The Freelance CV
Keep your CV up to date. Make sure you have contracts completed in the last five
years with details of project type, value and length. Set out your duties and responsibilities
and a contact name a reference can be taken from.
Make is clear that you are a Freelancer so any prospective employer is not concerned
that you are a job-hopper. The first question main employers ask is why has that
candidate worked for so many companies. By making it clear you are a Freelancer
and by supplying a reference this issue will be resolved.
How to Write a Good CV
Your CV is your passport to your interview. Its sole objective is to sell you and
your skills to a prospective employer enough so that they want to meet you in person.
It is not an autobiography. Stick to clear and concise information about what you
have achieved.
Employers have to make decisions on whether to invite candidates for interview on
what they see. You will also be judged on the presentation of your CV as well the
content.
Basic Rules:
- Word process your CV. If you print a copy, use good quality paper. Try and stick to one type font throughout the CV and also use the same font in your covering letter.
- No more than two pages – Employers look for enough information to invite you to interview. If you cannot convey relevant information in two pages, they probably won’t take the time to read any further.
- No need to write ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at the top – it will be perfectly obvious what it is.
- At the top of your CV, always include:
- Name
- Address
- Contact telephone numbers (inc. Mobile Numbers)
- Email Addresses
- Nationality / UK Visa Status
You cannot be contacted if there are no contact details on your CV! Simple we know,
but you would be amazed at how many people miss this!
Personal Statement
To start the CV with a short statement about yourself, this gives you the opportunity
to sell yourself and highlight why you are the most suitable candidate for the vacancy.
We would recommend you tailor these for each position you are applying for so they
can be most relevant to the role.
Employment History
- Set out your employment history in chronological order with the most recent first.
- Include dates of employment (months & years)
- Include the Company’s name & address
-
- Projects worked on – try and quantify projects by size or cost, it gives the prospective employer an indication of the projects you worked on.
- Skills you developed in your role – always highlight any managerial experience.
- Key achievements – e.g. Projects that you worked on completing ahead of schedule, on budget
- If you have worked on a contract basis, ensure that this is clearly stated next to the Dates of Employment.
If you are a graduate or have limited work experience we would recommend you set
your CV out with your Education first, highlighting any relevant experience you
have gained.
10+ years employment history
After a long employment history, education qualifications become less important
as you have achieved your employment status through experience and hard work. Therefore,
include academic and professional qualifications after your employment history.
Focus on the last 5 years of employment and what you have achieved. If you have
management experience, focus on what or who you have managed and any strategies
you have implemented.
If you have a long and varied career with many positions, highlight the last key positions and then list all other positions – no need any major detail about your early career.
Education History
Detail your education and qualifications in a clear format, emphasising your highest qualification. Always include:
- Qualification gained
- Dates of Study (only need to state the year)
- University / College name
- Highlight good grades
You may also want to bullet point any particular areas or modules you studied during
the course which will help communicate your areas of knowledge and skill to a prospective
employer (especially if you have limited work experience).
Always detail your education in chronological order.
Other Information to Include
References:
Only list referees and their contact details if they have agreed to provide references
for you.
If you do not wish prospective employers to contact referees without your permission,
state it clearly at the bottom of the CV.
Hobbies & Interests:
Whilst outside work interests sometimes gives an employer a better insight into
the applicant, an employer will not offer you an interview simply because you both
happen to support the same football team!
Only list hobbies / interests if you have enough space, if you do include hobbies
or interests, keep them simple and remember, whilst you may find making rabbit hutches
out of papier-mâché interesting, others may not share your enthusiasm.
Photographs:
With the increase in digital technology, more and more people are using photographs
to accompany their CV’s. Whilst it is sometimes nice to see what potential employees
may look like, you as a candidate never know who will be reading and making a decision
on your CV. You want them to invite you for interview based on your skills and experience,
you do not want to be discounted for the position simply because the employer doesn’t
like the look of you. Keep the CV simple and ditch the photograph.
Covering Letter:
A covering letter (or covering email if you are sending your CV by electronic format)
introduces you and most importantly states which position you are applying for,
quoting a reference number if applicable. Remember that many employers are recruiting
for numerous positions at any one time so you need to make sure that your CV is
looked at for the correct position.
Your covering letter needs to be brief. Simply state:
- What position you are applying for or if it is a speculative approach.
- Where you saw the position advertised.
- What you current position is – employers name / job title or recently graduated.
- Briefly why you are the candidate for the vacancy.
- Include any notice period if you are currently employed.
- Include what your availability for interviews would be.
- Always put your contact details on the covering letter in case it gets detached from the CV.
Finally, before sending your CV:
- Check your CV and covering letter through for spelling and grammar – don’t rely on the computer spell-check!
- Make sure your contact details are clear and accurate.
Once you have sent your CV:
- Contact the prospective employer in a couple of days to check that they have received your CV.
- Ask when they will be making a decision to invite candidates for interview.
- Thank them for their time and wait to see the response – no amount of badgering an employer will make them give you an interview.