Hampshire Connexions CV Creator

You can use our CV Creator to make your own CV. You can then save, print or email your CV to yourself or a potential employer.

It is possible to create a CV without saving anything on our server, although you will need to complete the whole process in one go and will not have the opportunity to come back and update your details in future.

Access CV Creator.

Data Protection

If you do save your CV details on our server, you can request to see all details we hold at any time by sending an email to connexions@hants.gov.uk.

At any time you can delete all your CV information by clicking on the 'Delete' button within the CV Creator.

You can also request all information be deleted by sending an email to connexions@hants.gov.uk which includes your name and email address.

All personal data on our server will be stored in line with the Data Protection Act 1998.

CV basics

Your CV needs to be:

• Clear - you want the information to be understood straight away.
• Concise - you shouldn't give irrelevant information.
• Well laid out - so that the information needed can be quickly found.

To achieve this you could:

• Use clear headings to separate the various sections of the CV.
• Use bullet points rather than writing paragraphs or long sentences.
• Keep the CV short - preferably no more than two sides of A4.

Remember:

• Your CV is an advertising document for yourself.
• Make sure you don't overlook your skills and experience

Functional CV

The functional CV highlights major areas of accomplishment and strength, and allows you to organise these in the order that best supports your work objectives and job targets.

• Use four or five separate paragraphs or sections, each one headlining a particular area of expertise or involvement. List functions, in order of importance, for example, design, research, supervision with the area most closely related to your job target at the top and described in slightly more detail.
• Within each functional area stress your accomplishments, results or abilities most directly related to your job target.
• Know that you can include any relevant accomplishment without necessarily identifying the employment or non-employment situation in which it took place.
• If you have completed a relevant course or received a degree within the past five years, it should go at the top of the CV. Otherwise, education should be listed at the bottom.
• Provide summary of your work experience at the bottom, giving dates, employer, and job title. If you have had no work experience, or a very patchy work record, leave out the employment summary (but be prepared to talk about it at the interview so that you can show that you do have skills to offer).
• Keep the length of your CV to a maximum of two pages.

View an example of a functional CV  17kb

Targeted CV

The targeted CV focuses on a clear, specific job target listing appropriate capabilities and supporting accomplishments. Each job target requires a different CV.

• You must be clear and specific about your job target, the particular title or occupational field you want to pursue.
• Capabilities and accomplishments must be stated briefly (one or two lines) and must be directly related to your job target.
• Your list of capabilities should answer the question: 'What can you do?'
• Your list of accomplishments should answer the question: 'What have you done?'.
• Experience and education are included, but not the focus; they should support the overall impression conveyed by the CV.
• The CV should fit onto no more than two pages with plenty of white space.

View an example of a targeted CV  16kb

Chronological CV

The chronological CV emphasises work experience and personal history. This CV communicates that you are experienced and established in one career area.

• Start with your most recent position and work back in time, giving the most space to recent employment. Detail the last four or five positions. You don't need to show every position change within a given employer.
• Do not repeat details common to several positions. Stress major accomplishments and responsibilities that demonstrate your full competency to do the job.
• Keep your job target in mind and as you describe prior positions and accomplishments, emphasise those that are most closely related to your next move up.
• If you have completed a relevant course or received a degree within the past five years, it should go at the top of the CV. Otherwise, education should be listed at the bottom.
• Keep the length of your CV to one or two pages.

View an example of a chronological CV  9kb

Your covering letter

You should always send a covering letter with a CV. This letter needs to be short and to the point, explaining why you are sending the CV.

If it is in response to an advertised job, you could draw the employer's attention to the skills and experience you have that are particularly relevant to the post.

Be careful to not just repeat exactly what is in your CV.

If you have sent a speculative letter (a letter you send to find out if there are vacancies), you could say when you will follow up the enquiry with a telephone call.

Follow the tips here, make a good impression and ensure you get an interview

• Make a good impression - This might be the first contact the employer has with you. Covering letters need to be set out correctly. It should be easy to read, printed in black ink and in a plain typeface.

• Keep it short and sweet - Letters need to be short and to the point - no more than one side of A4 paper. Also write it using short paragraphs.

• Start and finish properly - If you start with 'Dear Sir / Madam' you must end with 'yours faithfully' then sign your name with your name printed underneath your signature. If you start with 'Dear Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr' (followed by their name) you must end with the letter with 'yours sincerely', then sign your name with your name printed underneath your signature so the employer can read it.

• Include all your details - Make sure that the employer has all your correct details - including postcode, telephone number, mobile and e-mail address (if you have one)

• Check it thoroughly - Make sure you check the spelling and grammar. Get someone who is good at this sort of thing to double check it for you (eg a member of Connexions staff, parent or teacher).

• Keep it neat and tidy! - Use white A4 paper and white A4 envelopes, keeping it clean and flat (not grubby, smudged or crumpled!)

• Post it! - Don't delay. Get it in the post. You don't want someone to beat you to it.

Covering Letter Template

This is the standard layout for a letter, however the content will vary depending on what you need. See the examples for further ideas

• Covering letter template  21kb

Covering Letter Samples

Below you will find a selection of example covering letters to download.

• Covering letter - sample 1  31kb
• Covering letter - sample 2  31kb
• Covering letter - sample 3  32kb
• Covering letter - sample 4  31kb

CV hints and tips

Do:

• Put the strongest statements at the top and work down the page
• Add a personal statement using just one or two sentences to summarise your strengths
• Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Sentences should be between 15-20 words and paragraphs should be no more than 10 lines.
• Use bullet points for clarity
• Detail fully your achievements wherever possible
• Have someone check your grammar, spelling and punctuation

Dont:

• Do not use 'I' - it is implied throughout
• Do not include hobbies or social interests unless they are related to your current job target
• Don't include pictures, salary information or other personal information, for example, sex, weight, height.
• Don't try and be funny, or write in verse or use coloured paper
• Your CV should be no longer than two sides of A4 paper