Build a CV

Your Personal Profile needs to be about 4 or 5 lines about your main strengths and skills.

Tips to get you started - some of the strengths employers look for:

• Good communication skills
• Teamwork
• Ability to work alone
• Organisational skills
• Enthusiasm
• Reliability
• Good timekeeping and punctuality
• Trustworthiness
• Ability to follow instructions
• Work well under pressure
• Motivation

 Read the job description and our Job Information Leaflets to find some strengths and skills to include.

Include:

• Your job title
• Company's name and place of employment (not the full address)
• Start and end dates of your employment
• A bulleted list of what tasks you did on a daily basis
• Extra responsibilities you undertook
• Achievements or successes you had in the job
• Any awards you were given

Enter your qualifications in this way:

• Start with your most recent and/or highest level of qualification
• Put down the most relevant qualifications to the job
• Include the qualification, the year you achieved it, and the name of the provider

Include any relevant training such as:

• Short courses like Food Hygiene or Health and Safety
• Licences or certificates
• On-the-job training
• Home or online learning
• Evening classes

Voluntary work or unpaid work experience can add value to your CV. They show employers extra skills and experience you have gained. Include:

• Name of the charity or employer
• Start and end dates
• A bulleted list of the tasks you did on a daily basis

Find out more on our Volunteering and Work Experience pages.

Put in the words: References are available on request.

You usually need to provide at least 2 references. Don't include referee details on your CV itself, just have them ready. 

Ask the people you want to use as referees if they are happy to give you a reference.

Possible referees could include:

• Employer - past or present
• Teacher, tutor or lecturer
• Youth worker
• Charity where you have volunteered
• Someone you know that can give you a character reference (not a relative)

Use this section to add any other relevant information including:

• Sports you play or support
• Community activities you are involved with
• Interests and hobbies
• Achievements and awards
• Memberships of professional organisations
• Driving licence
• Disclosing a disability or additional learning need (this is a personal choice)

Keep this section short and relevant to the job you are applying for.