CV Tips
A CV or Curriculum Vitae should tell the story of your achievements, skills, job history, and education
Use it to market yourself as well as possible. Put as much effort into it as you would if you were marketing a product or service.
CV Format
1. Personal Information
This can include: name, surname, local address, email address, & phone number.
Note, that you do not need to include your date of birth, gender, or nationality. It is rarely necessary to include a photograph.
2. Career Profile
This should highlight what you have achieved in your career so far. It should include your profession or job title, how many years you have been in the role, and any particular noteworthy skills that you have excelled in. A good tip in your CV, is to bold key phrases
Example 1
An Interaction Designer/Usability Engineer with first-class analytical, design and problem solving skills. Dedicated to delivering both usable and delightful software to the user.
Example 2
A senior PA with a wide range of experience in the financial industry. Proactive with strong and effective organisational and communication skills.
Example 3
A senior manager with proven leadership skills involving managing, developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives.
2. Key Skills
Ensure you highlight the skills that are relevant to the job specification for which you are applying
Example 1
- Strong planning, organising and monitoring abilities. Uses initiative to meet and resolve challenges.
- Excellent communication, both verbal and written.
- Proven leadership skills involving managing, developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives.
3. Achievements
You will know your CV is a winner, if it matches the job description requirements almost exactly or it gives it a little extra in terms of qualifications or experience or traits. Ensure you highlight the recent achievements in your career that should how you would be asset to the company
- Devised and implemented new sales initiative for the sales representatives which increased sales of our main product line by 30%. This led to a 28% increase on overall profits for the year.
- Implemented new accounting and bill payment system. Increased company cashflow by carefully managing billings and payments, which enabled company to buy and sell more stock each month, thus increasing sales.
4. Relevant Experience
Work backwards from your current position. If there are gaps in your employment for career or childcare breaks, be honest and include them. But highlight how much of a benefit your career break had been. (See example below)
Example 1
January 2006 - July 2007: Sample Technologies
Position: Software Developer
- Part of 8 person Java team developing rating/billing software using agile practices such as pair programming, continuous integration, refactoring, and modularity.
- Promoted practices of test-driven development, mind-mapping, competitive engineering.
- Co-interviewed 3 new hires
Example 2
March 2006 - March 2008: Career Break
During my 2 year career break, I was full-time carer in the home for my two young children. This benefitted me in several ways. I had time to read many books and reources related to my career. I undertook training courses in advanced selling techniques and enhacing my communication skills.
As sales and marketing is my area of expertise, this time had enabled me to upgrade my skills, even while temporarily out of the workforce. I am now more enthusiastic than ever to return to the work force outside the home to achieve my career goals.
Education
As before, work backwards from your latest educational course/qualification. Usually, if you have an 3rd level degree or higher, there is no need to include your Leaving Certificate Results or equivalent. Otherwise, it may be necessary.
Example
1994-1999: Dublin City University
Qualification: Bsc (Hons). in Applied Computational Linguistics
- Computational linguistics is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the statistical and/or rule-based modeling of natural language from a computational perspective.
- Computational linguistics draws upon the involvement of linguists, computer scientists, experts in artificial intelligence, cognitive psychologists, mathematicians, and logicians, amongst others.
