Creating a high quality CV

Your CV tells an employer who you are. It needs to attract an employer and give them a reason to interview you.

Concise is key.
Now we don't need to tell you that employers are busy. They do Not want to read a 10 page life history of every one who applies for a job with them. They Do want to rapidly understand you. To know where you have been, what efforts you have made to maintain and improve your abilities and to appreciate why you are seeking to work with them. Additional information, or extended descriptions are unlikely to persuade them to spend further time assessing you.

Presentation is more than pretty.
In this day and age, we would suggest that every CV should be computer generated.

•  Ensure you run a spell check through the document before you print it. And read it through also, you may be surprised how many erroneous words creep in which can pass the spell check.

•  Keep the text well spaced and aligned. Use indents to clarify lists. Avoid hyphenating words over two lines.

The Personal Details.
Nothing to elaborate is required, but do include:

•  Full Name.

•  Contact Details. - Address, telephone and email as available.

•  Date of Birth.

•  Nationality / Citizenship - where appropriate.

Educational Qualifications.
A full educational history is not generally required. Stick to the ones that are relevant, in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include:

•  Qualification.

•  Year Obtained.

•  Institution Attended. (Including location).

•  Any Speciality Studied - where appropriate.

State Registration.
As appropriate, detail the nature of the state registration and include:

•  Registration Number.

•  Expiry Date - Be sure to keep it updated

Professional Memberships.
As appropriate, detail the Name and Address of the Organisation and include:

•  Registration Number.

•  Expiry Date - Be sure to keep it updated

Employment History.
It is generally acceptable to limit employment history to the last 10 years, unless there is particular relevance in a previous position. Include details of any break in employment continuity. For each position include:

•  Institution Name and Department.

•  Employment Dates.

•  Job Role / Grade/ Speciality

Additional Skills and Continual professional development.
An indication of not only what additional course you have undertaken in the past three years but also any additional relevant talents to your credit. E.g. IT skills, First Aid certificate etc.

•  Include Dates obtained.

•  Expect to show Certificates to justify your claim.

Supplementary information.
Your chance to show the prospective employer why you should be short-listed. No more than half a page or it probably won't be read. In creating something memorable take note of the following:

Tailor your CV to the employer.
Whilst a general CV can be used for a thousand job opportunities, it is far better to spend a little lime targeting you CV to your prospective employer. The past experience and achievements should be tailored to the position applied for. In addition:

•  Use action verbs such as "developed", "initiated", "instigated", "managed," and "designed" to emphasise your achievements.

•  Avoid passive phrases, like "was responsible for the management of.....". Far better to simplify to the more active "Managed..."

•  Avoid large paragraphs. Employers do not want to read a book!

•  Demonstrate your team approach by avoiding the suggestion of solo achievements. Avoid saying "I ...."

Do not do yourself down but - Statements must be honest.
You must explain to prospective employers what you have achieved and learnt in the past, so they can try to foretell what you can do for them in the future.

•  Vagueness and ambiguity will not help. Be specific. If you were instrumental in reducing costs by 20%, say so. If you performed specific tasks or project that would not normally fit the job description, make a point of detailing them.

•  Always remember that you are likely to be quizzed on your CV at interview. And even if you successfully cover up an untruth at this stage, if you are eventually found out, it will be grounds for instant dismissal.  - Be Honest.

We repeat - Keep it succinct.

•  To be perfectly frank - nobody cares if you are interested in hill walking and butterfly catching, unless you are applying for a job as Ranger at the local park. Lists of outside interests are only interesting to the person performing them and their inclusion should be omitted, unless they truly relate to the post applied for.

Your CV is the window that get you through the door to an interview.

It speaks for you, before you can do so yourself.

Make certain it is saying what you want to be said.

For more information on interview technique and any other matter associated with the recruitment process,

contact us at by email.

Any Radiographer, Sonographer, Vascular Technician (Clinical Vascular Scientist), Radiotherapist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Dietician, Speech & Language Therapist, Podiatrist (Chiropodist), Pharmacist or other Healthcare Practitioner, may utilise the information on this site for any non-business purpose they wish. We encourage staff from Ultrasound, Radiology, Radiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Speech & Language Therapy, Pharmacy and any other Hospital based Department to obtain professional information from as wide a source of inputs as possible, including this website.

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