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To help you along the road to your next position, we've compiled some useful advice on preparing your cv as well as outlining the steps you need to take to get ready for your interview.
Content and layout
The information is best set out in clearly labelled sections, generally in the following order.
The information is best set out in clearly labelled sections, generally in the following order.
Personal Details
Full name, address and telephone numbers (daytime and evening).
Full name, address and telephone numbers (daytime and evening).
Education
Except at graduate entry level, just give brief details of education from age 16 to 18, with more details of higher education and particularly of diplomas, certificates and degree, including the university attended and the class of degree. Leaving Certificate scores and primary or secondary school details should be avoided unless they really add useful information.
Except at graduate entry level, just give brief details of education from age 16 to 18, with more details of higher education and particularly of diplomas, certificates and degree, including the university attended and the class of degree. Leaving Certificate scores and primary or secondary school details should be avoided unless they really add useful information.
Professional Qualifications
Specify both the name of the educational institution and the name of the qualification.
Specify both the name of the educational institution and the name of the qualification.
Previous Employment History
Your most recent job will probably be of most interest to a prospective employer so it's useful to give more details on this than for earlier jobs. Other jobs should be listed with dates (any gap is likely to be questioned) but with less information for your earlier jobs. Do not waste space by detailing early and irrelevant jobs.
If the job advertisement asks for salary information, give the current or final salary and also the job's salary range if this shows a higher grade maximum. Don't be tempted to inflate salary details (although average bonuses or performance payments can be given) as when the employer seeks references, salary data may also be checked.
Your most recent job will probably be of most interest to a prospective employer so it's useful to give more details on this than for earlier jobs. Other jobs should be listed with dates (any gap is likely to be questioned) but with less information for your earlier jobs. Do not waste space by detailing early and irrelevant jobs.
If the job advertisement asks for salary information, give the current or final salary and also the job's salary range if this shows a higher grade maximum. Don't be tempted to inflate salary details (although average bonuses or performance payments can be given) as when the employer seeks references, salary data may also be checked.
Training and Development
There's no need to include long lists of training courses attended although some relevant training and development information may be helpful. Management training courses of a week or more should normally be listed, together with any training in relevant specialist skills.
There's no need to include long lists of training courses attended although some relevant training and development information may be helpful. Management training courses of a week or more should normally be listed, together with any training in relevant specialist skills.
Personal interests and activities
Although it's not essential to include this section, if giving some details that can provide evidence of relevant knowledge, skills or personality, then these are worth listing. Examples might include being a school prefect or governor, running a computer club or various forms of voluntary work, which demonstrate organisational and management skills. An unusual hobby can be worth mentioning, as it will give your cv an interesting feature that the reader remembers.
Although it's not essential to include this section, if giving some details that can provide evidence of relevant knowledge, skills or personality, then these are worth listing. Examples might include being a school prefect or governor, running a computer club or various forms of voluntary work, which demonstrate organisational and management skills. An unusual hobby can be worth mentioning, as it will give your cv an interesting feature that the reader remembers.
