Utility Job Search is pleased to be in partnership with The CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy, in bringing you this helpful article on CV writing.

CV writing is a controversial subject - part art, part science. If you ask any two people their idea of the perfect CV, you are likely to get two different and rather subjective responses. However, if you bear the following in mind when preparing your CV, you stand a much better chance of surviving the 'CV cull'!

• Ideally, your CV should be limited to one or two pages maximum, although three pages are occasionally considered acceptable for very senior or highly technical positions.
• Use only a laser printer and top quality paper (e.g. Conqueror 100gsm) to print your CV.
• If you are emailing/uploading your CV, print it first to make sure that you are absolutely happy with its appearance when printed.

• Comprehensive current contact details – including address, phone number(s) and email address(es).
• Professional profile – summarising your key skills and personal traits (at the top of the first page).
• Formal qualifications and any relevant professional training and courses taken.
• Professional experience – detailed in reverse chronological order and including dates, job titles (as well as whether the position was contract or permanent), company names and a brief summary of responsibilities, ideally in bullet point format.
• Conclude the CV with relevant personal details and information on your hobbies and interests – this helps to reflect your personal attributes.

• Don’t include any unnecessary information – the more concise your CV, the more likely potential employers are to bother reading it all.
• Don’t exaggerate – you may be asked to provide proof at a later stage in the application process.
• Avoid using abbreviations unless you are absolutely sure they will be understood by the reader.

At the end of the day, this is definitely the most sensible option; there really is no substitute for taking advantage of in-depth professional experience. Find out how The CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy, can help you by writing your CV, along with covering letters and application forms, so that your experience is presented in the best possible light, putting you that much closer to getting the job you want - the job you deserve.