CV Guide

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a key document that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements for potential employers. It’s often the first impression they’ll have of you—and it plays an important role in whether you’re invited to the next stage of the application process. A well-crafted CV can open doors and help you stand out in a competitive job market.

A CV gives a prospective employer a clear overview of your:

This information helps employers understand your background and assess your suitability for a role.

Experience

what you’ve done in work, study, or extracurricular activities

Skills

the abilities you’ve developed that are relevant to the role

Qualifications

your academic background and any certifications

Work History

where you’ve worked and what roles you’ve held

Personal Interests

insights into who you are beyond work or study

Tips for a strong CV

  • Tailor Your CV for Each Role 
    Customise your CV to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the job or opportunity you are applying for.
  • Highlight Relevant Skills and Experiences 
    Focus on skills or projects that match the job description, including coursework, internships, volunteering, or extracurricular activities.
  • Be Honest 
    Never overstate your experience or skills. Be truthful but confident about what you can do.
  • Quantify Achievements Where Possible
    Numbers catch attention. For example, Instead of “Helped organise school events,” say “Organised 3 school events attended by over 200 students.”
Doers (Realistic) — People who like hands-on work and practical tasks

Examples of roles where practical skills and accuracy matter: Accountancy, funds,trust and fund administration.

Thinkers (Investigative) — Those who love solving problems and digging into details

Example of roles where analytical, intellectual, problem-solving, research-oriented skills matter: Banking, fintech, project management.

Creators (Artistic) — Creative minds who enjoy designing and coming up with new ideas

Example of roles where creative, original, expressive, innovative skills matter: Digital, IT, marketing.

Helpers (Social) — Friendly folks who like supporting and working with others

Example of roles where cooperative, supportive, empathetic, teaching or counselling skills matter: Compliance, human resources, trust and fund administration.

Persuaders (Enterprising) — Confident leaders who enjoy influencing and convincing people

Example of roles where leadership, influence, persuasion, sales, management skills matter: Business development, law, stock broking.

Organisers (Conventional) — People who are great at planning and keeping things running smoothly

Example of roles where detail-oriented, efficient, process-driven skills matter: Events, project management.