Remember though, there is no such thing as a free CV other than the one you write for yourself. Copying content from other CVs is misleading at best, and fraudulent at worst. Using someone else’s CV to secure a job may land you in hot water and is always a bad idea so CV templates should be used as a guide to layout and content only.

White Space

I am a big fan of including White Space in the layout of a CV. I don’t mean just taking out content and leaving nothing to read, but using it like a well placed silent pause in a speech to focus interest on a point you want to highlight. Using White Space to direct the eyes of the reader can get them to notice things that they would miss in a ‘busy’ CV, like the record you hold or the award you won in your last job.

I use White Space to create questions you would like to answer in your interview. Draw the reader’s eyes to an incomplete fact, or point of interest that leads to an easy question that you are prepared for – interviewers always look out for easy questions to ask at the beginning of an interview, which then lead to more probing questions. Lazy interviewers stick with the easy questions.

So you can see how a well laid out CV can create a good opening to an interview, with the interviewer asking questions you can answer easily. This in turn makes you appear relaxed and confident, and gives a fantastic first impression in an interview.

It is common knowledge that interviewers make their minds up on a candidate’s suitability within 30 seconds of meeting them and I would say, as an interviewer, that there is truth in that statement. I would perhaps say a little longer than 30 seconds, maybe up to two minutes, but certainly you know by then whether you are taking that candidate forward or putting their CV in the bin when you walk out of the room.

So, there is a good chance that well placed layout of your Curriculum Vitae could actually win you the job without very much effort at all!

Look out for next week’s Top CV Writing Tip for more information on how to write a good CV.

Here are my tips for the perfect CV:

Your CV is the one and only thing your potential employer has to go on when deciding whether or not to interview you. It may help to think of it like dressing smartly or getting a hair-cut before your interview – a good CV will help you get to that stage. An excellent CV will create a good initial impression and give the interviewer an idea of your personality.

A good CV should include:

• Full Education

• Full Employment History

• Relevant Skills

• Completed Courses and Training

• Hobbies and Interests

• Personal Details

• Personal Profile

• References

• Good Layout

In the following posts I will take each of these points as a separate section and explore what you should include and exclude from your CV. Some details are best left out, and the way your CV is presented speaks volumes about you and your attention to detail.

Try and start your CV by writing out these bullet points as headings and filling out what you think should be listed under them. Start by including as much detail in your CV as possible, as you can refine this later. Check back in a couple of days to see what I’ve posted next and whether it matches what you have written.

A good CV takes a lot of thought and can make a big difference to your life – make sure you give it the time it deserves.