How to write a great CV
So once you’ve seen the job it’s time to send off your CV (or complete the application form; (for advice on this see 10 ways to write a great education application form)
Follow our key points to write a great education CV, avoid costly mistakes and ensure your CV is read not binned.
Before you start:
Choose a simple font (Tahoma & Arial for example), avoid fancy templates, a frame is fine but avoid using lots of colour, photos of yourself embedded into the CV and a font which makes your CV unreadable.
- Have a strong clear structure
- Ensure your CV follows a good structure that is easy on the eye and easy to read
Include the following the headers
- Name (Place at the top of the CV / there is no need to write in ‘CV’, it’s obvious it’s CV
- Address
- Home/ mobile telephone numbers
- Email address
- Personal statement
This is a key part of your CV and highlights who you are, and what you want to achieve, your key strengths and what your ideal role would be. Avoid clichés and try to highlight a few key individual qualities.
- Qualifications and Continued professional Development
Include the education establishment that they were taken in and the year that you gained the qualification
- CPD/ Include any inset days and ongoing qualifications that you are taking currently
- Employment History
Start with your most recent employer and include dates and your role title for each entry.
For each position include key achievements, and responsibilities in the role. Highlight any extra responsibilities undertaken for example an out of school club that you set up, school displays created.
Where possible include evidence of pupil progress and grade improvement/ percentages achieved
Use bullet points where possible rather than longer rambling sentences.
What NOT to include on your CV
- Your age/ marital status/ religious preference: It is illegal for an employer to ask for this information so you don’t need to include it on your CV
- Lies: Never lie on your CV, concentrate on the skills and experience you have, don’t pretend to have qualifications and experience that do not exist.
- ‘CV’ If you have ‘CV’ written in at the top do take this off it’s obvious that it’s a CV!
- Hobbies: Unless your hobbies are relevant to the role, leave these off. If you are applying for a role within an ESBD setting for example, including interests can be useful as they may engage the pupils you are working with. For example, football coaching, chess, music production. Ask yourself ‘Are they relevant to the role’ before adding in.
Finally, before you send off your CV, check, check and check again. Especially because your sector is education spelling and grammar errors are an absolute no no. Errors in grammar and spelling will ensure that your CV is dropped straight in the bin.
Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for, every time you apply for a new role you should review your CV and tailor it to fit the job description and role.