CV Preparation
Your CV is an important document as it presents your skills, education, training and experience in a concise format so a prospective employer can instantly assess your suitability for a particular position.
Your CV is a selling tool – it showcases your suitability for the position– it is critical to your chance of being selected for the next stage of recruitment.
Tips for creating a successful CV
Begin by creating a working document under the relevant headings e.g.:
Personal Information:
Name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Email:
Driving Licence:
Languages (level of fluency):
Employment History
Include all previous and current work history starting with the most recent. Detail dates, employer name, job title. Describe the work duties and the relevant skills you gained from them. Demonstrate your skills, qualities and motivations.
Education/Training
Begin with recently gained qualifications. Provide the full title of your qualifications, with the structure and time frame of the course. Give your overall results. Provide a brief summary of any exam results such as Leaving Certificate or Junior Certificate.
Achievements
Include both work related and personal achievements.
Hobbies/Interests
Choose approximately three. Be honest, remembering that this may be a topic of conversation at an interview. This section is often underestimated, but bear in mind, that it is the one opportunity to add some colour to an otherwise black and white account of your life to date.
Provide details of any clubs or societies that you are involved with as well as listing your hobbies.
Referees
Include the names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses of two referees, one academic and one from your work experience. Always ask their permission first. As with application forms it is important that you are positive, specific and relevant in the information you provide. A CV should always be accompanied by a covering letter.
It is important to make the CV your own. Don't simply copy phrases from sample CVs.
- Check your draft document for unnecessary detail and amend accordingly.
- Highlight the areas that you feel are relevant for the position for which you are applying
- Check for errors.
Some useful links for career advice, interview and CV preparation
- www.careeradvice.loadzajobs.ie »
- www.jobsearch.ie »
- www.employireland.ie »
- www.career-advice.monster.ie »
- www.library.dcu.ie »
- www.cv4jobs.ie »
- www.abettercv.ie »