First impressions matter. And how well you present yourself on paper, which is often an employer’s first exposure to you, can mean the difference between landing your dream job and getting lost in the shuffle. So think critically about your CV—is it an accurate and compelling representation of your strengths and skills?  In our years of experience looking through CVs, we’ve found that the best tend to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Keep your CV brief – four pages or less, if possible.
• Use plain English - short words and sentences.
• Tell the truth.
• Use positive language.
• Make sure there are no major gaps in your history.
• Avoid jargon.
• Check spelling, dates, formatting, grammar, etc. - it's vital that your CV is neat and accurate.
• Always send a covering letter with your CV.