Your CV
The CV is the story of your professional life. Nearly every job application will require a copy of your CV, and it is the first thing a prospective employer will look at when considering you for a role. When you draft your CV, keep in mind a few tips.
Tailor your CV. Read the job description carefully, identify the skills required for the job, then adapt your CV to show that you have specific skills and experience they are looking for. The closer your CV is to the skills specified in the job description, the more likely recruiters are to select it.
In the UK it is not a requirement, and is generally considered inappropriate, to include a photo of yourself on your CV. Do not include your gender, age or marital status.
Use a professional layout. Use headings, subheadings and bullet points where appropriate, to make your CV easier to read. Use a professional font like Times New Roman or Arial, in sizes 10 or 12. Do not clutter the page(s), but do not exceed two A4 pages. When applying directly to an employer, It is more professional to send a PDF version rather than a Word version of a CV. Try to avoid using colours - black text on white paper will do.
Check your spelling. Grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes can make a bad first impression, particularly if you apply for jobs where good written communication skills are key . Use a spellchecker to correct these errors. If you apply for jobs in the UK British English rather than American English, for example: ‘organised’, rather than ‘organized’; ‘colour’ rather than ‘color’; ‘centre’ rather than ‘center’.