What should a cv be?

The CV (Curriculum Vitae - lit. record of life) is presenting your qualifications, skills and attributes to the employer. CV demonstrates the suitability of an applicant for the job. As well as providing an in­sight into previous qualifications and experience, it should show the employer the skills and qualities the applicant has, that will match the position being applied for. In compiling CV the applicant has one ob­jective only - to get an interview in order to get the job.

A CV must be accurate, interesting and up-to-date. It must be pre­sentable so that it makes the best impression possible and gets noticed. It should be relevant - targeted to the needs of each particular posi­tion.

How to compile the cv?

You need to bring together:

• details of your qualifications - education;

• details of the job itself - job description;

• details of the qualifications and skills required - person specifi­cation;

evidence from your personal profile that matches the employers' criteria. This information will help you to prioritize the detail that should be included in your CV.

Style and layout

The CV must be accurate, brief and clear. Describe your skills and achievements as positively as possible. Applicants' skills and qualities that are most often sought by employers are listed below:

• Communication: Ability to communicate orally, in writing or via computer/electronic means.

• Team work: Working well with others in order to achieve a com­mon objective.

• Leadership: Being able to motivate and encourage others, whilst taking the lead.

• Initiative: Ability to see opportunities and to set and achieve goals.

• Problem solving: Thinking things through in a logical way in order to determine key issues. Creative thinking is useful.

• Flexibility/Adaptability: Ability to handle change and adapt to new situations.

• Self-awareness: Knowing your strengths and skills and having the confidence to put these across.

• Commitment/Motivation: Having energy and enthusiasm in pursuing projects.

• Interpersonal skills: Ability to relate well to others and to estab­lish good working relationships.

• Numeracy: Competence and understanding of numerical data, statistics and graphs.

Additionally, employers like to see that applicants have some business awareness - having an insight into what is happening in in­dustry or commerce and the impact this could have on the organiza­tion.

SAMPLE OF CV

Name Stella Ann Marcham

Address 78 Bryn Lane

Newton

Swansea

South Wales, SA3 5DL

Telephone [phone]

Date of birth 15 September 1976

Education

1985-1994 Kingsmead School, Swansea

1995-1998 Bristol University BA (Hons) Music and

Sociology

Work experience

April 1998- present Music therapist at Ferndale Children's Hospital

in Roundhay, near Exeter.

1996-1997 Secretary of the university climbing club. Led

a team to the Alps.

July 1994-May 1995 English assistant in a junior school.

October 1992-June1994 Part-time job in a music shop.

Languages Fluent Spanish

Interests Travel, cinema, working with children, climbing.

TASKS