Tips for CV writing

A good CV is easy to write, provided you stick to a few basic rules. 

1.       When writing your CV, try to put yourself in the mind of the reader – your prospective employer, who has advertised one position but now has received approximately 300 applications to process in two days.  Make it easy for your reader to find the information they need at first scan of your CV.

2.       Keep your CV short. Try to limit your CV to no more than 3 pages.

3.       Make the language you use relatively simple and easy to follow.

4.       Provide only relevant information

Personal details

This section usually outlines:

1.       Name and surname

2.       Home address

3.       Work address

4.       Phone number (landline and cellphone)

5.       email address (if you are contactable through your email)

6.       Date of birth

7.       Gender

8.       Marital status

9.       Nationality

Education and Qualifications

School

Give the name and address of the school where you have studied or matriculated. Provide only details regarding subjects passed and grades in your final year at school. Remember to include copies of all certification with your job application.

You must also provide the details of college, university or any other tertiary institutions where you completed your training e.g. N1 Bricklaying and Plastering, N3 Plumbing etc.  Remember to include copies of all certification with your job application.

Work experience

List your work experience from most to least recent. Give the name of your employer, job title and dates. Provide brief information on what you actually did and achievements in the position. Don’t try and give a total list of all your job duties, rather concentrate on details that are of relevance to the prospective employer. Be as specific as possible – for example instead of listing supervision as a job duty, state “supervised the work of 10 bricklayers working on community project”. You need to provide the reader with information that he or she can relate to the requirements of the position for which you are applying.

Interests

List interests, activities or volunteer work only when the interest somehow relates to the position that you are applying for, for instance when you have a position of leadership or responsibility. Provide only enough detail on your interests to allow the reader to understand how the interest relates to the position in question.

Skills

You need to list and elaborate on any skills you possess which may be relevant to the position for which you are applying.  Follow the general rule of including anything which may give you an advantage in your application and excluding anything which does not relate to this particular position.

Examples of skills may include the following:

1.       Your ability in other languages (understanding, reading and writing) should be included in your CV.

2.       Your competence in using standard computer packages should also be listed if applicable.

3.       Skills in using a particular construction tools should be incorporated if relevant to the position.

4.       Possession of a driving licence and the code should be included if relevant to the position.

References

There should be at least three references on your CV.  Your referees should be people with whom you have worked or studied e.g. a supervisor in your previous job, or a lecturer at university.

A testimonial may also be included if you wish, as it is a good report of your character.

Referee’s details should be as follows:

1.       Name

2.       Position

3.       Relationship e.g. This referee owned the café where I worked as a counter assistant over my school holidays over the last 2 years.

4.       Address

5.       Telephone numbers

6.       Email address (if possible)