Writing a better CV

Further Information 1 Write a better CV 2 How many pages? 3 More than one version? 4 How do I structure it? 5 Mechanics 6 Ten things NOT to do 7 Download sample CV

Part 5

How to structure your CV - the "mechanics"

We discussed in the previous section, the beauty of white space. Make sure there's enough white space that the page isn't crowded. This also allows CV reviewers somewhere to make notes.

If you already have a CV, then make sure you change it to follow these guidelines:

• At least 1 inch (2.5cm) margins
• All tab stops must be identical
• Be careful when using paragraph alignment
• Don't use "tables" if at all possible - they are not appealing when viewed on a monitor
• Learn how to "right align" a tab stop
• Use the footer to put your name and CV publication date

• Keep the structure simple. Someone at the agency might need to change the formatting to a "house" standard. Does your CV lend itself to editing in the future?