Your CV is a tool with one purpose - to gain an interview.
It should present you in the best possible light and convince a prospective employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this specific position or career. You don't have a lot of time to impress with your CV - research shows that employers scan CVs - so to make sure it stands out, follow these basic tips:
Have a powerful personal statement to start off with
Personal Information: Include your name, full address, telephone numbers (day/evening/mobile) and email address
Avoid coloured paper or type, fancy fonts or photographs
Don't be afraid to sell your skills
Keep it simple and be succinct
Use the past tense and choose strong action verbs
Avoid speaking about yourself in the third person
Avoid jargon and acronyms that other people might not understand
Tailor your resume for each specific application
Key areas to strengthen your CV are:
Personal statement
This is the first information the employer will read so sell you. A powerful personal statement has three components:
Qualifications
List both academic and non-academic qualifications in chronological order starting with the most recent. Do not include irrelevant information.
Professional Experience
Beginning with your most recent job, include Companies name, location and your job title, your responsibilities and achievements, duration of employment. Do not omit any period of employment for whatever reason, as this may prove awkward at interview.
Personal Interests
Listing your interests is important, but do not generalise. For example, instead of saying 'running', you could expand and say that you have been running for a local club for the last 2 years and are now part of the committee.
Check
Before submitting your CV, make sure you check it thoroughly, for spelling mistakes and that it is relevant to the role you are applying for and will encourage the employer to contact you to find out more. Ask a friend to check it too.