Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your CV is a marketing document that sells your skills and suitability for a particular job. It should make yourself attractive to whichever sector you are applying for.
In the creative professions there can be leeway to apply your creativity to your CV. This approach can work well but don’t forget the information needs to be easy to access and ‘look professional’.
The traditional CV layout is shown below with some suggestions on how you might adapt the standard layout to reflect the needs of the creative industries.
Personal Details
Include:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone
- website (if applicable)
Personal Profile
A brief summary to highlight your skills, experience and aspirations. Try to avoid cliché and highlight the skills you want to market with evidence. Keep it short and punchy.
For example:
An emerging interior designer, I also have gained valuable experience working on live briefs with local companies and built up good working relationships. My client centred approach results in customer satisfaction and repeat custom.
As opposed to:
I have almost completed my degree in Illustration at the Arts University College at Bournemouth. I have excellent communication skills, am a good team player and am looking to demonstrate my creative skills in a suitable organisation.
Give examples, not generalizations: For example, ‘Directed the play ‘Hamlet’ in college‘ is far more engaging than ‘active in theatre.’
Employment History
The employer will be most interested in the skills you have gained that are relevant to the job sought. If you have enough relevant experience you may choose to omit or reduce emphasis of some of the lower skilled jobs you have done.
Normally give the name of the employer, job title, relevant responsibilities/achievements in the job, and dates.
Start with the most recent and work back
Education
The employer will be interested in your most relevant qualifications. As a new graduate this section is important, particularly if you do not have much work experience. The more relevant work experience you have the less important this section tends to become. GCSEs for example are sometimes omitted as work achievements supersede.
Give the Name of the Institution, Subject and Qualification Studied with grades. The most recent should come first.
Skills
If your skills have not been made explicit in your ?employment history’ or education sections you should spell them out in a separate section. You should try to align the skills you have with those needed for the job.
The following are often included: software skills, for example In-design, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Quark etc. Language skills if you have them (however unless they are of a reasonable standard it is probably not worth including). Driving, if relevant is often useful. Particular technical skills associated with the job should be highlighted.
Interests
This section is sometimes unnecessary but can be used to highlight interesting and relevant aspects of your personality and skills other than those gained in education or employment.
Statements like ‘I enjoy reading, listening to music, watching TV, etc‘ should be avoided
Achievements
If you have enough achievements or successes to impress an employer you may consider a section that outlines this. Competition wins, exhibitions, published work, academic success, or any notable success in your field can be included.
The Creative CV will also emphasise particular skills. Sections that are also used are shown below:
Freelancers will have a list of Clients
Awards
Will clearly show talent and achievment.
Exhibitions
Particularly useful for fine art/academic posts.
Publications
Web-sites, published films, photographs, written work, illustrations, designs etc..
Collaboration
Work with other companies and agencies show an ability to make relationships and build links.
References
You will need to support your application with referees who can endorse your candidacy. For new graduates this is often an academic referee (tutor) and an employer/work experience supervisor who can recommend you.
The ideal referee will be someone who is known and respected within the industry.
It is acceptable to say ?References will be supplied on request’
You should ask for permission for referees to be used before submitting their names.
The following links should be useful:
- Skillset; Writing a CV for the Creative Media Industries
- Creative Choices – detailed advice on writing a CV
- Writing a CV for performers
Application Forms
Larger employers may ask you to complete an application form rather than ask for a CV.
For detailed information: Application forms
Creative Choices – writing supporting information
Creative Choices – Completing application forms
The Careers Service can help with putting together your CV. The drop-in service on Tuesday afternoons is a good way to access this help. Alternatively, to make an appointment please contact: Careers@aucb.ac.uk