CV Generator

Your CV is a marketing tool that enables you to position yourself  effectively in the job market. Your CV helps employers determine whether you have the skills and experience for the role. With many applicants  for the same job, it is natural to skim read when faced with a mountain  of CVs. You must be 'to the point' and concise. An employer should not  have to read between the lines, or scan your CV for key words in order  to decide whether to interview you.

Some practical points

• brevity is essential - try to keep your CV to a maximum of 3 pages.
• avoid unusual typefaces or other presentation gimmicks such as italics or exclamation marks.
• take care that it does not look cramped, the layout should invite the reader to continue.
• be a stickler for spelling and punctuation, especially with the names of people and organisations.
• get someone else to  proof read your CV for you.

Your first page
This should contain your personal details; name, address, phone numbers and e-mail, as well as  educational details. Qualifications should be ordered to reflect ongoing professional development and do not go into too much detail listing all.  It should also include a Personal Profile.

Your 'Personal Profile'
The next few sentences  are often what will ensure that the reader is encouraged to read on. It  is a snapshot of what you do and of everything you have achieved in your career, condensed into two or three sentences. Your profile should  contain all of your USPs (unique selling points), giving a brief  overview of your skills and experience, as well as the type of role that you seek. You should make it forward looking rather than dwelling on  the past and you may need to rewrite it for each job you apply for.

Example: ' A highly self motivated Systems Developer, with 3  years experience of building fixed income trading systems through the  full project life-cycle using C++ and Java/J2EE. Proficient in  structured OO analysis and design techniques and with recent exposure to .Net/C#.'

The second part of your profile should state your career goals and show evidence of self-analysis and forward thinking.

Example: ' I am seeking a hands-on development role, where I can  make more use of my mathematical abilities and deepen my technical  design skills. My medium term ambition is to move into a role that  focuses on enterprise architecture design, as well as applications  design.'

A clear objective shows you to be a candidate who has carefully  considered their career plan and their next job move. You are serious  about getting the right role.

Your “Career History “
This should be written in  reverse chronological order and should concentrate on the most recent  achievements. Start with your current employer, position and length of  time in that role. Describe specific projects and demonstrate clear  career progression by taking care to quantify your achievements.

Example: ' Over the last 12 months, I have been a senior member  of a 6-person team responsible for the implementation of additional  functionality to the new global fixed income trading system using  Java/J2EE and, recently, .Net/C#. I am personally accountable for the  rapid delivery of Repo and Asset-backed Securities trading applications  using RAD techniques, including pricing and risk management  functionality

Previously after completing a 12-month graduate training programme, I was responsible for the ongoing maintenance and support of the legacy  trading system, using C++, Perl and Sybase.'

Avoid self-opinion at all costs and concentrate on providing quantifiable proof of your achievements.

Use of language
Try to start each sentence or  point with a dynamic word that demonstrates your key skills (i.e.  developed, implemented, supported, redesigned, created, managed,  directed). Don't forget useful adjectives such as; successfully,  rapidly, smoothly and profitably. Avoid bland statements like 'good team player'. You should, again, quantify this by stating how big the team  was, what was your position within it, what was its objective and how  was this met.

and finally ...
Interests: keep these to a maximum  of 3 and avoid anything controversial or too extreme. Tightrope walking  and snake charming may make you seem interesting and confident, but may  appear to a client to reflect a thrill seeker who takes risks and not  someone to be trusted with authority. Be honest, you never know when the interviewer may have the same interest.

Referees: a matter for personal consideration. Put 'available on  request' if you wish to preserve confidentiality or make it clear that  you do not wish references to be taken up prior to job offer being  accepted.