CVs
You should tailor your CV to match each specific vacancy. Constantly refer back to the job description to ensure that each section remains relevant throughout.
The following guidelines are considered best practice in the UK but can differ across industries.
Presentation
- No more than two sides of A4
- Use bullet points to avoid large chunks of text
- Don’t over-format, bold is more effective than underlining and capitals
- Use the most space for the most relevant sections
- Avoid spelling and grammatical errors
Personal Details
| Element | Required? |
|---|---|
| Name | Mandatory |
| Contact Details (Email/Phone) | Mandatory |
| Specific Address | Optional |
| Personal Statement | Optional |
| Date of Birth | Not Necessary |
| Nationality | Not Necessary |
| Photo | Not Necessary |
Education
- Present in reverse chronological order or order of relevance but always include dates
- University Qualifications
- Mention all that are relevant (Grades, Courses, Dissertation, Outside Subjects, Societies & Extra-Curricular, Awards)
- Pre-university
- Don’t go into too much detail and consider whether these are essential
Experience
- Includes paid work, internships, voluntary work
- Keep only the most relevant but make sure to avoid time gaps
- In bullet points, highlight your impact, achievements and skills developed as well as responsibilities
- Make results quantifiable
- Use action words, such as influenced, established, illustrates, implemented
Applications
Analytical and Competency Questions
These questions are used to assess your achievements, skills, qualities, experience and career goals.
- Keep the evidence and experiences varied
- Focus on your individual impact and results
- Be specific with your examples, never generalise
- Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result
Open-ended Questions
Used to gain additional and supporting relevant information.
- Highlight how you personally meet the specification given on the job description
- Focus on relevant motivations, skills and qualities
- Use formatting such as paragraphs and headings to make it easier to read
Further Information
The Student Development team offers 'CVs and Cover Letters' Workshops and a one-to-one meeting service. Remember to check the online careers resources for your programme and LinkedIn Learning.