CV Writing Checklist

Your CV should be job- and employer-specific. Use the following checklist to ensure that yours stands out from the crowd.

Format

☐	Don’t use more than two or A4 sides, except for those in exceptionally high-level positions where CV might be up to four pages.

☐	Maintain plenty of white space. Avoid long paragraphs of text.

☐	Use bullet points for ease of reading.

☐	Select a clear, easy-to-read font.

☐	Be consistent with text alignment.

☐	Use bold or italic to draw the reader’s eye to key points.

☐	Use a preformatted CV template in Microsoft Word.

Style and structure

☐	Depending on the job you’re applying for, the style can be formal or slightly less so. However, the wording should remain 100% professional.

☐	Use high impact, positive words to make for compelling reading.

☐	A good CV should flow in logical order: contact details, summary statement, experience starting with your most recent job, education and training.

Contact details

☐	Include your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. Ensure that your email address is professional.

Cover letter

☐	The cover letter is your sales pitch. State why you should be selected for this particular role, with a clear match of your skills to the role applied for.

Education and training

(If you are a student, place this section before your employment history.)

☐	List your education and training in reverse chronological order.

☐	Include all formal education post-secondary school.

☐	Detail all certificates, qualifications and additional education.

Experience

☐	List your experience/employment history in reverse chronological order.

☐	Highlight key responsibilities and accomplishments.

☐	Back up your achievements with figures, percentages and data where possible.

Keywords

☐	Many employers use computerised systems to sift through CVs during the initial application stage. Include industry-/company-/job-relevant keywords and phrases to ensure that yours passes these tracking systems to move onto the next stage. Learn how with CV Assistant.

Proofread

☐	Spelling and grammar checks are essential. Get several people to read over your CV to be 100% sure that everything is correct.