CV Content

Start by thinking about the different sections you will need and the order in which they should come. The recruiter wants to know what you have done that would be useful to them, so a useful order might be:
· Name, address, contact details at the top of the page
· Profile statement – a great way to add impact to the CV. This is a 30ish word statement that summarises your particular strengths, how you see yourself and what you have to offer. You may find it easier to write when you have completed the rest of the CV.
· Career History – start with the most recent job and work backwards, bulletpointing your skills and achievements in each job
· Education and Training Courses – again go backwards, and don't forget to include professional qualifications or memberships as well.
· Personal Details – typically a recruiter would expect to see Date of Birth (unless they or you are American, in which case leave it out), nationality (if you are not British but have residency make this clear) and interests if you want to put them. Don't put marital status, its not relevant to your ability to do the job.
· Our CV thesaurus gives you an idea of the types of action words you can use effectively in your CV.
When you have written your CV, apply the "so what?" test. Do this by reading over each skill and achievement to ask yourself "so what?" after each one. This is to make sure that each point has a tangible and obvious benefit to the organisation - i.e. can you quote a % increase in new business won?