One of the best ways to present yourself to a potential employer is through a well laid out and informative CV, according to Healthline Optical. At first glance your CV must be informative, eye-catching and, most importantly, accurate and error-free. OT spoke to the independent optical recruitment company to find out how you can increase your chances of being offered a job interview by improving your CV in a few quick and easy steps.

Layout

• Don't handwrite your CV, always type or word process it, and make sure it is printed on plain white A4 paper. 
• Use a commonly recognised font such as Times New Roman or Arial in sizes 10-12.
• Don’t let your CV exceed two A4 pages, but don’t try to cram it all on one page either because it will look untidy.
• Keep the layout simple and consistent. Use bullet points when writing lists and use bold and underline effects for headings, such as career history and education. When using bullet points make sure that you use the same type and font throughout. Arial is good to use because it can be read well at a glance.
• Always check your CV more than once before submitting it. Ask a friend or family member to check it too in case you have missed any spelling or grammatical errors.

Content

• The main heading at the top of the page should read either your full name or Curriculum Vitae.
• Always include personal details such as name, address, telephone number and e-mail address at the beginning of your CV. If you wish to include a paragraph about yourself place this after your personal details.
• Add your education details in chronological order, starting with the most recent first, after your personal details or personal profile if you choose to include one. If you have completed any additional training courses also list them here.
• Document your career history after your education details. List all previous employers in descending chronological order and include a brief yet informative description of your main tasks and responsibilities.
• If you haven’t been in full-time employment before list any work experience that you have completed after your qualifications; again list the most recent experiences first. Emphasise the experiences that you have had which are related to the type of job you are applying for.
• List any extra skills or qualifications you might have such as being able to speak a foreign language, experience using computers, or a driving licence.
• Only include your interests towards the end of your CV. The interests that you are most passionate about should appear at the beginning. Don’t go into too much detail about them, but do mention if any of them have shown leadership or responsibility.
• Normally you will need to list two referees on your CV. You may be asked to provide a reference by your current employer, sometimes before the interview. Referees cannot be family members, but they can be people you have worked with or have known for a long time. Always ask the person if they are willing to provide you with a reference before writing their names down on your CV. When listing your referees you will need to supply each person’s contact details, including address, daytime phone number and e-mail address.

Healthline Optical was established over 12 years ago and is the largest sole optical recruitment company in the UK. It handles permanent and locum optical vacancies nationwide at all levels. To find out more about current permanent and locum vacancies at Healthline Optical contact 01793 496788 and 0121 3849400 respectively.

Additional CV tips and interview advice can be found at www.healthline.org.