Do's and Don'ts of writing a CV

If you are looking for a job then normally you have to submit a CV to an agency or HR department. This may be the first time you have made contact with this company so you want to make a good impression.

Your CV is a means of “selling yourself” to a future employer so it is important that it contains all the relevant information which a recruiter is looking for. You only have a few moments to grab their attention so if your CV is difficult to read and full of unnecessary information it may result in you not being selected.

Here are a few simple tips in writing your CV;

What not to include in your CV
- A photograph or picture
- Marital status including details of spouse and children
- Your age
- Expired certificates and qualifications
- Personal details such as; NI number, Passport or Bank information
- Primary School and Secondary school (unless under 18)
- Usual interests such as socialising, shopping and reading
What your CV should contain
- Name
- Address
- Contact phone numbers
- E-mail address
- Valid certificates and qualifications
- Work history in chronological order (most recent first)
- Job Title, dates of employment and name of employer
- Job description; detailing duties and responsibilities
- Name, location and type of installation, drilling rig, vessel and project (if applicable)
Important points
- Keep your CV as short as possible while still giving details suggested above
- Don't use coloured paper or borders
- Keep the writing in black
- Use Spell Check or ask someone to read it over
- Don't use fancy fonts, keep it simple
- DO NOT WRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS
- Do not have gaps in your employment history, list everything even if it is not relevant to the position your seeking
- Do not separate your skills, experience and capabilities from your employment history. Show where you gained your experience and put this information with your employer.

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