Graduate to Merseyside

CV writing advice

Your CV is a personal marketing document used to advertise yourself to employers. It should tell them about you, your professional history and your skills, abilities, and achievements.

Having a good CV is important. Every CV is different. You’ll want to show why your skills make you suitable for the position you’re applying for at that moment, but all follow a similar structure.

A CV is always required when applying for a job. Some employers may also require a cover letter and a completed application form.

Here are the sections you must include in your CV.

Name, professional title and contact details

The first part of your CV, positioned at the top of the page, should contain your name, professional title and contact details.

Personal profile

A personal profile is one of the most important aspects of your CV. It’s a short paragraph that gives prospective employers an overview of who you are and what you’re all about.

You should tailor your profile to every job you apply for, making sure to highlight why you fit the role. Keep your personal statement short, no longer than a few sentences.

Experience and employment history

List your experience in reverse chronological with your recent role at the top.

State your job title, the employer, the dates you worked and a line that summarises the role. Then bullet point your key responsibilities, skills and achievements.

It helps to choose the duties most relevant to the job you’re applying for, especially if it’s a long list.

Additional sections

Key skills

List some abilities you want to show off to the employer immediately, insert a key skills section underneath your personal profile. You should aim to detail four to five abilities at most.

Hobbies and interests

This can help to show how well you fit into the company or the industry. For example, if you’re applying for an environmental job, why not include that you have a big interest in climate change activism?