Crafting Your CV What is it?
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume is a brief account of a candidate’s education, employment history, qualifications, extra-curricular activities, hobbies and interests. A candidate’s CV is usually sent together with a cover letter and should be tailored to highlight skills and experiences relevant to the firm the candidate is applying to. Similar to a cover letter, it is the employer’s first contact they have with a candidate and therefore, presentation, format and structure are all essential.
Tips • Use professional language • Highlight skills and qualifications relevant to the firm’s application criteria • Attempt to keep your CV to two pages in length • Proofread your CV, ask your family and friends to read over it as well. Spelling and grammatical errors can detract from the quality of your application • There is no single correct structure to use. Pick a format that you like and ensure you are consistent throughout your CV • Use headings to divide your CV into sections, such as education, work experience, achievements and interests • Avoid using large paragraphs for descriptions • Use short sentences and bullet points
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