Oriel Recruitment

CV Guidelines

 

Cover Letter

 
Always have a cover letter to accompany your CV.
A cover letter is an introduction from you to the recruiter and explains why you are the best candidate applying for the job.It’s an overview of your skills and how they apply to the position.Before you write the letter do your research about the company, it should be customized to the needs of each employer. Remember - the primary goal of the cover letter is to get an interview.
Below are some tips:
  • Address the letter to a particular person by name (HR or department heads)
  • Refers to where you identified the job
  • Introduce yourself and let them know why you are writing to them
  • List a few achievements, skills and experiences
  • Mention what you can do for the company and how your profile matches their needs
  • Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position
  • Don’t just repeat all the information you wrote in your CV
  • Ask for the interview
  • Double check your letter for grammatical errors and spelling
  • Make sure your letter looks professional (form, structure, design, keep it on 1 page)
 
Curriculum Vitae
 
Curriculum Vitae means ‘story of your life’ in Latin. Bear this in mind while doing up your CV. A CV needs to include a brief introduction at the top, followed by Personal Details, Education details, Work Experience, Other Information to include hobbies and interests and references. Always have your education and Work experience in chronological order (Most recent at the top). The idea of a CV is to give enough information to get you an interview but not have too much that you have nothing to talk about when you get there!
 
You should tailor your CV to the employer and position you are applying for. Check what the advertised position is looking for and highlight these points in your CV.
 
Structure
 
Personal details
  • Name
  • Address
  • Contact (telephone, email)
  • Date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Gender
  • Marital Status
 Education
  • Name of University/ College/ School
  • Start/ End date
  • Qualification
  • Training (Internal/ external)
 
Work Experience
  • Job title (Permanent/ Contract position)
  • Company (Project)
  • Start/ end date
  • Key responsibilities
  • Achievements
 
Skills & abilities
  • PC/ Technical/ Management etc. skills
  • Driving licence
  • Languages
 
Other information & interests
  • Hobbies
  • Membership
  • Publications
  • Activities
 
References
Upon Request
 
 
 
Tips for CV Writing:
 
  • Keep it simple and easy to read:
Keep your font simple and easy to read. Do not use extremely difficult to read fonts, logos or photographs. Times New Roman or Arial are standard, keep the size between 11 and 12. Where possible, write in bullet points & use simple statements.
 
 
  • Tell the truth
Be honest; don’t exaggerate your experience or qualifications as your prospective employer may have a higher expectation. You must explain all gaps (maternity leave, travelling, illness, education etc.) and put the correct dates on your CV including the month and the year.
 
  • Tailor your CV to each job
Check that the key skills requested on the job specification or advertisement are mentioned within your career history. Leave out information that is irrelevant or negative. You don’t have to tell everything, you need only to give enough information in relation to a position you are interested in.
 
  • Check your spelling
Make sure you spell correctly. Spelling and grammar mistakes on a CV are unacceptable. Get someone else to read it through.