CV Writing Toolkit

What is a CV?

A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a short summary of your skills, experience and qualifications. Its purpose is to show an employer why you could be a good fit for the role.

Your CV is often one of the first things an employer will see, so it should clearly highlight your strengths and be tailored to the opportunity you are applying for.

Structuring your CV

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on the experiences you have gained so far. These might include:

Your degree

Part-time work

A placement year

Internships

Volunteering

University societies

Sports teams

Other extracurricular activities

Make detailed notes about what you did in each experience and the skills you developed. This will help you build an “evidence bank” of examples that you can use in future CVs and applications.

A typical CV usually includes the following sections below:

At the top of your CV, include:

Your name

Your location

Your phone number

A professional email address

A link to your LinkedIn profile, if you have one

Try to avoid generic phrases such as “hard-working team player” or “passionate and dedicated individual”. Instead, use specific language that reflects your experience and strengths.

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.

As a current student or recent graduate, most of the detail in this section will usually focus on your degree.

You should also include your secondary and further education qualifications, but these usually only need one or two lines.

List your work experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role first.

For each experience, use bullet points to describe your key responsibilities, achievements and the skills you developed.

This section can include:

Paid employment

Placements

Internships

Volunteering

Student roles, such as course representative

Committee or society positions

When possible, focus on what you achieved rather than simply listing your duties.

If you have space, an interests and hobbies section can be a helpful addition to your CV.

You could include:

University societies

Sports teams

Creative activities

Community involvement

This section is optional and can be used for relevant information that does not fit naturally elsewhere on your CV.

This might include:

A driving licence

Languages

First Aid training

DBS certification

Technical skills

Willingness to relocate or commute

Only include information that is relevant or useful for the opportunity.

References are people who can confirm your skills, experience and suitability for a role. They are usually people who have supervised you in a professional or academic setting, such as a line manager, lecturer or personal tutor.Employers normally ask for references later in the recruitment process, so you do not need to include their contact details on your CV.

You can simply write: “References available on request.”

Take a look at the example CVs below for inspiration and to explore different ways of presenting your skills, experience and achievements.

Even if your subject area or chosen career is not included, the examples can still help you compare different CV formats and decide which style might work best for you.

These examples are designed as a guide rather than a template to copy. Your CV should be written in your own words, reflect your individual experience and be tailored to each role you apply for.

Example CVs by type:

Chronological CV

Chronological CV (with placement year included)

Chronological CV (with previous professional experience)

Chronological CV (with Masters study)

One page CV

Part time CV (skills based, with no work experience)

Part time CV (with some work experience)

Academic CV

Skills based CV (for graduate roles)