Looking for a new job can be daunting, and it can be disheartening, especially when faced with rejections. Moxi are here to help with our top tips for creating a cv!
1. Find a CV Template
The first thing to do when making your cv from scratch is to find a cv template that works for you. There are many sites out there such as CV Library, Monster and Total jobs that provide these for free. Or simply searching free cv templates will bring up a host of other options for you. The key to a cv template is something that is simple but bold, avoid using something with complex layouts.
2. Keep it short
Your cover letter will provide all the necessary detail when it comes to selling your capabilities – your cv should be short, simple and to the point. You should bullet-point information such as your responsibilities for each role to keep it concise. As a rule, your cv should be no longer than two pages of information.
3. What Content Should I Include?
Your cv should be broken down into sections and include the following titles and information:
- Contact details and name
- A Profile Statement
- Work History
- Education
- Interest
- References
4. What Should I include in my Profile Statement?
Your personal statement does not have to be long, on average you should be looking between 100-150 words. Start with a basic introduction in regards to your current situation (i.e are you studying? A graduate? What is your current role?). The skillset and experience you have, and what you can offer the company.
Psychology graduate with 6 months experience working in a Secondary SEN school. I have experience working with young people with a variety of communication needs and planning structured sessions with them based on their Enhanced Educational Learning Plans. My degree specialism focuses on Techniques for Developing communication skills for non-verbal students with ASC needs. So far since implementing the techniques I have seen a 70% improvement in communication skills with non-verbal children. I look forward to implementing these strategies in my next role. I am looking for work in Specialist SEN settings, working with secondary children with communication needs. I have a clean driving licence and a car with company insurance.
5. Work History
Your work history should include the name of companies, job title and the dates you worked for the company. This should be presented from your current or most recent role first, and then in chronological order from that date. In addition, it is best to bullet point your roles and responsibilities underneath job roles rather than paragraph. A recruiter may not get time to read through your cv in-depth, so the clearer you layout information for them, the quicker they can pull out key information.
6. Use Keywords
In relation to the above points, it is a good idea to layout keywords in your work history and personal statement. There are several reasons for this: 1) it helps a recruiter easily identify your skills when reviewing your cv. 2) If your cv is run through AI processing software, it will use keywords to match and identify information that will match to job adverts.
7. Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for
A lot of people make the mistake of handing in a generic cv for every job they apply for and do not tailor it for each role. The problem with handing in a generic cv is that you run the risk of showing a lack of interest in the role or understanding the work involved. Similar to as you would with your cover letter, open up the job description and match this to keywords in the description tailoring your key skills and responsibilities to match.
8. Education
After completing the work history, the next segment on your cv is Education. It may be a good idea for this part to split into your main Education (PGCE, degree, A levels etc) and relevant training courses (safeguarding, mindfulness, team teach). Under the main education title, as with work history start with your most relevant and recent education first and go back in chronological order. Start with the qualification, followed by school, date completed and grade.
BA Hons English Literature
Manchester University
July 2018
Grade: 2:1
Once this has been done, set up a separate Title with Additional Qualifications, and list any relevant and important training you have done. List the course and date completed.
Safeguarding Level 2
Completed July 2021
Team Teach Training
Completed January 2020
9. Interests
After completing the education and work history, it is a good idea (although entirely optional) to put an interests section. Your interests section should be used to support your application. This can include any clubs or societies you are involved with, or maybe even a blog that you run, or some self-development that involves a skill that you are learning. Your interests are a great way of demonstrating what you are doing to reach that goal.
In my spare time, I run a blog that provides grammar tips and advice for young adolescents. I am passionate about education and I aspire to be an English Teacher one day. Writing the blog gives me an idea of how to structure materials for lessons, and the best ways of engaging young people to help them learn about grammar.
In my spare time a volunteer at a youth club working with disadvantaged young people in the community. I am responsible for running activities and have set up a diverse range of clubs in the past including cookery, football and chess.
10. References
And finally, references. On your cv, it is not a requirement for you to list all of your referees, especially if you don’t want a current employer to find out you’re looking for other work. If you wish to keep your referees anonymous at this stage, under the references header write, “available upon request.” If you wish to add your references in, make sure these are professional references that cover a minimum period of two years. Be sure to include, their full name, position, address of the company and email address and contact details.
