CV Writing

Why?

• Useful for selling and positioning yourself well.
• Often the first impression an employer gets of you.

How to ...

• Name and contact details (the name you want to be known by)
• Address 
• Email 
• Phone (space phone number out to make it more readable e.g. 12345-678-912)
• Personal profile/statement (lively, avoid cliches, should be around 150 words)

Needs to contain:

• Aims 
• Ambitions
• Experience
• Be appropriate for job 
• 6-7 lines 
• Identify relevant skills
• Remember first impressions count 
• DO NOT LIE (say you're willing to learn/have a basic understanding).

List relevant experience:

• Should be tweaked for each job 
• Make use of placements, commissions, internships or live jobs.

Education:

• Most recent first 
• Important but not most important bit of the whole CV
• Don't list every single GCSE

Relevant interests and hobbies:

• Good conversation point
• Be specific

References:

• If you're a bit thin on the ground then say that they are available upon request. 
• Can list tutors 

Check spelling and grammar 

Taylor each CV

Keep it up to date 

Emailed CV: 

• Consider the compatibility (will they be able to access it with the software that they're using?)
• Security (word documents can be altered - best saved as a PDF)
• File size 

Other Considerations:

• Printing (is it readable in black and white and colour?)
• What is the company preference? (ask what they prefer by ringing)
• Professional image 
• 1 page is preferable (creative CV could be double sided)

Academic CV:

• Often required when applying for academic jobs 
• Personal details 
• Academic profile (outline research interests and relevant experience/skills)
• Education (higher)
• Research experience 
• Publications 
• Professional development 
• Relevant employment 
• Presentations
• Skills 
• Professional membership
• References (minimum of 2)

Artists CV:

• Exhibitions/ galleries etc
• Artist's statement (more formal than an illustrators)
• Try not to use pretentious language 
• Context - what's the background of current practice?
• Additional information (work in galleries, awards, commissions etc)

My personal standard CV

 

Creative CV

(I even checked it in black and white to make sure it would work if printed)