Tips and techniques for writing a CV and cover letter
Help and advice if you're looking for a new job
Last updated 2nd Oct 2020
We want to help give you the best chance of securing a new role, so have pulled together a few tips and techniques to help you in your job search.
Before beginning your search remember to be kind to yourself as remaining positive is important for your well-being. It might be helpful to make a list of the things you’re good at and skilled at and then ask colleagues, friends or family to help you add to it. It will help you focus on the positives and give you inspiration for your CV or cover letters, and is a great thing to talk about in interviews.
Job search guidance and help
How do I write a CV?
A CV is the way you will introduce yourself to potential employers. Even online application forms include fields to copy information from a CV, so it's important to have one on file.
You can showcase your professional history and achievements but it's important to present these in a clear, concise and attention-grabbing way.
What essential information should I add to my CV?
Always include your full name and contact details (daytime telephone/mobile and email). Do not include your date of birth, home address or photo; these are private details and are not relevant to any application. If you have a LinkedIn profile that has your job history on you could always include that too.
What should I put in my professional summary?
Consider this to be a condensed version of a cover letter. A professional profile should explain what you do, what key skills you have and your aspirations. This should be adapted for different applications, so you can highlight different skills, achievements or qualifications that you feel are most relevant. For example:
I am an experienced Sales Advisor with experience working B2C. I have skills in customer service, sales, data-management, and have worked successfully both individually and as part of a team.
What experience should I add to my CV?
Often bullet-pointed, this is an opportunity to 'mirror' any must-haves in the role's job specification. From soft skills (e.g. line-management, coaching, presentation or negotiation skills) to specific hard skills (e.g. Advanced Excel), this is a headline-grabbing opportunity to show you possess the knowledge and skills the role requires.
Start with the most recent (if you have a long career history, briefly summarise older and less relevant roles under an 'Early Career' sub-heading). Do not write long paragraphs for each role, instead write a headline 'explainer' that outlines the role's purpose and follow it with bullet-pointed responsibilities and achievements. This enables the reader to take in key information quickly and helps to focus their mind on what you can do. See the example below:
Sales Manager, Company ABC (Jan 2015 – Jan 2020)
In this role, I led a team of six salespeople to generate new business in the local area. I led team meetings, set targets and ensured objectives were met by leading all negotiations and coaching individuals where appropriate.
Responsibilities:
o Managing a team, recruiting and inducting new starts.
o Generating new business and growing existing accounts.
o Pitching to clients and leading negotiations to close.
How do I order my qualifications on my CV?
Include qualifications in your CV. Start with the highest level and follow with earlier qualifications. You do not have to list every subject taken in earlier qualifications but it's a good idea to include Maths and English if you have achieved them. Many employers value relevant skills and experience over formal qualifications but if a role requires a qualification move this section to the front page or make a reference to it in your Professional Summary.
Should I add training that I've completed?
Providing evidence of training (sometimes known as Continuing Professional Development or CPD) shows you have a history of developing your knowledge and skills. Whether employer-led or self-guided, it demonstrates commitment, drive and initiative so include anything relevant in your Qualifications section. You could include employer-led training days (e.g. workshops) as well as your own learning regardless of format or source.
Should I add hobbies and interests to my CV?
This last section should be called personal summary and is optional. It's a personal opportunity to demonstrate your character, personality or ambitions. You could include extra-curricular activity (voluntary, social, philanthropic) or notable achievements (a music grading for example demonstrates dedication). Do not use this section to simply list favourite sports, hobbies or pastimes; it would be better to add more to other, more important sections.
CV top tips
Write in the first person, not third (i.e. 'I…').
Always spell-check and sub.
Use a clear, appropriately sized font (don't minimise text to fit and leave your CV almost illegible).
Stick to word documents over pdfs as some businesses cut/paste key info. into briefing sheets for hiring managers in preparation for interviews.
Use clearly identified sections to help employers review experience, education and qualifications easily.
Try stick to a two-page layout.
How do I write a cover letter?
A CV alone is enough for some applications, but a cover letter is sometimes requested to provide formal context to your suitability for a role and business. It is best practice to have a template on file that you can adapt and change per application.
The best cover letters outline not only why you'd make a great candidate based on the job description, but why you are excited about the opportunity and the organisation. Keep the three P's in mind:
Personalise: Every cover letter should be different.
Passion: Demonstrate why you care about the role – and the organisation.
Professional: Spelling, grammar and the right tone for the organisation.
Cover letter top tips
Your cover letter should be no longer than a single A4 page.
Avoid vague and generic phrases.
Don't be afraid to experiment with your template, especially for roles in the creative industries.
Carry out basic research into the role and the organisation and read the job or person specification.
Visit the company's website and note their cultural values and latest news.
Do an online search of the company and click 'news' to discover announcements or initiatives to reference.
Should I send emails to companies?
Your cover letter doesn't need to be a separate document. You could use it as a template to write an email (with your CV attached). But who do you send an email to - and how do you find their address?
Some websites have an 'About Us' section with key contacts listed or you could call reception and ask who you to send such emails to. If you can't find a contact, search for people who work there on LinkedIn (Talent Acquisition or HR Managers, or even Department Leads).
Should I use a recruiter to find a job?
External recruiters use at least one of the big three CV databases (CV Library, Reed and Total Jobs). We suggest registering with at least one.
Next, seek out recruitment agencies that have roles in your sector or area of expertise. You'll have to do your own research here (just Google 'Your Sector/Job title' + 'Recruitment Agency'). Keep an eye on their available jobs and, if they don't have what you're looking for, move on until you find an agency that has a good selection of roles for you
An internal recruiters job is to build and maintain talent so new openings are filled efficiently. Their job title is usually 'Talent Acquisition Exec/Manager'. It's worth seeking them out at your favourite companies (this is where LinkedIn is useful).
What are transferable skills?
There's a whole world of opportunity out there if you're also proactive with your search. If you know a business employs people with your skillset and experience, in the kind of roles you want, then get in touch. There are no barriers here so don't limit yourself, but before you take this approach, it's a good idea to think about your transferable skills.
With proactive applications, you don't have a specific Job Specification to refer to so it's good to flag transferable skills. These can be general or specific but are a combination of different things; your knowledge, attitudes, character,
For example: Project Management (delivering to time and on budget), Writing or Communication (reports, presentations, reviews, proposals, negotiation), Customer Service (persuasive, problem-solving), Employee Management (leading, coaching, raising productivity).
Recruiter top tips
Although it's good to start with a specialist agency, give yourself the best chance and register with a large, UK-wide recruiter who have connections and roles across all industries in all locations.
You can search for roles, set-up Job Alerts or simply wait for recruiters call you. They could call you about a role any time so always answer you phone professionally.
Is LinkedIn a good place to make contact with a business?
LinkedIn is a great resource for providing details on who to contact. We suggest sending a more formal email first, but you could connect with businesses on LinkedIn a week later to follow-up.
Job vacancies
We want to help you get back to work and have a list of jobs with companies in your area on our homepage or by clicking the 'getting you back to work' tab at the bottom of this page.
Good luck!