Putting pen to paper


Top tips on crafting a winning CV from Jobcentre Plus’ Hilary Hayes


Master the basics


Always start with the most important information – your personal information. That is your name and contact details. Make sure phone numbers are up to date


and your email address is professional. Steer clear of jokey email addresses – the employer might not share your sense of humour (whosthedaddy@.........com) or your sporting choice (number1cityfan@.....com) – they might even support United! Remember also not to include information


that could put you at risk of potential identity theft – that means never including your date of birth, your National Insurance number or your bank details.


The font of knowledge


You want your CV to be memorable, so consider the style. Whatever font and point size you choose, you’ll probably want your name to be in the largest size, say 18pt, with headings 14pt and the bulk of information in a smaller size, 10pt to 12pt. As most CVs are read online nowadays,


consider using Lucida Sans or Verdana – both are easy to read on screen and on paper.


As an employer adviser working for Jobcentre Plus, I manage vacancies for a number of employers. A large part of my work therefore is screening applicants at the CV stage, so I’ve seen good, bad and


indifferent. No one says it’s easy to write a winning CV, but with a little time and effort, and using these top tips, you’ll be that bit closer to achieving your dream job. Remember, this is your opportunity to sell your skills, abilities and experience to employers.


34 Go for gold


There should be no spelling mistakes and it must be grammatically correct. Don’t just rely on spell check – it won’t differentiate between the various ways of spelling ‘there’ (‘their’ and ‘they’re’) or whether ‘from’ or ‘form’ is grammatically correct. Why not ask a trusted friend to read it through before you send it off?


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