A CV that shows what you can do.

Start with the work you want

Put your main trade or discipline near the top, followed by a short introduction to the work you know best. Be specific about the environments you have worked in and the kind of role you want next. A recruiter should not have to search through several pages to understand your background.

Show what sat behind each job title

For each recent role, include the employer, dates, your position and a brief description of the work. Explain the equipment, materials, systems or project activities you worked with. Describe your own responsibilities clearly, especially where the overall project was much larger than your part in it.

Make qualifications easy to find

Give relevant qualifications and cards their own section. Use the name shown on the document and include dates where you know them. Keep qualifications you are working towards separate from those you already hold. You can explain gaps or missing details rather than guessing.

Keep the practical details current

Include a current contact number and email address, your general location and an indication of availability. Tell us about your travel preferences if they matter to the work you are looking for. Keep the CV focused on your professional experience; banking details and identity documents do not belong in it.

A final check that is worth doing

Read the document on your phone as well as a larger screen. Check that the contact details work, dates make sense and the text is easy to follow. Clear headings and straightforward wording usually serve your experience better than a complicated layout.