A CV is a marketing tool which should include information about your experiences, achievements, education and interests. This gives an employer a good understanding of the type of person you are and whether you would be right for their business. There is no 'ideal' way of writing your CV as everyone is different but please consider the following points as guidance when it comes to planning the document.
• The CV itself ideally should be kept to 2/3 pages in order to keep the viewer's attention. Remember the person viewing your CV may have already had to read 10 others so having pages of uneccessary information is going to be an immediate turn off for the viewer. Frequently candidates will alter their CV for different job applications as you may feel that certain experiences are more relevant for different employers.
• Often candidates will include a short profile at the start of their CV as a way of introduction. This can highlight your key skills or strengths and can be a quick and easy way to give a good impression of yourself whilst demonstrating your aspirations.
• Including your education is very important. Companies often refer to which university you have studied at or what grades you got in your GCSEs and therefore some display all their grades while others may not for different reasons. If you have gained experience in the broadcast or media related industries it would be beneficial for this to appear before any other work. For each role make sure you provide the company name and location as well as a short description of the service they offer and the role you performed.
• Make sure you include some information about hobbies or interests as companies are becoming more and more interested about the type of people they employ and that isn't just in the office. They like to see well rounded individuals who have other interests outside of work so be sure to touch on these.
• References come at the end of the CV some wish to include these whilst others prefer to leave them out. If you do choose to leave them out just add "References available upon request” to make the employer aware.
Ensure the CV is well laid out and that the fonts and spacing are appropriate.
Finally make sure you proof read your CV to make sure there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. If you are trying to impress a prospective employer the last thing you want to do is show you haven't given proper attention to your CV which is your marketing tool and key to getting any interviews.
