How to Write a great first CV

A Curriculum Vitae, or CV, is a document for prospective employers which shows everything you've done with your life so far. Well, not everything. They probably don't need to know about all the times you've sat at home in your underwear, playing Call of Duty...

if you're just out of school or college, the idea of writing a CV can be daunting, and chances are it will look a little empty. However, you don't need to have had a paid job to make a good impression. Here, we explain the best ways of formatting your first CV.

You've finished your education and now it's time to step out into the big scary grown-up world of work. Where do you even begin...?

Customise your CV to the job

First things first, it's important to be clear about what job you'll be applying for, and to keep that in mind as you write it out. Everything you put in your CV should have some sort of relevance to the job, no matter how small. For instance, if you're applying for a job as a receptionist, past experience in running a club at school will show employers that you have good organisational skills - vital for the position.

Include personal information (but not TMI)

Your CV should include your name and address, telephone number, and email address. There's no need to include your date of birth, or social media profiles. In fact, employers may voluntarily seek out your social media profiles without your knowledge, so best to scan over those before you send out your CV to make sure there's nothing embarrassing on there!

Education and qualifications

Put your most recent education first, along with what grades you've received at each stage. If you are yet to receive your grades, simply put 'pending'. It may be tempting to lie and say that you're a straight-A student if you're not, but it's always best to be honest in your CV!

Work experience

Work experience doesn't have to be paid. Have you written for the school newsletter? Perhaps you've done some babysitting before? All these little things count at this stage, so put them in, along with what responsibilities you had and any skills you developed.

Extra curricular activities and special skills

Here is where you can really show off. Are you fluent in another language? Have you done any studying abroad? Do you have any hobbies? Put it all in there, it'll really help you to stand out from the crowd!

Presentation is key

So, you've got all the details for your CV, but how do you format it in a professional manner? These links should help you out:

• School leaver CV template
• Graduate CV template
• A range of CV templates
• Advice on writing a CV