There’s only one way an employer will find out what you can offer their business. You have to tell them. The best way to do that is by writing a good CV. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got some tips that will help.

Structure
Writing your CV can be a personal thing. People do it in lots of different ways. The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple. Fancy fonts and imagery might make yours stand out, but not for the right reasons. Use a clear font and always write in plain English to get your message across. And always look at the CV you’re using before you send it off – you might need to make some changes to make it more relevant to the job you’re applying for. We recommend splitting the information you want to use in the following way:

• Personal details - include your name, address, telephone number, mobile phone number and email address. The more ways you give someone the chance to contact you, the better.
• Personal profile - here you can give a brief summary of your skills and experience. This will help you grab the employer’s attention and encourage them to read on. You can follow your profile with a list of two or three achievements that are relevant to the job, such as health and safety at work certificates, food hygiene courses, or particular work experience.
• Work history - start with your most recent job and work backwards. It might be helpful to go through this with someone on a separate sheet of paper first, as things might come back to you as you talk and write. Don’t leave gaps – always say what you were doing, whether you were unemployed, ill or in prison, it’s better to be up front at this stage.
• Training - now you can list any training you’ve done since leaving school, for example any night school courses, college courses or work-based training.
• Education - use this section to talk about your education and qualifications you got at school. Put the most recent first and work backwards.
• Personal information - here you can talk a bit more about your interests outside work. Try to talk about positive things you know a lot about – it could be a talking point in an interview and will show you in a great light, but don’t go into too much detail.
• Additional information - if there’s anything you think you’ve missed, you can include an additional information section at the end of your CV.
• Referees - if you have room, include the names and addresses of two people who have agreed to act as referees for you. They don’t have to be previous employers, but it’s helpful if one of them is. And make sure you’ve asked their permission before you include their details.