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BTCV Enterprises
Jobsearch Manual
Effective CV writing

CV = Curriculum Vitae = your life path

A perfect CV is a well-structured easy to read presentation of your capabilities and
accomplishments. It should be designed to convince a potential employer to invite you to an
interview. It is a self-advertisement.

The employer is looking for evidence of success and achievements presented in a way that responds
to the employer’s current needs.

Remember your CV is not your biography but your prospectus for the future.

You are 100% responsible for ensuring that the messages you want to give are effectively received.

The Purpose of the CV is to get you an INTERVIEW

Did you know?

CVs sent by job hunters to prospective employers when there is no specific position available and
using a standard, non-tailored format have only an 8% record of success. So each job application
will mean your CV needs a tweak.

In a pile of several hundred CVs, an employer may spend as little as 8 seconds per applicant before
short-listing for interview.

A pile of 50 CVs may be whittled down by reading each for around 30 seconds.

So you could have just 8-30 seconds to make an impression.

Busy employers short-list on the basis of the quality and clarity of the presentations rather than on
the inherent qualities of the candidate. That means that often well qualified candidates are often
not considered for positions due to poor CVs. By developing well focused CVs candidates will
greatly increase their chances of being interviewed and getting a job offer.

It needs to be clear, of high quality and professional.

The quality of your CV demonstrates the quality of your self-appraisal. It demonstrates how you will
get the job done.

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Preparing your CV
You must make your CV interesting to others and be the strongest and most representative view of
yourself. You should also remember the normal chain of events in the employment process:

YOUR COVER LETTER

Introduces

YOUR CV
Which

GETS YOU AN INTERVIEW

Which

GETS YOU A JOB

REMEMBER: The purpose of a CV is to get an interview. You do not need to give

details of all of your life/work experience. Recruiters will only look at your CV
briefly so please ensure that it is short, punchy and emphasises relevant and recent
information.

Content
A CV should include the following

4  Personal details Full name, address, telephone and age

4  Personal profile A short ‘selling’ statement about you

4  Employment Record employers, dates and job titles

4  Responsibilities Highlighting skills and strengths

4  Achievements Showing the results you achieved

4  Qualifications Relevant to the next job

4  Education A brief summary. More if you are aged under 25

4  Training Show how you have used training. Avoid lists

4  Interests Very brief explanations of up to three interests

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Since none of the following have any bearing on your ability to do the job you should exclude them
except when vital to the job:

8  Weight & height Irrelevant

8  Referees Can be given later when requested

8  Names Irrelevant
  or ages of family members

8  Marital status Optional

8  Salary Better left until job offer stage for negotiation

8  Driving licence Only when the job includes significant driving

8  Reasons for leaving Can be discussed at interview stage

Common mistakes

Before you prepare your CV, bear in mind some of the most common mistakes.

In a survey of CVs the following emerged as some of the most frequent mistakes.

l  Not pitched at the target job/company

l  Too long

l  Disorganised

l  Poorly typed/written

l  Over written – long paragraphs and sentences

l  Too sparse – only the bare essentials

l  Not focused on results

l  Irrelevant information

l  Misspelling – poor grammar

l  No achievements

l  Incorrect telephone number

l  Gaps in dates

Profile statements
BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 
A great way to add impact to your CV is a ‘profile statement’. This is a paragraph that summarises
how you see yourself, your particular strengths and what you feel you have to offer.

Although this is optional it is a great way to encourage a prospective employer to read on.
Remember to keep it brief and be prepared to talk about the qualities you mention at interview.

Here are some examples:

“An experienced Account Administrator who works well under pressure to consistently meet strict
deadlines. Enjoys working as part of a team or on own initiative using effective communication
skills to achieve objectives.”

“A hardworking, reliable person with skills and experience in all aspects of [their job]. Excellent
attendance records and the ability to train inexperienced staff”.

“A professional and efficient P/A with several years experience in operations and finance divisions.
Excellent communication skills and attention to detail, also acknowledged for discretion, confidence
and reliability”.

“Dedicated and self – motivated with ten years experience and a proven track record of
achievement in a competitive market. Personal strengths include determination, flexibility, and a
desire to exceed company targets”.

“A committed manager with proven people skills who is able to motivate staff to achieve high
standards of customer service and sales performance”.

“A punctual and reliable long distance HGV driver, with over 10 years long – haul experience and
an exemplary safety record”.

CV layout – different formats

Chronological CV
This is the most common style of CV and is particularly appropriate where it is being used to obtain
an interview for a similar job.

PERSONAL DETAILS
PROFILE (optional)
CAREER/EMPLOYMENT HISTORY (in reverse chronological order)
RESPONSIBILITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS (including skills)
QUALIFICATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS (if applicable)
TRAINING
EDUCATION
OTHER INFORMATION

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Functional CV
For others looking to change direction in their career or wanting to emphasise their achievements
and skills above their employment details a functional or skill led CV can be more appropriate.

PERSONAL DETAILS
PROFILE (optional)
KEY SKILLS/ACHIEVEMENTS (possibly grouped)
CAREER/EMPLOYMENT HISTORY (in outline)
QUALIFICATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS (if applicable)
TRAINING
EDUCATION
OTHER INFORMATION

Targeted CV
This is best for focusing on a clear, specific job target (you would have a different one for each
target position)

PERSONAL DETAILS
PROFILE (optional)
JOB TARGET (specific)
CAPABILITIES
ACHIEVEMENTS (in specific job target)
CAREER/EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
TRAINING
EDUCATION
OTHER INFORMATION

Self-employed/consultancy CV
If you are seeking Consultancy/contract work, or setting yourself up as self – employed, you may
wish to move away from being identified with conventional employment and save on the expense
of a brochure.

PERSONAL DETAILS
PROFILE
RECENT CLIENTS (if possible)
KEY ASSIGNMENTS UNDERTAKEN
QUALIFICATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS
PERSONAL PROFILE (background, base)

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Selecting the right format
4  Consider the audience/job you are targeting
4  Write your skills and achievements to match the requirements of the prospective
types of employer
4 !!Remember to use verbs and achievements!!
4  Select the best format of CV (this may change from job to job)
4  If you wish to highlight skills across your career then a ‘functional’ CV may be best
4  If you are applying for exactly the same role as you held at your last company then
a ‘chronological’ CV may be most appropriate

A professional approach
4  Always have your CV word-processed
4  Use clean, white, good quality paper
4  Have bold headings to attract the eyes attention
4  Use a large enough envelope to keep your CV flat – not folded
4  Leave plenty of white space

Creative approaches
Use this approach where creativity is a key part of the job. For example in the media, writing, art
and design. Make sure the style is suitable for the type of job you are seeking. If in doubt use a
straightforward approach.

Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. Would you want to interview you? Ask someone else to check
your spelling, punctuation and grammar because it’s hard to spot your own mistakes.

CV summary
4  Taking care now will pay dividends later
4  Your CV is one of the most important parts of your successful job hunt
4  A CV is a sales brochure to get you an interview
4  Complete your CV honestly, concisely and with an emphasis on results and
achievements
4  CVs must be typed or word-processed
4  Always send a suitable covering letter with your CV
4  Review your CV regularly

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Different types of CV and when to use them
Chronological CV
In this CV the job history is shown with the most recent job at the top, and having the most space
Titles and organisations are emphasised and achievements within those titles described.

good 4 When the name of your last employer is an important consideration

4 When staying in the same field as prior jobs
4 When job history demonstrates real growth and development
4 When prior titles are impressive
4 In highly traditional fields (such as education or government).

bad 8 When work history is spotty

8 When changing career goals
8 When you have changed employers too frequently
8 When you have been doing the same thing too long
8 When you have been absent from the job market for a while
8 When you are looking for your first job

Rules for the Chronological CV

1. Start with present or most recent position and work backwards, with most space devoted to
recent employment.

2. Detail only the last 4 or 5 positions of employment covering the last 10 or so years.
Summarise early positions unless very relevant to the present.

3. Use year designations not month and day. Greater details can be given in the interview.

4. Don’t show every major position change with a given employer. List the most recent or
present and 2 or 3 others at most.

5. Do not repeat details that are common to several positions.

6. Within each position stress the major achievement and responsibilities that show your full
competency to do the job.

7. Always keep you next job target in mind and as you describe prior positions and achievements
emphasise those that are most related to the position you are applying for.

8. Education – if it is within the past 5 years, it should go at the top of the CV. If earlier than
that, at the bottom. This is not a hard and fast rule and if you wanted to emphasise your
education for a particular position then you could place it at the top.

Getting started

Starting with your most recent position, list everything that you can think of in terms of
achievements and responsibilities within that position. Do this with each position. Then highlight
the activities in each position that you feel are most indicative of your abilities and most related to
the next step in your career. Then rewrite the information you have highlighted into concise points
that can be used in your CV.

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Chronological CV example

MARTIN ANOTHER
29 Any Terrace
Brampton
Chesterfield
Tel: (01234) 567890

WORK EXPERIENCE

1987 – Present Mackintosh Publishing Sheffield

(Regional Sales Manager)

Implemented new sales initiative which resulted in a

15% Increase in sales.
Recruited a new sales team of 15 and trained them to a high
standard
Organised trade exhibition which secured order worth £250,000.

1985 – 1987 Appletree Inc.

(Sales Representative)

Awarded Head Salesman 1986/1987.

Secured 14 new accounts and reduced account closure to 2%

EDUCATION

1984 Cardiff Marketing College

(Diploma in Marketing)

1982 Hallam University

(Degree in Business Studies 2.2)

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Functional CV
The format highlights major areas of accomplishment and strength and allows you to organise
them in an order that most supports your work objectives and job targets. Actual titles and work
history are in a subordinate position and sometimes left off entirely.

good 4 When you want to emphasise capabilities not used in recent work experience.
4 When changing careers.
4 When entering the job market for the first time.
4 When re-entering the job market after an absence.
4 If career growth in the past has not been good.
4 When you have had a variety of different, unconnected work experiences.
4 Where much of your work has been freelance, consulting, or temporary.

bad 8 When you want to emphasise a management growth pattern.

8 For highly traditional fields such as education or government.
8 Where you have formed a limited number of functions in your work.
8 Where your most recent employers have a high reputation.

Rules for the Functional CV

1. Use 4 or 5 separate paragraphs in sections, each one headlining a particular area of expertise
or involvement.

2. List the functional paragraphs in order of importance, with the area most related to your
present job target at the top and containing slightly more information.

3. Within each functional area stress the most directly related achievements or results you have
produced or the most powerful abilities.

4. Include any relevant achievement without necessarily identifying which employment or

non-employment situation it was connected to.

5. Include education towards the bottom unless it was within the last 3-5 years. If in an
unrelated field, include it at the end no matter how recent.

6. Give a brief synopsis of your actual work experience at the bottom, giving dates, employer
and title. If you have had a spotty or no work experience, leave out the employment synopsis
entirely.

7. Keep the length to one page.

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 

Functional CV example

PAUL OTHER
21 Any Street
Chesterfield
S42 O9X
Tel: (01234) 567890

WRITING

• Wrote 20 articles for the sports section of college newspaper.

• Wrote and sold greeting cards for charity, earning £500.
• Contributed articles on a freelance basis to “The Sheffield Star”.

RADIO

• Announced live broadcasts of football games on college radio.

• Broadcast 15, 30 minute reports on local sports events.
• Produced public service announcements for local charities for broadcast on Radio 1.

TELEVISION/VIDEO

• Directed football training video

• Produced 10 episodes of a soap opera ‘Pathways’, based on a local office block.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1986 – Present NFT Derbyshire Sheffield

(Director/Producer)

1984 – 1986 Star Local Press Sheffield

(Editor)

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 10

Targeted CV
This format is best for focusing on a clear, specific job target (you would have a different one for
each target). It lists future related capabilities and supporting achievements that relate to a clear job
target.

The Targeted CV includes most of the advantages and disadvantages of the Functional CV and
some further considerations.

good 4 When you are very clear about your job target.
4 When you have several directions in which to go and want a different CV for each.
4 When you want to emphasise capabilities you possess, but for which you may not
have had paid experience.

bad 8 When you want to use one CV for several applications.

8 When you are not clear about your capabilities and achievements.
8 When you have limited experience.

Rules for the Targeted CV

1. You must be clear about a specific job target. A job target is a clear description of a particular
title or occupation field that you want to pursue.

2. The statement of capability and achievement must all be directly related to the job target. This
may require some reading and research in the field.

3. Both capabilities and achievements will be short statements of 1 or 2 lines, generally written
in an active style.

4. Listed capabilities will answer the question “What can you do?”
Listed achievements will answer the question “What have you done?”

Getting Started

For each target, complete one list of capabilities and one list of achievements.

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 11

Targeted CV example

PAULINE WHO
92 Any Street
Staveley
Chesterfield
S42 9BS
Tel: (01234) 567890

JOB TARGET: Hospital Administrator

CAPABILITIES

• Establish Budget Control System

• Act as liaison between hospital departments
• Direct complex activities in Operations and Finance
• Co-ordinate clerical support for all departments

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Developed and implemented polices and procedures for 6 Health Centres

• Recruited admin support staff for eight Centres
• Acted as Liaison Officer with Department Heads and Contractors

WORK EXPERIENCE

1983 – Present Chesterfield Royal Hospital

(Assistant Administrator)

1980 – 1983 Derbyshire District Health Authority

(Planning Assistant)

1979 – 1980 Manchester District General

(Admin Assistant)

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 12

CV writing tips
• Regardless of your experience and education you can present everything you need to say
in your CV in one page. (CV experts claim that often it’s the less confident candidates
that have the longest CVs).
• Use active verbs to start sentences and paragraphs.
• Describe results you have achieved, not duties you have performed.
• Always be thinking what does this employer need that I have? Look for ways – to match
your skills with his requirements.
• Keep sentences and paragraphs short.
• Use indented and bulleted statements.
• Use simple terms.
• Use quantities, amounts, pound values when they enhance the description of what you
did (“increased sales by £10,000”).
• If you are going to state hobbies and interests, be specific. Don’t just say reading. Instead
say, “I like reading Jane Austen books”.
• Avoid self-serving evaluations: “I am an intelligent and diligent researcher”

Writing your CV: STEP 1

Compile a bank of raw data to draw from when you have chosen a CV format.
Education: Schools or colleges attended with dates, qualifications, main subjects or areas studied.
Work Experience: Include details of your current and past jobs (title, employer, and dates
employed, major responsibilities and achievements).
Training: Lists any training courses you have attended.
Honours and Awards: List any recognition you have received throughout your career.
Voluntary Work: Include information that may be relevant to a potential employer.

Writing your CV: STEP 2

Why an employer should hire you?
Capabilities: Build a list of your marketable capabilities – your skills and abilities that demonstrate
to a prospective employer that you can do the job.
Accomplishments: List all the accomplishments you have produced in current and past jobs,
education and voluntary work.
Functions: Identify up to 5 functional headings and categorise your accomplishments under these
headings. This section is critical if you want to build a functional CV.
Once you have entered your information into each of the CV sections you may need to complete
the following exercise.

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 13

Turning duties into results
1. Below are examples of powerful words. Tick those you feel could be used in sentences or
paragraphs to describe your achievements.

2. Take the words you have selected and one-by-one, write a sentence or two describing a work-
related achievement or result you have produced. Write a minimum of three.

3. Go back over these results and see if they can be edited to increase impact. Can you cut any
words without reducing interest?

Skills
Administering Drawing Operating

Analysing Driving Organising

Auditing Estimating Persuading

Budgeting Evaluating Planning

Building Filing Preparing

Calculating Identifying Presenting

Coaching Implementing Problem solving

Communicating Innovating Producing

Computing Interpreting Purchasing

Controlling Interviewing Questioning

Co-ordinating Inventing Repairing

Counselling Keyboard skills Researching

Creating Leading Selling

Decision making Listening Shorthand

Delegating Managing Supervising

Designing Managing money Supporting

Detecting Marketing Telephone skills

Developing others Measuring Training

Devising Meeting skills Typing

Diagnosing Motivating Visualising

Directing Negotiating Writing

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 14

Achievements

It is important to be able to document your achievements so that you can use this information:

l  In your CV
Most people fail to include them and you have an advantage by doing so.

l  In interviews
You can add substance to your answers by explaining your relevant achievements.

l  In letters
When writing cover letters to sell your skills effectively to a prospective employer.

Achievements can be about tasks that you are proud of. They can be one-off achievements, they
can also be maintenance achievements – things that you have done well day after day, week in,
week out.

Another way of thinking about achievements is to consider the parts of a job which you have
enjoyed the most – generally speaking we enjoy what we are good at and we are good at what we
enjoy!

Think about each job you have had, beginning with the most recent. List your achievements for
each. They do not have to be major, just things that you feel good about. To help, here is a list of
potential areas to consider:

Consistently performing a task A group you led

A problem solved Reaching or beating targets

Learning a new skill An activity simplified

Introducing a new system Meeting a challenge

Meeting deadlines Reducing costs/Increasing sales

Something you made Forming a new idea

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 15

How to write an achievement
Every word counts on your CV so when describing your achievements try using one of the ‘strong
action’ verbs below. Using these verbs will show the contribution you made in your job as well as
highlighting strengths.

Arranged Began Changed Implemented

Planned Started Altered

Administered Built Altered Conducted

Arranged Conceived Changed Demonstrated
Assembled Constructed Combined Effected
Centralised Created Converted Enacted
Compiled Devised Modified Executed
Composed Established Re-designed Formulated
Co-ordinated Founded Re-directed Negotiated
Designed Generated Replaced Processed
Developed Initiated Re-structured Produced
Organised Installed Shaped Undertook
Planned Instigated Transformed Utilised
Prepared Introduced
Proposed Launched
Scheduled Originated
Piloted
Renewed
Set up

Increased Maintained Improved Lessened

Made Bigger Made smaller

Accelerated Consolidated Corrected Decreased

Broadened Continued Enhanced Halved
Doubled Preserved Rectified Lightened
Enlarged Supported Refined Lowered
Exceeded Updated Remedied Minimised
Expanded Conserved Repaired Reduced
Extended Sustained Rescued Shortened
Heightened Resolved
Strengthened Restored
Surpassed Revised
Tripled Saved
Widened Transformed

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 16

 Managed Obtained Prevented Researched
Controlled Used Ended Studied

Directed Acquired Anticipated Analysed

Headed Bought Averted Appraised
Instructed Captured Avoided Assessed
Led Collected Completed Audited
Ordered Employed Diverted Calculated
Piloted Hired Eliminated Checked
Regulated Interviewed Ended Collated
Steered Purchased Eradicated Defined
Supervised Recruited Evaded Discovered
Taught Retained Finished Estimated
Trained Secured Forestalled Evaluated
Utilised Halted Examined
Liquidated Highlighted
Prevented Identified
Rejected Inspected
Stemmed Investigated
Stopped Monitored
Terminated Probed
Proved
Surveyed
Tested
Uncovered
Verified

Succeeded Suggested Urged Wrote

Achieved Advised

Accomplished Approved Encouraged Documented

Attained Counselled Inspired Drafted
Completed Forecasted Motivated Edited
Ensured Guided Spurred Interpreted
Negotiated Judged Stimulated Outlined
Overcame Liased Taught Publicised
Saved Prescribed Trained Published
Traded Promoted Re-vamped
Won Proposed Revised
Recommended Translated
Selected
Specified
Suggested

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 17

Achievements
List your achievements for each job. Start with the most recent job and work back in time.

Job What did you What skills did What was the
do? you use? result?

Example

Quality manager Liased with other Rectified an on-

Wrote a new departments going production
procedure problem

Retail Assistant Listened to their Built up repeat

Served customers needs business

Van Driver Delivered goods Planned schedule Customers

across the country and made sure were happy and
orders were accurate deadlines were met

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 18

Presentation of your CV
Typing and Typography
l  Make sure the name, address and telephone number are centred on the top
l  Use 25mm margins, minimum on all sides
l  Don’t make it look cramped – use plenty of white space
l  Highlight important titles by using capitals and underlining
l  Use single line space – double between paragraphs

Note: it is not advisable to have your CV professionally typeset by a printer or typesetter as this is
usually seen as graphic overkill.

Layout
l  UPPER CASE LETTERS – for headings or titles that are important. Use sparingly and be
consistent.
l  Underlining – can be used in the body of the CV to emphasise a dramatic results but make
sure that what you underline is in fact special. Again use sparingly.
l  Italics can be used in the same way as underlining.
l  Highlighting – simply use a highlighting pen to dramatise key results.
l  Indenting – separates different types of information and makes the reader’s job easier.
l  Bullets – use these (l) to make short, separate points.
l  Paragraphs – make sure no paragraphs are longer then 12 lines.

Be concise
4 Shorten sentences
4 Eliminate repetitions
4 Don’t spell out information that is already implied
4 Leave off Company address or name of references
4 List only most recent positions
4 Eliminate extraneous information – weight, height, sex, marital status, health
4 Condense – don’t give 3 examples when one will suffice

Some CV Don’ts
8 Don’t include pictures
8 Don’t list references or relatives
8 Don’t put your CV in fancy binders or folders
8 Don’t forget phone number and post code
8 Don’t list sex, weight, height, health or other personal irrelevancies
8 Don’t highlight problems (divorce, handicaps etc.)
8 Don’t include addresses of prior employers (city is okay)
8 Don’t include salary information

The Ten most common CV writing mistakes

1. Too long
2. Disorganised – information is scattered around the page and hard to follow
3. Poorly typed and printed – hard to read
4. Overwritten – long paragraphs and sentences
5. Too sparse- gives only bare essentials of dates and job titles
6. Not orientated for results – frequent platitudes disconnected from specific results
7. Too many irrelevancies
8. Misspellings, typos, poor grammar
9. Tries too hard – fancy typesetting and binders, photographs etc
10. Misdirected – sent to the wrong department with little or no apparent relevance to the
organisation

BTCV Enterprises Jobsearch Manual: Effective CV writing v.3/03.07VJ/rev10.07 ©BTCV 2007 19