Also, DO NOT list the subjects that you have completed for any education received; you do not need them unless you are a recent graduate and want to highlight your ability through completion of individual modules/subjects.
Now, if it is the case that some jobs require knowledge in a certain field and you happen to have completed projects and modules in that area, you can include this fact. Don’t go into great detail in the education section since you can include other sections to your CV to assist with this.
I would recommend that you include ANY training and/or certifications that you have received provided that they have been completed within 10 years. If the certifications require renewal, only include the most recent. This would apply to first aid, manual handling and other certifications.
CV Review
Kickstart Your Career
Voluntary Experience
Many people believe that any voluntary work that they do does not merit being mentioned on their CV. I would say that most of the time, these people have learned skills and experience in areas that prove them more capable to do a job than most others. Your voluntary experience can provide some hidden gems to employers – whether you are a member of the parents committee, treasurer of your local club or even a scout leader – all of these can account to something and SHOULD be incorporated into your CV.
Additional Sections
You can include the following sections to your CV to highlight your skills, achievements or experiences further:
- Publications
- Awards & Distinctions
- Technical Proficiency
- Major Accomplishments / Milestones
- Key Skills Assessment
These additional sections should be strategically placed within the CV. You should include your Publications, Awards and Technical Proficiency near the end of your CV and Major Accomplishments / Key Skills Assessment at the beginning.
You can also edit the headings of each section to suit your level i.e. if you don’t have any third level qualifications but earned a lot of certifications ‘Education and Certifications’ can be edited to ‘Professional Certifications’ or ‘Certifications’. Make the CV unique to your ability. They are not set in stone.
What Happened to References or Hobbies / Interests?
You might notice that this blog did not mention these sections when writing your CV. That is because these sections are not required on a CV and are a personal preference to the individual. I would suggest that if including references heading that you simply state: ‘References Available on Request. This will allow you to elaborate on your work experience without wasting valuable space. In addition, if you have taken an interest in something which led to Voluntary Experience, then I would include this on your CV. Just remember to avoid generic and, frankly, cliché phrases like: ‘Socialising with friends’, ‘Going to the cinema’ etc. Try and make it punchy and exciting.