Constructing a UK CV - Dos and Don'ts

CV writing is a tricky task for all of us, but writing a CV to the structure of a foreign country is even trickier. Luckily we at Scholarly are here to help you! We’ve provided you with some general pointers to make your task generally less soul consuming.

Don'ts -

• Include a title. Firstly, when starting to write your CV do NOT, I repeat do NOT title your document 'CV'. Unfortunately Curriculum Vitae, though Latinate, still doesn't make you sound any more intelligent. The truth is the document itself is so self explanatory so refrain from the title.  
• Attach a photo to your CV.  Though it’s customary to include photos alongside CVs in countries like Germany, it is highly inadvisable to do so in the UK. Photographs put potential employers in an awkward legal position, so we advise you to steer clear entirely!

Dos-

• Include a brief personal statement. The typical CV requires more than a catalogue of your academic qualifications.  Your personal statement should comprise of a couple of sentences that correctly describe your transferable skills.  In a UK CV this statement should not be extensive and is not entirely essential if you are providing a covering letter. 
• Focus on work experience. After your profile, follows your education section which should be kept to the bare minimum. Next is your work experience information, which is arguably the most vital component of a UK CV. Employers do not want to hear your life story so list your responsibilities and skills acquired succinctly and you can explain further in your covering letter and during interview. If you do not have much work experience voluntary work is also relevant to this section so include as much as possible. My tip would be to avoid over-use of 'I', which can sound awkward and a tad self-centered.
• Show your personality. The latter section of your CV is focused on your extra curricular ventures and personal interests, which gives you the opportunity to showcase your personality. 
• Keep it brief. The typical UK CV should be confined to a maximum of 2 pages, so remember to always be concise. If you do not have room for references at the end then simply put 'available upon request'. 
• Tailor your CV. It's important to remember that not only should you tailor your CV to align with the customs of the country you are residing in, you should also adapt your CV for each specific job application. Doing this couldn’t be easier! Simply draw out the key skills the employer has specified in his/her job advertisement and show how you possess these skills. 
• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread. Make sure your spelling and grammar is spot on. Misspellings, wrongly placed punctuation and poor syntax is not going to impress employers so be obsessive in your editing.  

The final thing about CVs is that everyone has one. Employers will receive countless CVs and you need to set yours apart. Your additional languages and multicultural knowledge will look favourable to your employers so make sure you reflect positively on your international background to set yourself apart from competitors. Be creative, innovative and inventive with your CV to grab the attention of your readers! Follow our advice and you will be on the road to success.