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The Internet houses a wealth of articles proving advice about preparing a CV so what's so different about this article, well as an ex recruiter I have had first hand experience of reviewing literally thousands and thousands of CV's and have a good understanding about what's important to employers.

When should I write a CV?

I'm not just interested in offering advice to help you in your job search I believe that whether you are actively looking or not you should always update you CV at least once a year. After all it is much easier to update your CV at regular intervals than it is to write one from scratch and trying to cast your mind back to exactly what you have done in the last 20 years!

The approach I adhere to is continuous improvement and anyway it's fun to look back over the year and assess what exactly you have achieved, what training you have completed and how your skills have grown during that time.

Personal Statement

As an introduction to any CV I always encourage people to write a short paragraph (no more than a few sentences) about themselves and what type of person they are for example

"I am an enthusiastic career driven individual with a strong team emphasis who excels in embracing tough new challenges and is able to motivate others towards achieving a common purpose."

Or

"I am a hardworking, calm and problem focused individual who is adept at working alone to create innovative solutions to complex situations through the application of scientific criteria."

Education

How far should I go back? This is one of the most frequently asked questions that I receive and can only be answered with another question, ask yourself how relevant is my school history to the job?

For example as a school leaver it is absolutely essential that you include all of your education history and grades because you are likely to have less experience to draw upon and therefore your educational abilities will be important to a potential employer.

As a seasoned professional with 20+ years in the industry does a new employer really need to know that you went to "Ashford Primary School" ?

I can't answer the question about what is or isn't relevant only you can do that, but think about what stage your career is currently at and address your education accordingly.

My personal format for educational background is date from - to , institution and grades for example;

1985 - 1989 - Mouse Secondary School, 8 GCSE'S grades A-C, including English and Mathematics.

Also think about other educational experiences

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