The perfect CV

As Recruitment Consultants we see all sorts of different CVs at Key Personnel, from the ten-page essay through to a hastily-scribbled note! By following the guidelines below, you can create a CV that brings your qualities and achievements clearly to the fore, helping us to find the best role for you.

Headline information

This should include your name, contact details and availability or notice period.

Personal statement

Start your CV with a personal statement.  Focus on your sector experience, keys skills and achievements. Importantly, include what you are looking for in terms of role, company culture, hours and geography.  Be as factual and succinct as you can.

If you are applying for a sales role, or have worked in a role that is target driven, remember to state your key achievements, and whether you met or exceeded target in % terms. If you did not meet target, explain why that may have been (try to turn a negative into a positive). 

Education details

Separate this into qualifications gained at school, further education and any higher and post graduate qualifications, putting the most recent qualifications first. Include qualification dates.

Career summary

For each role, state clearly the company name, your position, the dates (months and years) you were employed and your reason for leaving. You should then include bullet points to describe your role, duties and key achievements. Include as much relevant information as possible, don't undersell yourself! List your roles in reverse chronological order: ie by putting the most recent role first.

Affliliations

Include details of any professional bodies or membership organisations to which you belong.

Skills

Use a bullet-point list or table to summarise your key skills, eg:

• Public speaking
• Microsoft Excel advanced
• Copywriting for print and web

Hobbies and interests

Try to avoid the generic information that the vast majority include such as 'socialising with friends, going to the gym, reading'.  You may include details of any voluntary work or if are learning a new language or skill, as these demonstrate an ability to commit to a project outside of work and your wish for continued development. 

A little humour is also fine, for example: 'Learning Spanish, slowly!' or 'Spending time in the park with my children. The slide is getting smaller.'

References

Aim for two employer references. Include their name, position and company name. It is also helpful to provide an email address and contact telephone number for each.