Writing Your CV

1. Your CV is your sales advert – make sure it succinctly tells people who you are and sells your greatest strengths and attributes.

2. Always remember that an employer may be looking at several CVs, so keep it short - ideally 2 to 3 sides of A4 - highlighting the skills, qualities and experience the employer most wants to see. Ensure it is accurate and free from spelling or grammatical errors and that the layout and font are clear.

3. The front page should include a 4-6 line profile which summarises what you have accomplished and what you have to offer.

4. Subsequent sections should list your responsibilities and achievements within recent and relevant posts held, using bullets and short phrases or sentences. This should be in chronological order with the most recent employer first.

5. List key additional training you have undertaken.

6. Educational background should also be listed in reverse chronological order; the greatest detail should be given to the highest or most relevant qualification.

7. Adapt your CV for different job applications to highlight the skills you have which match the job description.

8. Often, your CV may first be scanned by a computer matching database! Use key words from the job description and person specification in your CV to ensure that it is selected.

Job Interview Techniques

1. Find out about the company before you go – PosITive Resource can help you with this. The more you know about the company, the more interested you will look; furthermore, you will be able to ask sensible questions which help you decide if you would like to join them.

2. Try to find out who you will be meeting before you go – a panel of three or four people can be less daunting if you realise there will be that many and know the roles of the panellists.

3. The interview process may include group sessions to show your team-playing skills, aptitude tests and psychometric tests, as well as one or more solo interviews. Learn what you can about these different methods to increase your chances of success.

4. Prepare specific examples to illustrate certain skills, eg. "At X employer, I selected a team and project managed the implementation of a new wireless network to budget and within timescale". Explain how you achieved your objectives showing your skills, eg. people management, planning, budgeting, communication etc.

5. Be prepared for certain typical questions, such as:

7. Don't be negative about previous employers. Instead, say how you think they could have better used your skills.

8. Think through the interview afterwards and consider how you could do better in future interviews. PosITive Resource will ask the employer for feedback to pass on to you if you are not selected.