Presentation

What you should do:

• Make sure that (if you are forwarding your CV by email) the attachment you send is presentable on-screen as well as in printed form. How documents look/print will always vary from computer to computer etc so “getting it perfect” is sometimes difficult. BUT, keeping formatting simple and enlisting the assistance of someone who is a capable typist may help.
  
  
• Print hard copies of your CV on good quality plain white paper.
  
  
• Keep the length to not more than 3-4 pages long. If you have a deal list which requires your CV to be longer, this should be set out in an attachment to your CV.
  
  
• Attach your university academic transcript.
  
  
• Keep paragraphs short and concise – bullet point or summary form is best.
  
  
• Keep your headings clear, consistent and easily discernible from the text.
  
  
• Make sure all events are dated including qualifications and employment and especially your place and date of admission – refer to months and years. Make sure there are no gaps in the dates - if there are, give an explanation. Although candidates are sometimes tempted to gloss over gaps in their CV, this generally has precisely the opposite effect and frequently leads employers to question gaps in more detail than if they were immediately apparent.
  
  
• Date your CV. This is important to ensure that, if an employer (or recruiter) is considering your CV at sometime in the future, they will immediately realise that your CV needs updating.

What you should not do:

• Begin your CV with a lengthy statement about your personal attributes.
  
  
• List irrelevant personal details.
  
  
• Write in the first person.
  
  
• Enclose photocopies of references or school certificates (you will be asked for these should they be required).