance to promote your skills and talent. A CV needs to be more than a straightforward list of your previous responsibilities and job titles, moreover it should show what you can do, describing your achievements and skills as well as your former job titles and functions.

Get to the point

A good CV will be easy to read and will get to the point quickly. Don't waste time including unnecessary waffle, an employer hasn't the time to search for your achievements amongst paragraphs of detailed copy. Your talents should stand out on paper from the outset and be presented using clear bullet points for each acquired skill and achievement.

Keep it relevant

You will need to tailor and adapt your CV to suit different job descriptions. One CV won't simply work for all, it needs to be relevant to the specific job title you're applying for. Take a look at your experience and showcase early on the aspects of your career which will compliment the new role you're applying for. Using relevant key words from the job description will immediately grab the attention of a prospective employer.

Include hobbies

Employers will want to get a well-rounded view of the type of person you are - this isn't always made clear by your work experience. Providing an employer with a little background at the end of your CV in relation to your hobbies and talents outside of the work environment will help them to gain a better picture of your personality as a whole.

Check before you send

Always check your CV before you send it. There is nothing an employer hates more than a CV full of typing errors. This can immediately give off a bad impression and could be prevent you from being shortlisted straight away. Below is a checklist for some of the things you need to look out for before submitting your CV:

• Include your name and contact details at the top of the CV
• Print in black ink on one side only of A4 white paper
• Use a standard typeface such as Times New Roman or Arial
• Use fonts 10-12 for text and 11-14 for headings
• Use capital letters or a bold font to emphasise things, but don't use italics, underlining, shading, graphics, lines or boxes
• Write the CV in the past tense
• Avoid abbreviating text
• There is no set length for a CV; 2 pages is a good suggested length

?Seek advice from O'Neils

We're very happy to discuss your CV in more detail with you before we send it to an employer. In fact, we make it our business to present you in the best way we can to our clients, so don't be afraid to ask us for advice. We've walked in your shoes and make it our business to find out exactly what employers are looking for in the roles we advertise. We won't submit your CV unless we think you are well suited to the role.

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