How to Write Your First CV with No Experience

Summary

This video provides a step-by-step guide to creating your first CV, even without prior work experience. It covers essential sections like contact details, personal profile, work experience, education, skills, interests, and references. The video emphasizes the importance of keeping the CV brief, clear, and accurate while offering practical tips on what to include—such as unpaid work, odd jobs, or volunteer work if you have no formal experience. With additional advice on proofreading and saving your CV in PDF format, this guide helps make the CV-writing process accessible and straightforward for beginners.

Takeaways

• 😀 Keep your CV brief, clear, and accurate; ideally one to two pages in length at font size 11 or 12.
• 😀 Contact details should include your name, phone number, and email address, and should be up-to-date and professional.
• 😀 Your personal profile should be a short paragraph that highlights your skills, qualities, and introduces you to the employer.
• 😀 When describing your work experience, include the most recent first, even if the job was short-term or unpaid.
• 😀 If you have no formal work experience, include informal or odd jobs like babysitting, dog walking, or helping family and friends.
• 😀 Include your education history, starting with the most recent, and include any relevant skills or knowledge you gained.
• 😀 Highlight hard skills (like software proficiency) and soft skills (like teamwork or problem-solving) on your CV.
• 😀 Ensure the skills you list match the job you're applying for and only include those you truly have experience with.
• 😀 Share personal interests or hobbies that demonstrate passion, dedication, or skills relevant to the job you're applying for.
• 😀 Add references as 'available on request' rather than listing them directly, and make sure your referees agree beforehand.
• 😀 After creating your CV, get someone else to proofread it, check grammar and spelling, and save the final version as a PDF.

Q & A

Why is writing your first CV considered scary, and how can it be made easier?

Writing your first CV can be scary, especially if you don’t have any experience. To make it easier, focus on the basics and use a clear, simple format that highlights your skills, education, and any relevant experiences, even if they are informal or unpaid.

What are the three essential rules all CVs should follow?

The three essential rules for any CV are: 1) Keep it brief (1-2 pages), 2) Keep it clear (easy to read and well-structured), and 3) Keep it accurate (correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation).

What contact details should be included at the top of your CV?

At the top of your CV, you should include your name, phone number, and email address. Make sure your email is professional and check that all details are correct to ensure potential employers can contact you.

How should the personal profile section of a CV be structured?

The personal profile should be a short paragraph highlighting who you are, what skills and qualities you bring, and why you're interested in the role. It can be broken down into: 1) Who you are and your current situation, 2) What you can offer, and 3) Why you want the role.

What types of work experience can be included in a first CV?

Work experience can include paid jobs, unpaid jobs, voluntary work, or informal experiences such as babysitting, pet sitting, or helping with family tasks. The key is to focus on the responsibilities and achievements from those experiences.

What should you do if you have no formal work experience to include in your CV?

If you have no formal work experience, think about any informal or odd jobs you've done for friends, family, or community organizations. These experiences are valuable and can demonstrate responsibility and other transferable skills.

How should you list your education on your CV?

List your most recent education first, going backward in chronological order. If you have grades, include them, or if not, you can list predicted grades. Even if you haven’t completed the education, mention the skills or knowledge you gained from it.

What are hard skills and soft skills, and how should they be presented on a CV?

Hard skills are measurable and teachable skills (like computer software proficiency or specific technical knowledge), while soft skills are interpersonal traits (like communication or problem-solving). Both should be listed, with examples of how you've used them, especially if they relate to the job you’re applying for.

Why is the 'Interests' section important on a CV?

The 'Interests' section helps employers understand who you are as a person and can highlight transferable skills or passions that might make you stand out. It's a chance to show motivation, creativity, and a well-rounded lifestyle.

What should you consider when selecting references for your CV?

Choose referees who know you well and can speak to your skills, qualities, and potential as an employee. Possible referees include teachers, coaches, community leaders, or even family members who can speak about your work ethic or responsibility.

What is the best way to finalize and submit your CV?

Before submitting your CV, ask someone to review it for feedback, then check for any spelling or grammar mistakes. Save your CV as a PDF to maintain the formatting, and make sure to name the file with your name for easy identification by the employer.