CV Guide

For undergraduate and postgraduate students

This guide created by Career Development Consultants at Edinburgh Napier University aims to support you in writing a great CV. The advice is UK-specific, with fictional examples to give you some inspiration. It includes example CVs to help you understand content and layout. Do not copy these directly; they are intended to be used as a guide only.

You can book a 1-1 careers appointment with a Career Development Consultant on MyFuture.

Questions about this guide? Contact careers@napier.ac.uk

Where to find us

Student Futures, Edinburgh Napier University

6B32 Sighthill Campus, 9 Sighthill Court

Edinburgh, EH11 4BN

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.00 – 17.00

Follow us on LinkedIn, Edinburgh Napier Student Futures

Writing a Great CV

• A CV is a concise, factual document.

• It should evidence your knowledge, skills and experience to show that you are a good fit for the organisation.

• It should convince an employer to invite you to an interview. Write a GREAT CV using the tips below.

Grab attention

Make your CV stand out for the right reasons. Use clear fonts and subheadings to guide the reader through your CV. Avoid paragraphs of text and instead opt for short bullet points.

Relevant

Consider your CV from an employer’s perspective. Only include information that demonstrates your suitability for the role. The first page of your CV should contain the experience most relevant to the employer.

Evidence

Don’t simply list your skills and qualities; an employer expects evidence. Include examples within your work experience or relevant experience sections.

Accurate

Employers look carefully at spelling and grammar, rejecting CVs that contain errors. Use proofreading software such as Grammarly and ask someone you trust to proofread your CV. Ensure details are accurate; for example, dates and contact details.

Tailored

Your CV is more likely to be shortlisted if it is tailored to the specific job and employer. Use keywords mentioned in the job description and person specification to guide the contents of your CV.

Structuring your CV

A typical UK CV should be no longer than two A4 pages. The order of sections can vary but generally follow the format below.

Contact Details

• Name: Large font, clearly stated at the top of the page.

• Address: State the city or nearest town.

• Telephone number: Ideally a UK mobile/ landline. Include the area code if required.

• Email address: Professional and one that you access often.

• LinkedIn profile: Ensure the link works and that your profile is up to date and in line with information in your CV.

• Don’t include: Date of birth, gender, age, religion, marital status or photograph.

Personal Profile

• A brief introduction, tailored to the intended reader (3-4 lines).

• Include your career goals, experience and skills that make you suitable for the job you are applying for.

• Avoid generic phrases (e.g., team player, highly motivated, self-starter).

• If you are short of space, you can omit this section.

Education

• List your most recent education experience first (e.g. your current Edinburgh Napier University degree).

• State start and end dates including months. If you are still studying, add the month and year you expect to graduate. e.g. BA Psychology, Edinburgh Napier University (September 2020 - July 2024).

• Add degree qualification (e.g. 2.1) or predicted grade (e.g. expected 2.1).

• Include modules and dissertation projects only if you think they are relevant to the job and could impress the reader.

• School grades are optional unless specifically requested. List the highest qualifications.

Experience

• List your most recent experience first in each section and work backwards, i.e. reverse chronologically.

• Include jobs (full and part-time), work shadowing, placements and volunteering experience.

• Highlight the most relevant experiences on your CV, by dividing them into two subheadings.

• Relevant Experience: Directly linked to the job you are applying to, e.g., internship.

• Additional Experience: Not directly linked to the job e.g. part-time job.

Skills

• This is an important section particularly for technical or creative roles.

• Include the skills from the job description to tailor your CV for the specific job.

• If listing transferable skills (e.g., teamwork), use supporting evidence.

Interests

• This is an optional section.

• Only include interests if they demonstrate a skill or quality that would impress the employer.

• Be concise, using bullet points and include the transferable skills gained.

Volunteering

• Include any recent volunteering experience relevant to the role you are applying for.

• Use bullet points, focusing on the transferable skills you developed through volunteering.

Additional Information

Some examples of what you could include in this section;

• UK driving licence and access to a car.

• Relevant certificates (e.g., First Aid).

• Membership of a professional body (e.g., Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland).

• Additional courses or conferences beyond your university degree.

• Right to work status (e.g. right to work in the EEA or skilled worker visa).

References

• If you are short of space, omit this section unless it is specifically requested.

• Include one academic reference and one employer (if applicable).

• Always ask permission from your referees in advance and include accurate contact details.

Sending your CV to employers

CV Etiquette

• Use the term CV, not resumé.

• Name your CV appropriately, e.g. ‘Anya Chandrai CV, Admin Assistant, Scottish Water’.

• As a general guide, email your CV as an attachment in PDF format.

• Submit your CV before the application closing date and at a reasonable time of the day.

Composing your email

• In the email itself, write a short paragraph stating who you are, the job you are applying for and the documents you have attached.

• Address the email to a specific person in the organisation (e.g Mr. Ross Jones) rather than ‘Sir/Madam’.

• Include a subject line because emails sent with attachments and no text or subject lines are often marked as spam.

CV Examples

The following pages contain CV examples to help you decide how you would like to design and structure your CV. Please use the examples as a guide and do not copy them directly.

Keep it brief,one A4 page is sufficient.

Include work experience first because the employer will be most interested in this.

Volunteering can evidence skills & interest in your chosen field.

Placement CV

Include details about your modules because the placement is likely to be related to these.

Tailor your application to the specific placement.

Limited work experience CV

Highlight the transferable skills that make you suitable for the role.

Showcase skills from your studies (e.g written communication skills) that are relevant for the position.

Free short courses are a great way to develop skills if you lack work experience.

Summer internship CV

List relevant modules to show how your degree links to the internship.

Summer internship CV (continued)

Include part-time jobs to demonstrate transferable skills.

Include interests to demonstrate your relevant & transferable skills.

Academic CV

An academic CV can be longer than 2 A4 pages.

As with all CVs, tailor to the job description & person specification.

State module results if these are impressive.

Prioritise the education section on your CV & include more detail in this section compared to a traditional CV.

Skills based CV

Consider what the prospective employer will be interested in when describing work experience.

Use bullet points to ensure this section is concise.

List any relevant academic achievements.

Skills based CV (continued)

Choose skills that the employer is looking for in applicants.

Include interests that show you would be a good fit for the organisation.

The skills section is expanded to showcase when & how key skills were developed.

Creative CV

Ensure skills from the job advert are included in your CV, cover letter & portfolio.

Consider what message the colours & design conveys to employers.

Creative technology CVs often use more colourful themes.

Focus on technical skills & industry experience.

Creative CV

One page CV

Contact details are clearly shown at the top of the document.

Recruiters scan one-page CVs so ensure the most relevant information is listed first.

Focus on industry experience & relevant skills.

Information is not overcrowded & each section is clearly labelled.

CVs in this industry are usually one A4 page.

Any industry experience should be highlighted as a priority.

Clearly state technical skills as these are high priorty.

Include the specific technical skills the employer is looking for.

Career changer CV

Focus on the transferable skills from your previous career(s).

Career changer CV (continued)

If you lack experience, involvement in professional bodies or extra courses can demonstrate your comittment to your new career.

Volunteering is a great way to show your interest in your new career path.

Include experience from your home country.

Use this section to describe your career journey.

Ask a someone you trust to proofread your CV as there can be differences in terminology.

Lacking UK work experience?

Consider work experience simulation programmes, free online courses or volunteering.

List the languages you speak & the proficiency.

FAQs

Disability

• Deciding whether to disclose a disability to a potential employer is a personal decision.

• You are entitled to reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process and when you embark on your employment.

• We have partnered with EmployAbility who can provide you with individualised advice and support about adjustments for recruitment and the workplace.

• Visit the Student Futures Disability & Inclusion Careers Support page for more information.

Work Permission

• Immigration rules are frequently changing for international students and graduates. It is your responsibility to know what rights to work you have. For regularly updated information, see: GOV.UK Visas and Immigration and UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

• Edinburgh Napier Visa and International Support team for qualified advice on the visa process, or support with immigration questions. Tel: +44 131 455 2272 Email: internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk

• It is recommended to omit your nationality from your CV as there is no legal requirement to include it.

• Offering a factual statement of your circumstances is typically the simplest way to anticipate employers’ questions about your eligibility to work in the UK.

FAQs

Gaps and Breaks

• Be clear and genuine, without going into unnecessary detail. For example:

• Career break (8 months) travelling in South America

• Studies extended due to a recurring health condition (2 terms)

• Full-time carer for family member

• Parental leave (9 months)

• 2 months’ full-time job-searching

What next?

Thank you for reading this guide. The following pages include further resources to help you write your CV.

Resources

Edinburgh Napier University Digital Resources

• CV Builder

• CV360

• CV workshop recording

Recommended websites

• Prospects : CVs and cover letters

• TargetJobs : Applications and CV advice

• Milkround : How to write a graduate CV

• Bright Network : How to write a CV

• Prospects: Sector guides

Need experience for your CV?

• Forage is an online resource that offers virtual internship experience programmes by leading companies. Through Virtual Internships, you can work at your own pace and you will gain new skills and receive a free certificate. This is a great way to add experience to your CV.

• Learn how to write a CV if you have little or no work experience.

• Volunteering : Search for opportunities on Volunteer Edinburgh and Volunteer Scotland.

Action words for CVs

Use action words to showcase your achievements & abilities. For example, “I was elected as a course representative & communicated student views in meetings with academic staff” sounds more impressive than “I was a course representative”.

Accelerated

Accomplished

Achieved

Acquired

Activated

Adapted

Addressed

Administered

Advanced Advised

Amended

Amplified

Analysed

Anticipated Applied

Appointed

Appraised

Approached

Approved

Arranged

Articulated

Assembled

Assessed

Assisted

Attained

Audited

Authorised

Balanced Benefited Bought

Broadened

Budgeted Built Checked

Coached

Communicated

Competent

Completed

Comprehensive

Conducted Controlled Converted

Coordinated

Created

Considerable

Consistently Consolidated Controlled Converted

Coordinated Created

Delegated

Delivered

Demonstrated Designed

Developed

Devised

Directed

Ensured

Established

Evaluated

Expanded

Facilitated

Familiarised

Formed

Formulated

Founded

Forecasted Gained

Generated

Guided

Handled

Helped Identified

Implemented

Action words for CVs

Minimised

Modernised Modified Monitored

Motivated

Negotiated

Networked Observed

Reviewed Revised

Saved

Scheduled

Selected

Served

Set up

Supervised