- Write your CV with the potential employer in mind. Use only the most relevant information about your career, education and skills. Provide an accurate portrait of yourself. Be positive, but remember that overselling is as bad as underselling.
- One standard CV for all employers is not enough. Ideally tailor your CV to each individual employer or, at least tailor it to the type of employer you approach (eg broadcaster, corporate sector, education sector).
- Most CVs use an edited form of speech. Use short sentences or bullet points beginning with a word that describes an action (an active verb). This style is easy to read and conveys your skills and experience in a positive way. Eg: Controlled budgets ranging from £2,000 to £20,000
- Be concise. Most CVs are one or two pages long at most. Remember, the longer the CV, the less chance there is of it being read thoroughly.
- A basic rule in writing CVs is to put the most relevant information first. If your CV is two pages long, make sure that your key selling points (and contact details) are on page one.
Writing a CV is really a three-stage process:
- First you need to think about the activities involved in your previous roles, including any relevant non-professional projects. You should end up with an exhaustive list that describes your skills and experience in active terms.
- You then need to edit this down, until it reflects only the information that is most relevant to the potential employer. This means you have to research the needs of the person you intend to send it to.
- The final task is to lay out the information clearly and attractively, making sure you do not exceed two pages.
This method requires a great deal of thought, research and planning, but is likely to yield better results in the long run.
Review the final version
Check that your final version looks professional and is easy to understand at a glance:
- Is it typed? Is it on good quality paper? Is the spelling correct? (Don't rely on a computer spell-check!)
- Does the font you choose reflect the image of the job? Avoid old-fashioned fonts such as Times Roman. Arial is a safe bet. It is not a good idea to use more than one font in a document. Capitals, italics, underlining, etc. can be used to emphasise headlines and key points - but be consistent and exercise constraint, or the document may appear too fussy.
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If you use coloured paper, have a logo or use other images, make sure your CV looks professional rather than glitzy. Remember coloured paper and logos may not look so good when photocopied for circulation to your interviewers.
Your CV - What an employer is looking for
When reviewing CVs, employers want to know what you can do for them. They will be looking for the following information, which should be on the front page:
- How to get hold of you - your address and contact details
- A 'career objective' - who you are and what you can bring to the job
- Relevant key skills and achievements
- If you haven't worked in this area, what new ideas and skills can you bring from other areas you have worked in
- Who you have worked for – ideally people/organisations that the employer will know and trust
There is no one right way to present a CV. The best format is the one that highlights your skills/talents in a way that an employer can take in quickly and easily. The layout below can work well for freelancers who have specific skills/experience gained on many different productions. It is only one possibility though, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Don't include a heading such as "Curriculum Vitae" - this wastes space and it's obvious what the document is.
For a CV template, see the document at the the foot of the page, which was kindly created by Producer Howard Ella.
(See Appendix 1 for help with describing your particular qualities.)
Key Skills
You can list these as an alternative to a Personal Profile, or to complement it.
Describe your key skills and experience succinctly, ideally as bullet points, including any equipment you have worked on, and language skills, if appropriate. Put the skills the employer is likely to be most interested in at the top.
(See Appendix 2 for help with describing your activities and achievements.)
Experience
Start with your most recent work. You don't have to include everything, only work which is relevant to the employer. You can summarise other experience at the end, if there is space. In addition to listing the title of the programme/project you have worked on and your job title, describe the particular contribution you made, especially if it was challenging, e.g. working to a tight budget. Mention if you used a scarce skill or a piece of equipment that few people can operate.
Training and Qualifications
Include relevant training courses on your CV and, if they are likely to be of more direct benefit to the employer, list them before qualifications.
Membership of Professional Organisations
If you belong to any relevant professional bodies or trade associations, list them here.
Personal details
Age
You do not have to volunteer this information unless you particularly want to. In a "young" industry it may be better to include your age on the second page, if at all. Some experts suggest it is better to include your date of birth rather than state your age.
Interests
Advice on "standard" CVs recommend including interests, but these details are unnecessary, unless you are applying for a new entrants training scheme, or the interest is relevant to the job
Passport
If you are applying for work that requires overseas travel, your nationality may be relevant as some passports require visas to visit certain places.
Driving Licence
Holding a full licence and owning a car can be essential to location work, so include these details, but only if they are relevant.
Remember, a CV is a personal marketing document. You should be comfortable with your own layout. If you have a good reason for doing things differently, do so.
As a relatively small proportion of jobs within the industry are advertised, it is wise to make contact with potential employers who are likely to be interested in your particular skills and experience. Research the companies you are interested in and limit your approaches to those where there is a good match between their needs and what you can offer. Avoid ‘scattergunning’ multiple employers with a standard CV. Although it may give you the illusion that you are doing all you can to find work, it is unlikely to yield results. Expect to target a small number of employers and tailor your CV and covering letter carefully to suit each one.
The purpose of your approach will usually be to meet the employer and introduce yourself in person. While this may not lead to employment straight away, it may well lead to work in the future – people are more likely to remember someone they have met, who was articulate about their skills and showed a genuine interest in their company.
Your CV should always be sent with a covering letter as a matter of courtesy. The covering letter introduces you and should complement your CV.
Always take the time to find out the name of a suitable person within the company to contact. Remember that your covering letter will make as much of an impression as your CV. It's worth spending time getting it right.
The letter should be brief and to the point. It can reinforce key points from your CV but shouldn't repeat information from it. It should have three parts:
- The reason for writing (Usually to introduce yourself.) This is also an opportunity to let them know that you have a personal connection with or specific interest in their company.
- e.g "I was very interested in the article in July's Broadcast about your plans to use DVC for undercover filming".
- Your selling points, or how your skills match their needs - flag up relevant points that are expanded on in your CV
- A prompt for further action
- e.g "I'd welcome the chance to meet you…".
And do follow up your letter with a phone call if necessary – try to show you are genuinely interested in the company, but avoid causing irritation. Think about the style of the letter too. It should demonstrate professionalism but, depending on the job and the department, the language can vary in formality, as appropriate.
When you have drafted your CV, ask someone who knows you to look at it and tell you if it works. Then send it to one or two targeted companies along with a covering letter, following up with a phone call to see if they are happy to talk to you.
Tailor and improve your CV as part of your ongoing career management. As your track record grows think about how you could develop your knowledge and skills. We can help you to do this so do get in touch.
Good luck!
(This fact sheet is produced in partnership with Skillset Careers)