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Get Yourself 2020 Ready: Writing a Great CV

13th December, 2019 Read time: Two minutes

Use these five tips to get your CV ready to help you achieve more in 2020

We’re well into December now, a time where people may start to think about what the new year will bring. That might include looking for work, a new job or a first job, you’ll need a stand-out CV.

Whether you’re creating a CV from scratch or simply updating, these five tips will help you to make sure employers reading it will see your best side and be left with a great first impression of you.

1. Let employers know how to contact you

You don’t need to put your full address, date of birth or age on your CV, but should include your name, phone number and email address. You can also include a professional title here if you have one.

2. Use clear sections

Your CV should include:

  • A personal statement – this introduces you as a person and should include your ambitions, strengths and personality. It can bedifferent to suit each job you apply for.
  • Skills and strengths – Tell the reader about your transferrable skills and why your strengths make you right for the type of work youre applying for.
  • Education and qualifications – Most job descriptions tell you what qualifications the employer is looking for. Make sure you include all qualifications you have.
  • Your employment history (up to 3 years) – Tell the employer what you’ve done in the past and focus on what you achieved in each role, rather than listing every task you completed. If you don’t have any previous jobs or work experience to include, you can concentrate on your skills,including how you’ve used and built on them in other areas of life (parenting, hobbies and volunteering are all great examples of ways you might have learned skills).


Watch our video for a more detailed insight into what should be included in your CV.

3. Don’t lie

Honesty is the best policy when it comes to job applications. If youre offered a position based on false information and your employer finds out, you risk losing your job and may even be black-listed by other companies in the same sector. There are plenty of ways to sell yourself using skills qualifications and strengths you do have, rather than embellishing the facts and regretting it later.

4. Spell out your skills

You might think some skills and strengths are obvious, or that “everybody can do that”. But, unless you explicitly stay you have them, employers might assume you don’t. Don’t underestimate the importance of things like being able to use computer software (don’t forget to name them!) and staying up-to-date with industry news.

5. Don’t go it alone

Asking a friend or family member to look over your CV for spelling, grammar and layout can save your CV from being dismissed over simple issues. Equally, feel free to upload your CV to us and our advisers cantake a look.

It’s not just CVs either, our advisers can help with every part of your journey. From help completing application forms to getting ready for that all-important interview. Whatever you’re aims for 2020, we can help.

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