Author: Mr Kevin Rendell DCR DMU DMS Director - Sonographer Medical Recruitment Agency Ltd

Creating a high quality CV

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé is an individual and personal document. There is no right or wrong way to present a CV; it depends on whom you send it to and what type of job you are applying for. The following article gives an excellent description of the key points to bear-in-mind whilst producing a formal CV.

Your CV tells an employer who you are. It needs to attract an employer and give them a reason to interview you.

Concise is key.

Now I don't need to tell you that employers are busy. They do not want to read a 10-page life history of every one who applies for a job with them. They do want to rapidly understand you (a two page CV should be enough). A potential employer wants to know where you have been, what efforts you have made to maintain and improve your abilities and to appreciate why you are seeking to work with them. Additional information, or extended descriptions are unlikely to persuade them to spend further time assessing you.

Presentation is more than pretty.

Make sure it looks professional and uniform. Use the same style and format throughout the document. In this day and age, we would suggest that every CV should be computer generated. Ensure you run a spell check through the document before you print it, but read it through. You may be surprised how many erroneous words can pass the computer's spell check test. Keep the text well spaced and aligned. Use indents or bullet-points to clarify lists. Avoid hyphenating words over two lines.

Personal Details.

Nothing too elaborate is required, but do include:

• Full Name
• Contact Details. - Address, telephone and email as available
• Date of Birth
• Nationality / Citizenship - where appropriate
• Educational Qualifications - All post-graduate qualifications first.
  A full educational history is not generally required.
  Stick to the ones that are relevant, in reverse chronological order. Include:
     - Qualification
     - Year obtained
     - Institution attended and it's location
• Specialities Studied or post-qualification role development - if appropriate
• Educational Qualifications - All post-graduate qualifications first.
  State Registration - Detail the nature of the state registration and include:
     - Registration Number.
     - Expiry Date - Be sure to keep it updated!
• Professional Memberships - Detail the Name and Address of the Organisation
  State Registration - Detail the nature of the state registration and include:
     - Registration Number.
     - Expiry Date

Employment History.

It is generally acceptable to limit employment history to the last 10 years, unless there is particular relevance in a previous position. Include details of any break in employment continuity. For each position include:

• Institution Name and Department
• Employment Dates
• Job Role / Grade/ Speciality

Additional skills and continuing professional development (CPD).

An indication of not only what additional courses you have undertaken in the past three years but also any additional learning or relevant talents you have to your credit, for example, IT skills, First Aid certificate or signing for the deaf. Include dates and expect to be asked to show your certificates or records to justify your claims. Keep a CPD folder or portfolio with detailed records of all formal and informal activities to help and bring this along with you when you have an interview.

Supplementary information.

This is your chance to show the prospective employer why you should be short-listed. No more than half a page else it probably won't be read. In creating something memorable take note of the following:

• Tailor your CV to the employer. Whilst a general CV can be used for a thousand job opportunities, it is far better to spend a little time targeting you CV to your prospective employer. The past experience and achievements should be tailored to the position applied for.
• Use action verbs to emphasise your achievements, such as developed, initiated, instigated, managed and designed.
• Avoid passive phrases, like "…was responsible for the management of…". It is far better to simplify the word to the more active form "Managed..."
• Avoid large paragraphs. Employers do not want to read a book!
• Demonstrate your team approach by avoiding the suggestion of solo achievements. Avoid saying "I...."
• Do not do yourself down but statements must be honest.
• You must explain to prospective employers what you have achieved and learnt in the past, so they can try to foretell what you can do for them in the future.
• Be specific. Vagueness and ambiguity will not help.
• If you were instrumental in reducing costs by 20%, say so. If you performed specific tasks or project that would not normally fit the job description, make a point of detailing them.

References or Referees.

During the application process a future employer will need to check your references. You will need to provide at least one senior staff member from a recent employment and probably somebody else as well, usually a professional person, who has known you in a work context for as long as possible. Make sure you ask your referees for permission to give their names as references on a CV. A person cannot legally give a bad reference but if they refuse to comment about you - it will tell a prospective boss a lot!

Always remember, Be Honest!

You are likely to be quizzed on your CV at interview. Even if you successfully cover up an untruth at this stage, if you are eventually found out, it will be grounds for instant dismissal.

Keep it succinct.

To be perfectly frank - nobody cares if you are interested in hill walking and butterfly catching, unless you are applying for a job as a Ranger at the local park. Lists of outside interests are only interesting to the person performing them and their inclusion should be omitted, unless they truly relate to the post applied for. Your CV is the window that gets you through the door to an interview. It speaks for you, before you can do so yourself. Make certain it is saying what you want to say.

Click below for a CV example from CPDConference.org