The aim here is to create a finished, general CV. You will create a CV customised to a specific job later, but you will always have a need for a general CV, to post to online job-sites, send to agencies, etc. The way we will do this is to make the general CV most relevant to the type of job you would like rather than any specific job or set of requirements. However, save your CV now so that you can go back to the content later in case some of the things you remove here are useful for a specific job you go for later (for example at this stage you might still have 6-7 key skills categories and here we will narrow them to 5 - but keep the discarded ones for later!)

Formatting

Now go through each section and make sure the header for each section is obvious as a header - make it stand out in some way. If you can print in colour, use colour, otherwise stick with black and white. A horizontal line such as I have used can be a useful way to clearly mark boundaries.

Most of your CV will consist of lists of points, which look best presented as bullets. For your key skills section create a table and use column one for your category name and column two for the bullets in each category. I formatted the table to remove most of the borders to make it look less dense

This will look something like:

The employment section will already just have lists of bullets for achievements under each job, which is fine for the final version, so this is simple to format.

This will look something like:

A section that has many smaller points, such as your qualifications can be done in two columns to fit more in:

Make sure that lists and title have consistent formatting and line up, this is what makes CVs look weird if it's not done.

You might be lucky enough to find that after formatting in this way that it fits on two pages if not, you need to make some changes...

Only a little over...
If it's under two and a half pages in total you can probably make it the right size with tweaks. The first tweak is to expand the margins of the document slightly - still leave at least 1.5cm on all edges. Then, adjust the table for your key skills to fit in as many points as possible (generally the right hand column will need to be as wide as possible). Then go through the whole CV and re-word every point that just goes over onto another line.

for example:
Working with people to make sure that all their requirements are taken into account to get
best results

becomes:
Reconciling and balancing differing needs in order to manage to successful conclusions.

That usually fixes it, if not quite, keep re-writing those points until it fits!

A lot over...
If it's over two and a half pages in total after formatting, then you need to identify whole areas to remove:

• If you have a lot of jobs, consider rationalising some of them after the last three into one "other employment" section
• In each list which point is least important? Remove it. Make sure you don't have more than four points under any key skill category or five under any job.
• Remove the backstory. Ask yourself what is the minimum the reader needs to know so that they get I can contribute in this area?
• Could it be put in the covering letter? Your covering letter will allow you additional space to mention certain achievements in more detail, so perhaps that can help you make that achievement shorter in your CV.

Lastly, if it's really really close, but you don't feel you can lose the last two lines, then just leave it - you'll be better bale to see something new after a break, or even better if someone else reads it and tells you what they do and don't understand.

That's it - your CV is done! Now, surely all that is left is to get an interview?

Not so fast. You've created version one of your general CV. Have someone (someone who knows you and that you trust) read over it to see if there is anything that doesn't make sense to them, anything you have missed, etc. Also, have a look at the examples and samples of CVs page for any further inspiration.

If you're completely stuck - seeks some advice, I offer a complete CV service for £50 - see the panel on the right of the main CV page

After that you can start using your general CV in real life, but remember that you will need to customise your CV for any specific company or job you go for...

Next: Example and sample CVs
...and... Customising your CV
to main CV page

Got a suggestion?, email Dave

Can't find what you want? - use the search!

WWW www.arrod.co.uk