Two Personnel Managers answered this as follows.
A CV should be quick and easy to read
- It should be clearly and logically laid out so it is uncluttered and pleasing to the eye.
- Keep it simple for easy reading. Two pages are ideal and definitely not more than three.
- Clear and easy to read, well set out text, saves time for the reader.
- Employment details well set out and concise.
The information must be honest and relevant
- Unpretentious, succinct, honest and realistic.
- If applying for a specific job, the CV should respond to the qualities and experience asked for in the advertisement, but still be honest.
- Avoid detail about early experience. The last five years is more important.
- Include reason for leaving, if relevant.
The CV should tell the reader about the applicant
- What you have done and what you have achieved should be set out clearly.
- Give some clues as to the personality of the applicant
- Describe yourself in your terms. This is a good selling point.
Finally
It is hard to write a CV. It is technically difficult to condense many years of work into few paragraphs. Most people get much more criticism than praise in their lives. This can carry over into self-criticism and make it hard to be positive. We then undersell ourselves when writing a CV.
You can help each other produce your CV’s. If you talk about it while someone else is listening your thoughts will become clearer.