CV Writing Tips

Your CV is your personal marketing tool. It is often your first point of contact with the firm and therefore your first chance to sell yourself. Remember that first impressions count! Your CV should not be rushed at the last minute. It should be well thought out, remembering that you are competing against other candidates.

Also bear in mind that our CV is not used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not you will secure an interview, once at the interview your resume is often referred to and included in the discussion. You should therefore be familiar with the content of your CV.

Content

Your CV should be ‘to the point’, as opposed to a novel. Don’t use a narrative style; we suggest that you highlight key points with bullet points. This makes it easy for whoever is screening your CV to do so quickly. Remember that HR and recruitment people often have hundreds of CV’s to screen. Yours needs to catch their eye; it should be thorough as well as concise, not exceeding four pages. Don’t use initials, abbreviations and jargon. Your CV should be easily understood on first read.

You should include only information of relevance and importance. Emphasise the attributes and skills you have that are relevant to the particular role, leaving out anything that does not apply.

Always ensure that grammar and spelling is accurate, particularly if you describe yourself as detailed and methodical! Once you have written your CV read it through thoroughly. It is a good idea to also ask someone else to read it through; they might pickup on mistakes or have some fresh suggestions.

Contact details

Your contact details should be provided at the top of the first page for easy reference. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, mobile and email. Please only give contact details that you are happy for us to use (i.e. do not provide us with your work email and/or phone number if you do not want your current employer to know you are job hunting).

Referees

We request that you provide the details of two referees (preferable your two most recent employers). We will ask for your permission before contacting any referees. It is not necessary to include written references as we prefer verbal references. This way we can ask our own specific questions. ALWAYS consult referees before listing their details on your CV.

Layout

We suggest you use an easy to read font such as Times New Roman or Arial in size 10 or 12. Ensure that the layout is easy to follow, with clearly identifiable headings. Provide details of your employment and education in reverse chronological order (starting with most recent employment and education and working backwards). Begin your CV with employment details, followed by education, ensuring that you provide details of your employers, your particular role and dates of employment. Be sure to highlight personal achievements rather than simply outlining your roles and responsibilities. Be specific, including percentages and numbers if possible.

Always include a cover letter with your CV. If possible, please also attach academic transcripts.

Please ensure that you submit your CV using the method indicated on the job advertisement.

The Cover Letter

As a graduate, your cover letter is important. It provides a summary of who you are and gives an indication of your written communication skills. Your cover letter should be specific to the role you are applying for and should:

Include the reasons you want to work for BDO Spicers
Demonstrate your knowledge of the firm
Indicate what you can contribute to the role and the firm, and how this links with your long term career intentions.
Be approximately one page in length
Be addressed to the relevant person, as indicated on the job advert.

Remember to thoroughly check your cover letter for spelling and grammatical errors. We suggest that you also have someone else check it over.