Young Wrexham

CVs

CV is short for Curriculum Vitae and is a summary of your personal details, work experience, skills and abilities, school and exams passed or to be taken.

It is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer.

A CV is useful because you can take it or send it to potential employers letting them know that you are looking for work, even when there isn't necessarily a job being advertised. Your details will then be on file should something become available.

General tips for writing a CV

• A CV should be no more than 2 sides of A4
• Don't think you have to put everything in - try to decide on your best qualities, what's relevant for the types of job you are applying for and stick to these
• Use a word processor and print your CV out onto plain white or cream paper (if you don't have a computer at home you can probably use one at your local careers centre, library or youth centre)
• Its important to sell yourself but don't be tempted to lie - you'll have to prove what you've said if you get an interview
• Keep your CV updated so you always have it ready
• Remember you do not have to see a job advert before posting off your CV. You can send a covering letter with a copy of it to companies / organisations you're interested in working for - you never know they may just have a vacancy!

Your CV should include:

• Your name, address, age and contact details
• A few sentences or short paragraph about your best qualities, what you hope to achieve
• A section about your education and any qualifications that you have
• A section that details any jobs you have had, when you started and finished those jobs, what your duties were and how much you were paid
• Any additional information about your skills, hobbies and interests that might be relevant
• The names, addresses and contact details of at least two references (a previous employer and/or teacher/tutor or someone who knows you well like a family friend, youth worker etc.)