Your first selling tool in applying for a job is your curriculum vitae (CV), or resume. It is important to keep it short and to the point.

 A CV should contain:

Personal details

Full name
Address
Phone
Fax

E-mail
Date of birth

Qualifications

Starting with the most recent include:

Name of course, level achieved and when it took place, e.g. September 2008 - June 2009 Higher Diploma in Education (Distinction).
Name of institution, e.g. University College, Dublin
With Junior and Leaving Cert results do not list all your subjects. Give a brief summary highlighting impressive results or subjects relevant to the job in question, e.g. 7 x Honours [including French (Hons.) A2].
Include part-time or ongoing study.

Work experience

Starting with the most recent/most relevant first, include:

Job title, start and finish dates, e.g. Sub-editor, June 2011 to present.
Company, e.g. Northside People
Briefly describe various duties in order of importance.

List these in point format, only elaborating if necessary. Be specific, e.g. Sub-editing news summaries for weekly publication.

Skills

Highlight specific skills, knowledge or attributes starting with most impressive/most relev

ant to the particular job application.

Include others that may not be directly related to show a range of abilities.
Include things like computer skills listing the particular software/hardware packages, languages, typing skills, training courses not highlighted in the qualifications section (include when and where the training took place).

Ac

hievements

This is where you can include activities other than job experience and study which show co

nstructive use of your spare time.
Include things like positions held on committees, voluntary work, public speaking, competitions etc.

Hobbies and interests

This section should be used to show that you have interests outside the job, an ability to operate within a team or on your own initiative and other interests that may tie in with the job you are applying for.
Do not just list them, give a brief description, e.g. Reading [what exactly? i.

e. 20th century fiction], Sport [which sports? i.e. swimming, squash and running].

Referees and references

Referees are considered more important these days than letters of reference, although it is good to have both.

When finishing in a job, even if it’s in a voluntary capacity or for a short period of time, always ask for a reference.

Referees should be people who have been involved in some form of supervisory or management situation with you in a previous workplace or relevant situation.

Specific details, such as whether you are reliable, can work under pressure or have good communication skills with the general public, are important to employers.

Always ask permission before giving a referee's name.

If you have not been in the workforce for a while, then include references and referees from people who have observed you in a role of responsibility.

Where possible, use referees and references that are re

levant to the job you are applying for.

It is best to write ‘Referees available on request’. When the company rings for the referee name, you can get in touch with the referee and alert them to the kind of job you are seeking.