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If you want a new job, greatly improve your chances of success by creating the right CV layout.

Imagine the person who's sifting through all the applications, trying to decide who to interview. After reading the first four, they all begin to look the same. If they're like me, they'd rather stand in a peak-hour queue on a wet rainy day holding a cat, 3 children under the age of 6, 2 suitcases and 3 backpacks while occasionally dodging the splash from passing cars, than be sitting there reading that great big pile of CVs that job applicants have sent in. Let's face it - writing a CV might be hard to do, but having to read them all is really dreary. So the key to a good CV is not only to list the right information, but to present that information in an appropriate and interesting way - and that's where the right CV layout will make all the difference.

Did you know that 82% of CV's end up in the bin and just 18% of CVs have a layout and content that are good enough to get candidates to the job interview?

How do I layout my CV?

A CV layout is a combination of 4 things:-

1. The right pieces of information about you
2. This information grouped into logical sections to make it easier to understand
3. The professionalism with which this information is conveyed
4. The visual presentation of the document

"You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression"

Your CV layout makes its vital first impression mostly from the last of these elements - and yet it's the thing most people completely overlook, they don't even think twice about how this document looks and feels. But going to the opposite extreme - and creating a CV layout which looks like a freak show instead of a sincere bid for the job - is just as big a mistake.

I've recruited hundreds of people during my career in various organisations, and the importance of a good CV should not be underestimated. A good CV Layout will make the difference between the recruiter considering you for a job - or not!

Sections of the CV Layout

The CV is normally laid out in sections to clearly identify relevant information.

A CV Layout normally consists of these sections:

• Personal Information
• Career History
• Skills and Qualifications
• Other Skills & Achievements
• Referees

Each section in detail.

This part of the layout is to identify yourself and provide contact information. Your CV needs to include as a minimum

• Your full name
• Your address
• Your e-mail id
• Your phone number and best time to call
• Your mobile phone number

Depending on the industry you are in and the type of job you are applying for (we'll discuss this in detail a bit later) you may also want to include the following:

• Your Facebook ID
• Your Photo
• Your Philisophy on life
• Your Interests
• Your Date of Birth
• Your Interests
• Your Website
• Your Blog
• Your Nationality and Work Visa Status
• Note that marital status is always optional.
• Sports you play.

In this section of the CV layout, you need to present your career history. By that, I mean what job roles you have worked in, but this can also include project work, special projects or achievements, and volunteer work too.

It's important that the CV Layout is carefully considered for this section, as well as which bits of information to include. Remember the person who is reading your CV wants to be attracted to the layout, not deterred because it looks like a volume of war and peace. This section needs to be concise and yet eloquent. It must be truthful, as these facts are easy to check. Also ensure that you write positively about good outcomes, there should be no hint of negativity.

As a minimum, for each job/project, you should include:

• The date started and ended
• The job title
• The company / organisation / charity you were working for
• A brief description (2 sentences to 2 paragraphs) of what the job entailed.

You can also consider including:

• Skills - a list of skills you acquired while doing this job
• Achievements - note the key achievements

The achievements are a way of showing how you've added value or achieved goals.

Make sure you're highlighting the right things - if your CV Layout is good but you give the impression you don't work diligently, you will diminish your chances of success. Don't say things like "I was really good at this job" , it's better to say "I was nominated employee of the month 3 times during the year I worked here in recognition of my approach to customer service".

Remember - this is your chance to really sell yourself, so think carefully about what highlights you include. Include the things you are good at, were praised for, and enjoyed doing. If it is possible to quantify any item, make sure you include that detail. For example, specify the number of people you supervised, the dollar value of the accounts you managed, the number of computer systems you supported, the revenue value of products you sold, the number of staff you supported, etc.

List the entries on your CV Layout in chronological order, putting the most recent first.

If there are gaps in your work history, include the gap and a few words on what you were doing during this time - if you leave a gap in your CV Layout, it may look like you're flaky rather than on an extended holiday or taking time off for family reasons.

An example:

July 1997 - April 2001 Senior Accountant for XYZ Company

• Managed a team of 7 Accountants in the preparation of annual Accounts for 47 Companies
• Created and implemented a procedures manual for all aspects of routine accounting practice
• Instituted a review checklist which Identified $2 million dollars of overpayments to suppliers in the accounts
• This was my first supervisory role and I acquired skills including coaching and counselling staff, motivating the team, and implementing procedural changes which facilitated us processing 25% greater volume of work with the same staffing levels.

In this section of the CV Layout, list your specialist skills and proficiency and other qualifications you have obtained or courses you have completed. You don't have to limit these to just those things you have studied at work, but any courses you may have completed out of interest may also be relevant.

This section can often make your CV stand out from the crowd, as it gives the employer a clear idea of how well you will be able to function in their business environment.

This could include things such as:

• MS-Excel (Advanced)

• MS-Powerpoint (Intermediate)
• Outlook

Or could include things such as licences held, machinery you are able to operate, your specialist area, etc.

In this section of your CV layout, list the educational institution you attended, and the years you studied there, as well as your majors and grades. Include things such as teams you were in, extra curricular activities, and any special awards you received.

List your most recent course of study first.

An example:

1991-1995 Accounting Degree Boston University

Majors: Accounting, Business Management, Economics.

If you have recently graduated, you may wish to list all subjects with each grade in this section of the CV layout.

On the other hand, if you have been in the workforce for some time, your recent work history is of more significance and you can keep this section quite short.

This section of the CV Layout is optional, but if there is something else you would like to list, do so here. Only list something if it is relevant to the industry or if it demonstrates a characteristic which you think may help you get the job. It may be volunteer work, a personal achievement, or something which may be sought after - for example, ability to speak other languages, if you have a specialist drivers licence, hold some sort of community office (such as a Justice of the Peace) etc.

If you were applying for a job in a camping store, you might want to list that you went for a 25 day trek in Nepal or climbed Mt Everest last year (only If you actually have of course) or if you were applying for a job in a record store, you may want to list that you have a DJ gig on most Saturdays.

If you are applying for a job in childcare or even as a middle manager, that volunteer job as a scoutmaster might be worth mentioning, or if you are applying for a manager position, your membership of rotary might be relevant. If you are applying to a sporting goods or a department store, you may want to list that you coach basketball.

The purpose of this section in your CV Layout is to list your referees. Referres are the names and contact details of people who will verify your work and educational history, so select them carefully. Referees will also be asked about your character and whether they worked with you or are just a personal friend.

Ideally, you need to list as a referee some one from your current (or most recent) workplace, someone from a prior work place, someone who has known you a long time, and any other person you know who is influential or has status in the community - for example your priest or pastor.

Make sure you have permission from the referee to list them on your CV, and each and every time you send your CV to an organisation, let the referee know the organisation you have sent it to so that they are prepared for the phone call.

If you do not want to list your referees, it is acceptable to say "Can be provided upon request".

Let's take some time to reflect on what makes a good document. When your CV arrives on the desk of that person who is making the decision of whether to invite you in for a job interview, will they be impressed?

Most CVs are thrown in the bin, and the layout of the CV can make or break the first impression. The CV must be typewritten, not handwritten.

Ideal length of a CV is 2 to 4 pages, if it is any longer it is unlikely to be read.

The single most important rule in presenting your CV to a potential employer is to be 100% sure that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. The most common method used for deciding which CVs to discard is simply to throw out any with spelling errors or bad grammar. After all, if you can't write 2 to 4 pages well, how will you be able to adequately function in a business environment? The more senior the job role, the more important this is.

Unless you are applying to a rare niche market, always use proper spelling and formal writing - by that I mean no slang, swearing, or expressions which are trendy but not proper English. Don't use abbreviations, or overly long sentences.

The second most important item in terms of professionalism of the layout of your CV is the phrasing. Don't write a novel, with long paragraphs and amusing anecdotes. It's your business persona which needs to be showcased, and your ability to clearly articulate in summary form the important parts of your business life is key. Use bullet points or numbering if that makes your message clearer. Don't forget the judicious use of indentations and headings to give clarity to your message.

Next, consider the ease of the person reading your CV. Is the layout and presentation of your CV easy to handle and does it look good? For example, does it arrive folded into 4 and with dog-eared pages, or have you posted it in an A4 size envelope so that it arrives as a nice looking document to handle? Have you stapled it in the top right hand corner so that the pages don't come loose and get mixed in with all the other papers on the reviewer's desk?

Have you put a summary footer which lists the page number, your name and the date on every page so that if a page comes loose it is easy to see whose CV it belongs to? A good CV layout will clearly identify every page and reinforce your name to the reviewer.

Always make the CV truthful, and don't oversell. You don't want to get caught out in an untruth, as employers will wonder what else you have lied about.

A quick word on Industry Relevance

There is no one-size-fits-all correct answer to what is a good CV Layout - it depends on the industry you are in, the type of job you are applying for, and your level of education and experience.

For example, if you were applying for a job in marketing, you would need a very different CV layout than someone who was applying for a job in the accounting profession.

Before you begin formatting the final layout of your CV, think about the industry you are applying to, as well as the job role. If you are a computer programmer applying for a job in the entertainment industry, then your CV Layout could be a bit more creative and "over-the-top" than if you were applying to say, a bank, where the culture is likely to be more formal and traditional.

Formatting Styles

An interesting CV layout will create impact with everyone who sees it. Factors to consider when working on the layout include:

• The color of the text
• The font size and style - use a clear, easy to read font in 10 or 12 point size.
• How much white space you leave on the page
• The use of varying colors throughout the layout of your CV to highlight headings
• How and where you use underline, bold or italics to emphasize words or phrases
• The use of coloured borders to add interest
• The use of images - for example, many people will include a small photo of themselves ( a head and shoulders photograph) embedded into the Personal Information section of the CV layout to add interest as well as create a personal connection to the reviewer
• The use of graphics or icons if appropriate - eg. To signify phone or e-mail ids.

The visual impact of your CV layout does not end there. Also consider getting your CV professionally printed on good quality paper - it only costs a few dollars and makes a huge difference compared with printing on your home printer. This is especially important for anyone in the sales, marketing or PR industries.

Consider carefully the weight aof the paper you print the CV layout on. 90 or 100 gsm paper is just that little bit thicker and gives a subliminal impression of quality. It shows that you care enough to make a good impression.

Another trick to make your CV stand out from the crowd is to consider using colored paper, either for your cover page, or your CV, or both. Think about what colors you have used in your CV layout and then choose a paper color which will not compete with your text. Good colors are off-white, very pale blue or even very pale green.

If you are applying to an organisation where there is a strong environmental influence, make sure you use recycled paper and envelope.

I have seen some recent examples of people who prepare a powerpoint presentation to summarise a project or example of a piece of work as a supplement to a CV Layout.

Another interesting development lately is people who prepare a short video and post it on youtube as part of their job application process. If you choose to do something like this, carefully consider whether the organisation you are targeting is likely to embrace or frown upon this - it is likely to work well in the media or internet industries but have you ruled as instantly unsuitable in the banking or finance industry.

If in doubt - stick to the traditional preparation of and submission of a CV Layout with well prepared content and an eye-catching look.