Introduction

Write a brief and powerful introduction last thing after you have written everything else.

Sum up your key qualities and include your aims. There is no need to head this section as it is self-evident.

Previous employment

Write in reverse chronological order, including starting and leaving dates for each position. Include concise details of what the job entailed, your responsibilities and what you achieved in the role.

If there are any time gaps between employment explain what you were doing in that time, for example travelling, at college, carrying out charity fund raising work.

Use active verbs to describe your achievements, for example "I have experience in… I am trained in… I managed... I developed, I co-ordinated etc. Bullet point these at the start of a sentence for maximum impact.

Qualifications

There is no need to list all of your O-Level/GCSE subjects, simply write something like, 10 GCSE's A-C including Mathematics and English.

A-Level and degree qualifications can be listed, the grades do not have to be included.

List only the academic centres where a qualification was earned in reverse chronological order with dates.

Hobbies and interests

This give an insight into your personality. Consider carefully what you are putting down and its implications.

Team events indicate that you are a team player, other activities such as Scouting, CCF, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme show commitment and the fact you are not adverse to a challenge.

If you like reading say whom you favourite author is.

References

Unless you have a reference that you are particularly proud of, for example a letter written by Richard Branson saying that you are the 'bees knees', then it is advisable not to include references in the CV.

Instead simply write "References available on request".

Don't over play or under play your achievements