@mlemanchester

My Learning EssentialsThe University of Manchester Library

Finding a job:CV Structure and presentation

https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/learning-objects/mle/careers/cv-structure/

CHEAT SHEET

Developed in collaboration with the Careers Service

Introduction: Finding a job

This learning resource is part of a suite of resources which will help you with finding and applying for

jobs.

They examine the whole process, from researching roles and organisations and structuring your CV,

tailoring your applications, to providing evidence in your application for the skills required for a

particular role.

This resource focuses on how best to structure and present your CV. You’ll find links to the other

resources in this series at the end of this resource.

Introduction: Doing your homework

Your CV is the first impression that a potential employer will get of you.

A well-presented CV with a logical structure is easier for recruiters to read, enabling them to immediately identify how you fit the role being advertised.

This resource will focus on two main areas:

1. STRUCTURE

2. PRESENTATION

Structure: what are the options

A chronological CV is usually the most appropriate structure for students or recent graduates. It’s easier to read and to put together than most other types of CV.

There are other CV formats which can be appropriate in certain cases, but in this resource we’ll focus

on the chronological CV.

A chronological CV lists your education and work experience in reverse date order; skills and achievements are included within relevant areas of experience.

Advantages Disadvantages

• Easy for an employer to read.• Easy to put together.• Any number of relevant skills or

competencies can be covered.

• Most CVs look like this.• May emphasise any significant gaps

in your work/education history.

What is a chronological CV?

Some industries have very specific conventions that you need to be aware of when applying for jobs,

for example law, investment banking and medicine.

Find out more about industry-specific CVs on the Careers Service website.

Structure: which headings should you use?

When it comes to selecting appropriate headings to include in your CV, it will depend both on what

the role is, and how much experience you have.

Most CVs will include these headings:

Experience

This heading can be used flexibly, such as work experience, employment,

work history, volunteering etc. Is your experience directly relevant to the

role? If so, you could consider a heading ‘Relevant Experience’ to highlight

to the employer your most important experience for the role. Typically you

will include details of all your previous experience, including volunteering,

but the emphasis should be on what the employer is looking for. You will

need to provide strong evidence of how you match the requirements for the

role. Think about the skills you’ve developed and any achievements, not

just a list of your responsibilities.

Structure: which headings should you use?

When it comes to selecting appropriate headings to include in your CV, it will depend both on what

the role is, and how much experience you have.

Most CVs will include these headings:

Education

How relevant is your degree? If you’re applying for a role directly relevant to

your subject, you may want to expand on the content covered on your

course. How far back do you want to go? This will depend on what level of

role you’re applying for and what level of education you have. For a recent

graduate it is standard to include your A-Levels, GCSEs or equivalent.

Contact details

Potential employers will need to know your contact details, so be sure to

include your phone number and a professional-looking email address.

However unless specified otherwise, you can leave out extra personal details

such as your date of birth, marital status, nationality and gender. You don't

need to use the actual heading ‘Contact Details’ for this section as it’s

obvious what the information is.

Structure: which headings should you use?

These are some additional headings that are often used in CVs.

You should select the ones most appropriate for the role you're applying for and your experience.

Additional skills

Do you have any relevant skills that haven’t been covered in your experience

section? Examples might include IT skills, languages or driving licence.

Don’t just list these skills; the employer needs to know your level of proficiency in

each area.

Awards

Positions of responsibility

Make sure you explain the context of the award and when it was received. Also, as

with everything else on your CV, you should justify its relevance to the role you are

applying for.

This can include activities in which you have taken a key or lead role, inside or outside of

your university life.

Structure: which headings should you use?

Interest and activities / Extra-

curricular activities

This can give your potential employer an insight into what you enjoy doing in your

spare time, and can be used to emphasise commitment and dedication.

Ensure that anything you include here is current, ideally only from the last 2-3

years. Also remember to think about and highlight why this is relevant to the role;

don’t just give one word descriptions!

Personal profile / personal statement

This can be used to give the reader a brief outline of your motivation for applying,

and what makes you stand out. It should be brief, maximum 3-4 lines. It must be

focused on the role you are applying for, and not just a list of superfluous

adjectives about how brilliant you are. Some industries expect this section to be

included, whilst other do not; it can be useful when making an application that

doesn't include a cover letter.

Presentation: how to present your CV

Don’t underestimate the power of first impressions; how your CV is presented can be almost as

important as the content.

You need to engage your reader immediately with a professional-looking document that will make

them want to know more about you.

This section will look at how you can do this, focusing on formatting, style, language and content.

Presentation: how to present your CV

When researching the role you want to apply for, your need to be clear of the following:

• In the majority of cases images

should be avoided; if you do use

them, keep it simple and

professional.

• Avoid using colour; it may be printed

in black and white, so some text may

be lost.

• Use shading with caution -

background shading behind text can

look muddy when photocopied,

especially textured shading.

Style Formatting

• Most UK CVs should be two A4 pages

long, unless specified otherwise.

• Avoid using tables or excessive line

dividers between sections; these can

make your CV difficult to read.

• Tables with invisible borders are a good

way to help with the layout and

alignment of your sections.

• Use a standard and easy to read font

throughout.

• Sub-headings should be in bold or

underlined, not both.

Presentation: how to present your CV

When researching the role you want to apply for, your need to be clear of the following:

• Keep your sentences short and

precise, and avoid any waffle; using

bullet points can help with this.

• Keep the tone of your language

consistent throughout.

• Use active language to explain what

you actually did or learnt.

• Write in the past tense.

Language Content

• Spelling and grammar are important -

don’t rely on your spell checker as there

are errors it won’t pick up.

• It is not usual practice to use a

photograph on a UK CV.

Summary: CV structure and presentation

Structure and presentation are both important elements to consider when constructing your CV.

They can create a good first impression, and make it easier for recruiters to read; a potential

employer is more likely to take you seriously if you have a well-structured, professional-looking

document.

This resource has demonstrated how the same basic CV information can be enhanced by improving

the layout, presentation and expanding on the content.

Note that Alex’s improved CV is still not focused on a particular application; this is the next

step in the process.

Keep in touch!mle@manchester.ac.uk

@mlemanchester

Related resources

Career Service websiteOffers help and advice on CVs, covering letters, applications and interviews.

Finding a job: researching the organisation and the role

Finding a job: tailoring your CV