A prospective employer may study your CV for less than 30 seconds before making a decision so  it is vital to make an impact quickly.

To achieve this, your CV should be a succinct but comprehensive record of your education and career history to date - in a format instantly recognisable to the employer.

Use the following tips as a guide;

• Keep it brief - two pages is ideal.
• List jobs chronologically - with your current job first.
• Don't leave gaps - unexplained gaps in your career could appear suspicious.
• Education  - Include the establishment names, your achievements and dates attended with your career history.
• Less is more - Keep details of job functions brief, giving the most information about current role.
• Essential information - Make sure that you've included your name, address, contact telephone numbers, email, date of birth and driving licence.

Download a blank CV template (47Kb Microsoft Word document)