CV writing is usually not a job that people enjoy, as they perceive it to be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Follow these top five CV writing tips and you'll find that it is a much easier task than you had anticipated.

Tip #1

Write your own CV. There are plenty of professional CV writers who will do a good job and by all means use them. But use the CV written by a professional as a generic CV from which to create your own targeted CV for each job.

It's very tempting to take a professionally written document and send it out with every application, because it looks and sounds so good. However, although the writer knows how to write good CVs, he doesn't usually have the job description in front of him. Also, he only knows a little about you - and those are the two most important factors which need to be taken into consideration on your CV.

Tip #2

Choose the most appropriate format for your CV. Many people stick to the traditional chronological format but this doesn't always work well. It is good for people who have a very solid work history, particularly if that is in one industry. For this experience, a chronological CV, in which employment is presented in reverse chronological order shows your progression in a particular career.

If you have recently worked for certain organizations you know will impress your prospective employers, you could also consider a chronological CV so that this is the information which hits the reader in the initial 20 seconds or so which are allotted to each job application.

In other situations, for example, when you have gaps in your work history, or very little work history at all, a functional or skills-based CV can be very effective in showing off your strengths.

Tip #3

When targeting your CV, make sure that you highlight the skills and experience which the employer is looking for. You will find this in the job description. Read it carefully and make sure you understand what is most important.

Tip #4

Don't just say you have a particular skill or type of experience - prove it. You can do this by giving examples.

Tip #5

Use your cover letter to expand on the information in your CV, not just to rehash it. This is your opportunity to go into more detail about the experiences and skills which make you stand out. Your CV should make the employer really want to interview you and your cover letter should convince him that you are an outstanding candidate for the post.