Shape up your CV with advice and tips from Corrigan Bentley Ltd.

Corrigan Bentley Ltd are a Quality focused Consultancy, we pride ourselves on our presentation skills and on every occasion we will encourage job seekers to adopt the same values.

CV Writing is absolutely key to your success. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it is a simple bit of paper with your work history scribbled on it – in our modern world, this piece of paper represents you, it reflects the person you are and the person you want to be – in short, it is the most important document you will ever possess and therefore its preparation deserves due care and attention.

Presentation and sequence of items within your CV are very important. As it is in advertising, most people get it wrong, which makes life a lot simpler for you when you get it right.

When selling anything you need to get to the key points quickly to gain the initial interest. The quicker the reader can absorb the selling points, the more likely they are to buy.

A well-presented and well-structured CV also indicates that you are professional, business-like and well organised. The structure suggested by Corrigan Bentley sells your strengths first and provides personal and career history details last - most people do it the other way round, which has less impact.

By structuring a CV like this you can immediately stand out from the others and make a much better impression.

Changing CV words and phrases to suit different jobs is also important. Writing and keeping file copies of your own different CV examples and CV templates can save you hours of work in the future, and will help you to be able to produce an individually 'tailored' CV for each different opportunity presented to you.

Curriculum Vitae

Your Name

Personal Profile/Personal Attributes

  • Create 5-7 descriptive bullet-point phrases that describe your strengths and attributes
  • These statements should also reflect the personal qualities that the employer seeks
  • Keep the statements simple and clear; one line for each statement
  • Keep to a consistent format; use professional, concise, intelligent language
  • Use good, appropriate punctuation; semi-colons are effective for joining word-strings
  • Ensure you are able to back-up and provide an example for each statement you make

This shows what you can do - it’s about your capabilities. Relate them to the job requirements and the employer's needs.

Experience/Specialisms

  • Create 5-7 professional statements which explain your experience and/or specialisms
  • Select the experience that best fits your capabilities and the needs of the new job
  • Ensure each statement provides an example of a different capability. For example, planning, communicating, problem-solving, analysing, etc.

This shows what you have done and indicates your credibility and potential. Relate this to the job requirements. Achievements need not all be work-based.

Achievements

  • Create 3-7 professional statements which describe your achievements
  • Select the examples that best illustrate capabilities relevant to the needs of the new job
  • Try to show a variety of types of achievements
  • Achievements need not be work-related, especially for young people with little work history
  • Ensure you attach context, scale, facts and figures to your achievements described

The first section is about your personality - use statements that relate to the requirements of the job and the employer.

Career History

  • mth/year-mth/year - job title/function/responsibilities - employer/city - industry
  • mth/year-mth/year - job title/function/responsibilities - employer/city - industry
  • mth/year-mth/year - job title/function/responsibilities - employer/city - industry

Briefly list your past jobs, employers, industry, and dates (mth/yr). Most recent first. Try to keep the details in neat columns. Briefly state responsibilities if not self-explanatory from the job titles. If appropriate state at the end: 'References are available upon request'.

Education & Qualifications

  • School, College, dates, qualifications etc

Hobbies

  • It is helpful to show hobbies that reflect qualities which relate to the job requirements

Personal Details

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone Numbers
  • Email
  • Marital Status
  • Driving Licence