CV Template & Tips

• Use the format shown in the downloadable template below. This is a format we have found clients respond well to. It’s easy to navigate and gives all the key information required in a clear and concise manner. This format will work for the majority of professionals, however if you’re a creative or design related individual, we’d recommend a CV format that demonstrates your unique creative/design capabilities.
• Do not write your CV as a story, it makes it very difficult to read and is extremely unengaging.  Don’t forget an employer reviews a CV for an average of 6 seconds before making a decision to review it any further.  
• The template provided is adaptable; use your common sense when creating your CV. So for longer periods of employment you will want to include more information and for shorter periods of employment you may include less information.
• The ‘Employment’ area of your CV is the most important for experienced candidates, as it’s often reviewed first by employers. It is therefore vital that all key details are listed, including your dates of employment, company name, job title, duties and achievements within the role.
• Add a sentence or two about each employer including what products/services they offer. This will allow new employers to quickly understand the current and previous markets you have operated in.
• We would advise avoiding the use of any internal jargon or acronyms when listing your duties and responsibilities. Make it relevant to a potential new employer.
• If you are a sales professional, we would strongly advise including your financial targets and achievements, major project wins etc.
• If you have a job title which isn’t meaningful to the outside world, we would suggest changing it to something slightly more relevant and meaningful to a potential new employer. For example: if your job title is Specials Quote Technician and you provide estimates for clients, we would suggest you change it to Estimator.
• The 2 page CV rule is a myth.  Although it may be more applicable for fresh graduates with very little work experience, any experienced individuals should have a more detailed CV as this is your opportunity to sell yourself. From our experience a typical CV should be from 3-5 pages long.
• Ensure your postal address, email address and contact details are up to date.
• Ensure the finished CV is thoroughly checked for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The majority of clients will reject an application should there be continual mistakes.