How to write a CV

But composing an effective CV is harder than it seems. Most people get it wrong.

When applying to an investment bank, the first thing to remember is that a CV should be short and simple. It is no coincidence that in the US, a CV is known as a 'resumé', or 'summary', as opposed to the more descriptive 'course of life' implied by the Latin term 'curriculum vitae'.

At American investment banks, any CV longer than two pages is frowned upon.

Lesley Johnson, head of resourcing for Citibank Europe, says the briefer a CV, the better. "Use bullet points rather than reams of text. Make it concise and easy to read in a short space of time. Don't include lots of technical information and acronyms that may not make sense to the reader," she advises.

A CV should provide a clear picture of your strengths and suitability for the position. This will mean tailoring it to the role applied for. On its website, Goldman Sachs advises applicants against sending a generic, 'cover all' CV.

John Barker of Executive CVs International, a CV writing service that counts investment bankers among its clients, says a CV should tell a story illustrating an applicant's suitability. Too many are incoherent, says Barker:

"A lot of CVs are unfocused. Employers do not have time to read between the lines."

Barker advises that CVs begin with a short profile summing up what the individual has to offer. The profile is probably the hardest part to write. But the temptation to take short cuts should be avoided.

Shaun Springer of Napier Scott, a capital markets headhunter, says a lot of CV profiles are a waste of space: "They tend to contain the same superlatives and adjectives, like 'extremely self-motivated' and 'good team worker'; no one really takes much notice."

To be effective, Springer says that the profile should draw out any relevant points not otherwise immediately clear to a reader. In three or four lines, it should illustrate what it is about someone's experience that makes them particularly suitable for that position.

"If someone applying for a position marketing credit derivatives to Italy has moved from equity sales to interest rate sales, to credit sales, the profile is the place to draw attention to that," says Springer.

Personal details, such as telephone number, address, date of birth and marital status should be listed above the profile. Date of birth is not mandatory and is often omitted in the US.

Immediately below the profile comes the most important part of the CV: work experience. This should begin with your most recent position and provide a clear picture of what you have been doing. The information provided should be lucid and factual, says Springer.

"People want to see hard data. If you are in a sales position it should contain figures and an indication of the number of clients you have," he advises.

Graduates who have no work experience should begin their CV with their degree class or UK 'A' level grades instead of work experience. Recent graduates should also mention their GCSE grades. However, it is not necessary to delve too far into the past. Anything prior to GCSEs is unnecessary, says Goldman Sachs.

Experienced job seekers are also advised against elaborating on work experience in the distant past. Although the UK's Financial Services Authority requires that every individual provide a 10-year work history with no gaps, it is not necessary to include this on a CV.

Most employers will ask that applicants complete an additional form detailing comprehensive work history, so a CV need only refer to positions of relevance.

Getting the facts and dates right is however imperative. Hilary Jackson, spokesperson for the City Personnel Group, says accuracy is crucial. "Applicants need to be very careful. Historically, people didn't check CVs with anything like the detail they do now."

Zeal in checking the correctness of CVs is hardly surprising given that surveys show up to one third of UK adults lie, particularly about exam results.

For experienced hires, these should be listed below work experience. Excessive detail is again unnecessary: while most recruiters will want to know the class of a degree or degrees, A level and particularly GCSE grades can be left out.

Professional qualifications should follow below academic qualifications. This entire section should be accurate; the FSA requires that all points be verified.

Accuracy need not necessarily extend to personal interests though. Charles Stopford Sackville, managing partner at Securities Finance Jobs, a recruitment firm, advises against referring to hobbies on a CV: "You are looking for a job, not a friend."

Nevertheless, brief reference to interesting pursuits can differentiate one CV from another. One candidate wrote that he was a wine-seller in his spare time. The claim was false, but the candidate was invited to a lot of interviews with curious recruiters, Stopford Sackville says.