Candidates

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Advice and FAQ's

What is the best way to structure a CV?

A CV can be prepared in many different ways. CVs can differ enormously depending on your level of seniority, your depth of experience, your professional background and individual preference in terms of style and structure. However, we have detailed below some basic guidelines, which will improve the presentation of your resume and thereby your chances of getting that all important interview.

Aim to keep your CV as short as possible (2/3 pages of A4 is generally adequate), concise and to the point. Avoid too much detail regarding past roles and focus on recent projects and assignments. It should look professional; avoid the temptation to add photographs, varying font sizes and jazzy graphics. Also avoid adding logos of clients you have worked for. These only add to the file size of your document and may make it more difficult for the CV to be opened, or circulated internally, by the organisation you are targeting.
Ensure all basic details are included and correct, these should include name, contact details, nationality, language skills, educational and industry accreditted qualifications (ensure these are properly recorded with relevant dates). It is also important to add details of the institutions where you have studied.
It is vital that the dates when you have joined and left organisations are thoroughly documented on your CV, this should include months as well as years - and there are no gaps.
Always add interests and extra-curricular achievements to your CV; this personalises the document and helps define who you are as a person.
There is no hard and fast rule regarding whether your work experience on the CV should be presented on a project-by-project basis or under specific skill set competencies. The key is ensuring the content is easy to read and ideally broken up by bullet points or sub-sections.