Easy CV offers you a range of CV options to help you get the job you want. There are four templates to choose from whether you are looking for your first job or you have experience to offer. If you are 19 or over, you can also register with to build and store your CV, contact a Next Step adviser or find a course funded by the Skills Funding Agency. And if you need to do a covering letter or spec letter there is help with that too.

WHAT IS A CV? WHAT IS A RÉSUMÉ?

A CV is a statement about you and what you can do. A résumé (a short version) often works better because it’s easier to read quickly.

WHAT IS IT FOR?

To impress! It gives you the chance to say good things about yourself and persuade the person you send it to that they will benefit from interviewing you.

WHAT GOES IN IT?

There are no rules to say what must go in a CV. You have control - if it works it’s a good one! Ask yourself what employers might want to know and about what you want to tell them. Before you start to type a CV, think! What is your message? You need to decide:

• What facts to put in it (name, address...). Leave out anything that is not relevant or might not help your application.
• What skills, experience, personal characteristics and achievements you have. Be sure to mention all the relevant, useful things you know, have done or could do. Don’t underestimate yourself but be sure you can prove what you say.
• What is most important to the employer (read the job information for clues) – this will affect the order you say things in.
  
  

Finally, make sure it’s clear (use headings and spaces to divide information) and keep it short (no more than two sides).

'Build your CV'

CV TEMPLATES

Below are four CV templates with accompanying help sheets and example CVs to guide you through each section. If you can't open the Microsoft Word version please use the RTF version, then save your CV to your desktop.

CV TYPE A  - I HAVE LITTLE OR NO WORK EXPERIENCE

Template A - Microsoft Word version

Template A - RTF version

Help sheet A

Example A CV

(between 14.4kb and 65.4kb Word, RTF and Adobe Acrobat PDF)

CV TYPE B  - I HAVE DONE LOTS OF DIFFERENT JOBS

Template B - Microsoft Word version

Template B - RTF version

Help sheet B

Example B CV

(between 14.9kb and 70kb Word, RTF and Adobe Acrobat PDF)

CV TYPE C - I'VE GOT EXPERIENCE BUT WANT TO APPLY FOR A JOB I HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE

Template C - Microsoft Word version

Template C - RTF version

Help sheet C

Example C CV

(between 15kb and 70.1kb Word, RTF and Adobe Acrobat PDF)

CV TYPE D - I WANT TO APPLY FOR THE TYPE OF JOB I HAVE NORMALLY DONE BEFORE

Template D - Microsoft Word version

Template D - RTF version

Help sheet D

Example D CV

(between 12.9kb and 59kb Word, RTF and Adobe Acrobat PDF)

EXAMPLE LETTERS

Covering and spec letters if you’re aged between 16 and 19

Covering and spec letters if you’re aged 19 and over