If one simply wishes to stay on the same ladder, a standard chronological CV is appropriate – listing working positions in reverse order and starting with the present, presumably most responsible and relevant, position first.

An alternative approach, should one wish to draw greater attention to previous relevant experience and achievements, or to transferable skills, would be a segmented CV with headings listing functions, skills or projects. This would be appropriate in consultancy, for a more senior and general position calling for breadth of experience, or for a more substantial career change.

Functional: experience may be listed as marketing, production, HR, or finance etc.

Project-based: involvements and achievements are described starting with most recent and impressive, or biggest projects.

Skills-based: here, one lists skills, such as communication, influencing, organisational or people, or creativity or entrepreneurial flair, with details of achievements, which exemplify such strengths. Concrete examples and corroborative evidence may be drawn from both in and out of work to substantiate claims.

For a technical CV: a combination of these can be valuable and effective.

There is no need to write Curriculum Vitae on the document; the reader should be able to see what it is. Just head the page with a name in bold, with address and contact details in small type centred underneath.
 
Use positive impact, action words in the past tense. These sound more ‘punchy’. No Is, e.g. ‘Negotiated’ rather than ‘liaised’, and ‘controlled’ rather than ‘I am responsible for’. Where possible, avoid other passive/reactive words, such as supported, rejected, provided, prepared, maintained, or rectified, although these can have their place.

Action/past tense words create an image of a concrete achievement, something done, finished. In addition, rather than detailing ‘Experience’, write ‘Career Achievements to Date’, suggesting plenty more successes to come.

When listing jobs, what you did, with whom, and when, list job title on the left, organisation (no address) centre, and then date. When describing achievements, think SAY (Situation, Action, Yield), or FAB (Feature, Analysis, Benefit). Do not simply state responsibilities. Provide evidence to quantify and demonstrate success, i.e. proof of your claims.

E.g. Assistant Production Manager Hobart Widgets May 2001- present

‘I was responsible for supervision of production process’, creates a far less favourable impression than: ‘Managed graduate team of four. Promoted twice in one year. Streamlined processes and procedures, resulting in 15% saving in costs, improved efficiency and quality, and 9% increase in output’.

Think. What was the positive result of your action or intervention? Have you ever been promoted, elected, or voted into a position of responsibility, in or out of work? Have you won any prizes or awards? What difference did you make? What demonstrates that you did a good job and really have the skills and abilities to which you make claim? Prioritise your achievements, to match the job specification, and to tell the potential employer what s/he wants to hear.

Only list recent positions, unless previous ones are particularly relevant. Even irrelevant or out-dated qualifications may be omitted. Dates for qualifications may work against you. Did you obtain your degree before the recruiter was even born? The art of a good CV is often what is left out, rather than included. Do not be too keen to include every detail.

Do not mention health, especially if poor. Sporting interests can imply an active, fit energetic constitution. Interests in general can create an image, e.g. Chess or Crossword Puzzles could conjure up logical, intelligent, precise, problem solver in the reader’s mind.

Captain of Rugby team could imply sociability or organisational skills etc. Rather than simply ‘Reading’, one can qualify, e.g. especially autobiographies of post-war entrepreneurs. Think of the different images one might have of a person interested in amateur dramatics, versus one listing train-spotting as a hobby. However, do ensure that you have some knowledge and experience of pursuits you do put down.

Reference to salary is also best avoided on a CV. Indeed, such discussions are best left as late as possible in negotiations – although, this may not be possible if a recruitment agency is involved.