Writing your CV? Here are some great examples of what should go in your CV and tips to make CV writing easier!
A great Curriculum Vitae, or CV, is one of the most important things you’ll need when it comes to landing a job. A CV is a document that outlines your experience and qualifications to show a prospective employer why they should hire you. (Fun fact: curriculum vitae is Latin for “course of life.”)
A CV is usually accompanied by other documents such as a cover letter (check out our guide to those here) and, sometimes, a paper or digital application form.
Writing a CV can be daunting if you are new to the world of work. After all, if you don’t have any work experience so far, what can you put in it? Don’t panic; anyone can create a serviceable CV, even with little or no experience.
Read on to learn about what should go in your CV and how it should look, and to see some examples that we think make great first CVs.
Keep It Simple
Many students and young people get caught up in the question of how their CV is supposed to look. The answer: simple and professional! You do not need to (and shouldn’t) use fancy fonts, colourful paper or text, or overly complicated layouts.
The following information should be included:
- Full Name
- Contact information e.g. phone number, email address and street address if you wish. (It is recommended that you do not provide your address for personal security reasons, but it you can decide whether you think it is necessary to include it).
- SHORT personal statement about your professional interests and goals
- Work experience (most recent first)
- Education (most recent first)
- Voluntary and extracurricular experience (most recent first)
- Other relevant skills (e.g. knowledge of specific software packages, languages, driving)
- Referees (two people is usually sufficient)
Use black text (a different colour for headings is acceptable), a simple font, and plenty of white space. You can use a CV template if you wish, but you can also create a functional CV using Microsoft Word or similar.
Unless it is strictly relevant, do not include your age, gender, race or nationality, marital status, parental or pregnancy status, or health and disability information. It is illegal for employers to take any of these into account and including them can lead to unconscious bias.
Here’s an example of a simple, professional-looking CV that includes all the relevant information:
Image source: My Perfect CV
Professional Experience
This section can be tricky if you have never had a job before. But remember that you do not need to limit yourself to full-time jobs; part-time, student, casual, and seasonal jobs all count as professional experience.
When you list a job, include the name of the organisation or employer, the dates you worked there (month/year is fine), and three to five bullet points about your key duties and achievements. Aim to focus on transferable skills that will be applicable in the job you are applying for. Teamwork, working under pressure, engaging with customers, and handling money are all great examples of transferable skills.
Here’s a strong CV example in which a student showcases the experience they gained from a part-time job in a supermarket:
Image source: Zety on Pinterest
If you really have no work experience at all, you can leave this section out and focus on your education and voluntary experience sections instead.
Education
In this section, list any schools, colleges, or universities you have attended as well as any qualifications you received, your grades, and the year you completed your studies.
If you are currently studying, it’s a good idea to include your expected completion date and predicted grades. Here’s an example of how one student has done this on their CV:
Image source: My Perfect CV
For qualifications such as GCSEs, you do not usually need to list every subject. You should specify how many GCSEs you received or are expecting at grades 4-9 (the equivalent of A*-C) and, if this includes English and Maths, say so. If there are any particularly relevant subjects to the job you have applied for, mention that, too. For example, if you’re applying for a caring role and you studied Health and Social Care, that’s worth pointing out.
For A-Levels or T-Levels, BTECS, apprenticeships and similar courses, as well as degrees, list your subject(s) and grades(s) individually.
Here’s a good example of how one recent school leaver lists their qualifications on their CV:
Image source: Standout CV
This student has chosen to list the specific modules they studied. You can do this if you choose, though it isn’t usually necessary unless one or more of them is highly relevant to the job you are applying for.
Extracurricular and Voluntary Experience
This is the place where you can showcase any other experience that strengthens your candidacy. For entry-level jobs, many employers do not mind if you have little or no work experience, but they want to see your personality, interests, and passions. This is the place to let that shine.
For each entry, include the approximate dates and a brief summary of what the role entailed. Again, remember to think about transferable skills. For example, coaching a football team for younger students shows leadership skills, while working volunteer shifts in a charity shop shows that you are dependable and can be relied on.
Here’s an example of how one young person effectively outlined their voluntary work experience on their CV:
Image source: Standout CV
Other Skills
In this section, list any additional skills you have that are not clearly demonstrated by your work, education, or voluntary experience. Remember to keep it relevant, though, and only list skills that are likely to be useful for the job you’re applying for.
Things you might include in this section could be:
- Languages you speak
- Knowledge of computer programmes, software, or programming languages
- Specialist knowledge (for example, social media marketing or SEO)
- Creative skills such as photography, videography, creative writing, etc.
- Driving licences you hold
- Typing speed and accuracy, for office or clerical jobs
In general, avoid listing “soft” skills (such as initiative and teamwork) here as they are more difficult to prove and better shown in other parts of your CV. Do not be tempted to lie or exaggerate in this section; anything you list should be something you can justify or demonstrate.
Here’s an example of how a simple additional skills section can look:
Image source: Resume Companion
Learn More About Crafting a Great CV
Wherever you are in your career journey, a strong CV can make or break your chances of landing your next job. To learn more and brush up on your skills, head to our CV Advice page for all our CV tips and tricks.
