The word Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the Latin name for "Course of Life". It's a short but detailed account of your working life. Interviews often have the same questions appearing time after time and they aren't all easy ones to answer. It's your only opportunity to get an interview so it must stand out on any recruiters desk, grab their attention during the 2 minutes they dedicate to reading your CV.

Your CV is a document that sells your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers so that they will invite you for an interview.

Your CV should be...

Interesting - don't fill it with useless words or slang. Make it positive, interesting and relevant, with information presented in short punchy sentences

Informative - it should present skills and achievements easily and clearly

Accurate - get your spelling right, and make sure dates and names are all correct

Professional - use words positively, and even if it's not the way you usually talk use posh words to improve your CV. Look at our words articles for ideas

Positive - stress achievements rather than duties or just time in a job. Don't include anything which might be regarded as negative

Specific - change your CV for each job you apply for and emphase points relevant for the specific job

Short - it should be one or two pages at most (bigger is not always better)

Decent websites for CV writing

Business Balls - loads of info to wade through but helpful
Monster Career Advice - great templates plus other tips
BBC CV Tips - nice interactive CV