What is a CV?

A CV (also known as a Curriculum Vitae, or résumé), is a written overview of your skills, education, and work experience.

They may be used for a variety of reasons, however, the most common of these is to send to prospective employers when looking for a new job.

What should a CV include?

Although there’s no official CV structure, certain key information should always be included.

Here a few essential things you should aim to cover in your CV:

Your personal details (e.g. name, address, phone number)

A personal statement (a brief personal summary of who you are and what you’re looking for)

Relevant key skills

Work experience (listed in reverse chronological order – with the most recent coming first)

Education and qualifications (listed in reverse chronological order)

Hobbies and interests (if you think they might help you get the job)

References (often available on request)