How to make a CV: Writing tips and examples

When writing a CV for a job in the UK, start with a clear headline with your contact details. Unlike in some other countries, there’s no need to include a photo of yourself or personal details such as your age or marital status.

Proceed to write a brief summary of your work experience and career goals, followed by your education. Next, outline your work experience by detailing previous roles, dates of employment, key responsibilities, and notable achievements. Highlight your skills, including work-related skills such as knowledge of software programs or foreign languages. 

It’s also important to keep your CV neat and clear, using simple and legible fonts and clear headings and paragraphs. Try to tailor your CV to the job advert you are applying for so that you highlight your skills and experience to the job requirements.

When writing a CV with no experience, you should start with a strong personal statement that highlights your skills, strengths, and career objectives. 

You can draw attention to any relevant coursework or volunteer experience you have. It’s important to focus on your education and qualifications by listing any degrees or certifications you’ve earned. You can also list relevant coursework or projects that demonstrate your skills and knowledge in your desired field. 

Don’t forget to highlight any volunteer work or internships you’ve completed, even if they weren’t directly related to the field you’re applying for. Including extracurricular activities or hobbies that showcase relevant skills, such as teamwork or leadership, can also be beneficial. Emphasising transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, or time management is also important. 

Finally, make sure your CV is well-formatted and easy to read with bullet points to break up large blocks of text. Remember to tailor your CV to the job you’re applying for, emphasising the skills and experience most relevant to that position. It’s important to be honest about your lack of experience, but focus on what you can bring to the job rather than what you lack.

Writing a CV for a student is very similar to writing a CV without experience. A good idea is to use a CV template. Once you have one, begin by including your name and contact details.

Then, write a brief personal statement highlighting your skills, strengths, and career objectives, including any relevant coursework or extracurricular activities. Focus on your education, listing your degrees or qualifications, and your predicted or achieved grades. List any relevant coursework, projects, or research you’ve completed that demonstrate your skills and knowledge in your desired field, and highlight any extracurricular activities or leadership positions you’ve held. 

Emphasise your transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Include any work experience in your CV, even if it’s not directly related to your desired field. Use bullet points to make your CV easy to read and format it well. 

Always tailor your CV to the job or industry you’re applying for by highlighting the skills and experience most relevant to that position. Finally, proofread your CV for errors before submitting it.

If you’re a 16-year-old student creating a CV, start with your personal details, such as your name, address, telephone number, and email. Then, write a personal statement briefly explaining your skills, strengths, career goals, and any hobbies or interests that may be relevant to the job you’re applying for.

In the next section, list your education, including the name of your school, the dates you attended, and any qualifications or degrees you have obtained. If you’re currently studying, list your expected grades. After this, mention your work experience, including part-time work, volunteering, or internships. Give the name of the organisation, position, and responsibilities.

List any skills relevant to the job you are applying for, such as computer proficiency, language skills, and any awards or achievements you’ve received. Rather than sending one CV to several jobs, tailor your CV to the position or industry you’re applying for, highlighting relevant skills and experience. Ensure your CV is well-formatted and has no spelling or grammatical errors. Ask someone to review it to make sure it is pitch-perfect.

To write a CV for a customer service job, start with a brief personal statement. Then, follow it up with your work experience and relevant skills. List the places you’ve worked and the positions you’ve held, including the dates you worked there. Be sure to include any specific skills or techniques you’ve mastered (e.g., handling customer complaints, inbound and outbound phone calls, specific problem-solving).

Then, mention your education and qualifications. This includes any relevant courses or certifications you’ve completed and any formal education you’ve received. Ensure that your CV is well-formatted, easy to read, and error-free.

To write a CV for a job in retail, start with a strong personal statement that highlights your skills, experience, and career aspirations. Emphasise your relevant experience, education, and skills.

Retail job skills might include:

• customer service,
• product knowledge,
• sales techniques.

Make sure to tailor your CV to the job by using keywords from the job description. Keep your CV concise and use bullet points to make it easy to read.

When writing a CV for a teacher in the UK, you should focus on highlighting your relevant qualifications, experience, and skills. Start with a brief personal statement outlining your teaching philosophy and key experience. Emphasise your communication skills and any additional skills or relevant experience. You may also use this section to explain why you want to work at the school or institution.

Next, provide information about your experience. Under each position, list three to four responsibilities or achievements you’re proud of in that job. In the skills section, highlight the skills relevant to the position you’re applying for. End your CV with information about your education.

If you’re applying for a project manager position, make sure that – in addition to a well-written personal statement – your project manager CV includes a detailed list of your professional experience, including your job titles, the companies you have worked for, and the dates of employment. Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities, achievements, and the outcomes of your projects.

Complete your CV with a list of your key skills that are relevant to project management, such as project planning, risk management, budget management, and stakeholder management.

Finally, add information about your education, including your degree, diploma, or any relevant certificates, and any additional training or courses you have completed.

An academic CV is a detailed document that outlines a person’s academic and professional qualifications, research experience, publications and teaching experience. It is typically used by individuals who apply for academic positions, such as research, teaching or administrative positions at universities or other academic institutions.

An academic CV is usually longer than a standard CV and provides a comprehensive overview of relevant academic and professional achievements. The content and structure of an academic CV may vary depending on the field of study and the level of position you are applying for.

How to write it?

1. As with any CV, start with your personal details, including your name and contact information. 
2. Add a personal statement that highlights your research interests, academic achievements, and career goals.
3. Then, list your academic qualifications, including degrees obtained, institution name, and attendance dates. Don’t forget to mention any research or academic positions you’ve held, including teaching assistant, research assistant, or lecturer positions.
4. Highlight your academic achievements, including any publications, conference presentations, and grants or awards received.
5. List any relevant skills, such as research methodology, data analysis, or language skills.
6. Mention any professional memberships or affiliations, such as being a member of scientific societies or serving as a reviewer for scientific journals.
7. Academic CVs usually include references. You should add these at the end, but before you do, make sure that the people you list consent to this.
8. Finally, ensure your CV is well formatted with clear headings and bullet points and has no spelling or grammatical errors.