CV writing – British Sign Language Guide

Published: Monday 21 October 2024 | No Comments

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This resource is kindly funded by Churchill Fellow

This short video for deaf jobseekers explains the basics of CV writing, including: 

-What is a CV? 

-Why is it important? 

-What should I include? 

-How to start 

-Your CV: section by section 

-Checking your CV 

 

What is a CV? 

CV stands for curriculum vitae, which is Latin and means ‘through the course of one’s life’. Really, this just means it is a document that sums up your education and experience up until this moment in time. Your CV gives an idea of who you are, including your skills and achievements, to an employer.  

Why is it important? 

Most of the time, the first interaction a potential employer will have with you is through your CV. This means it is important it is accurate, up to date, and shows you in your best light. Writing a great CV is one of the most important first steps you can take in finding a job. 

What should I include? 

Your CV includes: 

• Your contact information 

• A personal profile: this is a paragraph summarising your qualities, skills and experience.  

• A list of your skills. 

• Your employment history, starting from your most recent job and working backwards. 

• Your education history, with your most recent qualifications first. This includes: 

• Your hobbies and interests. 

How to start 

Most CVs are created on a computer or laptop on a word processing programme like Microsoft Word. You can access computers and the internet at your local library or Job Centre Plus. There are lots of template examples of CVs on the internet. If you are unsure how to format your CV, these can be a good place to start. Or you could ask a friend or family member who has recently got a job if you could look at their CV. 

If you are struggling to write your personal statement or skills list, try starting with the more straightforward bits of your CV first – for example your education or employment history. Once you have written these, it might give you some ideas for the skills you have gained. 

Your CV section by section 

Your contact details 

At the top of the document enter: 

• Your name  

• Your address/location 

• Your contact details, including your email address. 

TIP: use a professional email address – for example, one that includes your real name. 

Your personal profile 

Include 5-6 sentences which summarise your qualities, skills and experience. It is a chance to introduce who you are to the employer, and show how you will add value to a team.  

TIP: Keep your personal profile positive and engaging. 

TIP: Show how your experiences and skills relate to the role you are applying for. 

TIP: if you are applying to a range of jobs, adapt your personal profile to be relevant for each job. 

Skills and attributes 

Make a bullet point list of your most important skills. Be concise and specific. Think about skills you have gained through your education, life experience or work. Some areas you could think about are: 

• Numerical skills e.g. have you had to handle cash? Can you add and subtract in your head? 

• IT skills e.g.  do you know how to use a computer, or any specific software? Do you pick up new software programmes quickly? 

• Communication skills e.g. are you good at written communication? Do you communicate well with others? 

• Customer focus e.g. have you worked in customer-facing roles before? Do you know how to meet customers’ needs or handle complaints? 

• Managing yourself e.g. can you manage your time well, prioritise tasks, or cope under pressure? 

• Team work e.g. have you got experience of working in a team? Do you work well with others? 

• Managing others e.g. have you worked in a role where you had to manage other people? Do you have experience of delegating, or managing others’ time or tasks? 

• Influence/persuasion e.g. have you worked in an area where you were selling a product or service? Have you had to negotiate? 

• Commercial awareness e.g. have you had experience in the sector you are applying for? Are you up to date with news about the sector? 

• Personal development planning e.g. have you set up personal development goals? Are you motivated to find opportunities for development for yourself? 

TIP: try and make sure the skills you list are relevant for the job you are applying for. 

Your employment history 

Include your employment history from the last 10 years. For each job include: 

• The name of the company you worked for 

• Your job title 

• The dates you were employed ie when you started and finished the job 

• A description of your role, including your key responsibilities. For example, if you worked as a receptionist, your responsibilities might include welcoming visitors, answering emails and booking meeting rooms. 

You can also include volunteer roles in this section, following the same format. 

You don’t need to go further back than 10 years, unless you have been out of work for a long time. If you have relevant experience that is longer ago than 10 years, you may also want to list that. 

TIP: explain large employment gaps (e.g. due to illness) in your cover letter or personal profile. 

TIP: if helpful, you can use the phrase ‘actively seeking employment’ to talk about these gaps. 

Your education and training history 

Start with your most recent course or qualification and work back. Each entry includes: 

• The name of the educational institution 

• Title of the course (if relevant) 

• Dates you studied from and to 

• Qualification or grade you gained. 

TIP: if you don’t have much work experience, you could put your education section first. 

Your hobbies and interests 

This can just be a couple of sentences, to let the employer know a little bit more about you. If possible, try and include hobbies and interests that show skills that are relevant to the role. 

TIP: Be honest: make sure they are genuine hobbies/interests and be prepared to talk about them! 

Check your CV 

Keep your CV up to date by adding any new skills or experience. 

Check your CV before you send it out. A good CV will have: 

• Consistent formatting e.g. the same font and colour used throughout. 

• Clear formatting e.g. headings, and spaces after each section. 

• Consistent spelling and grammar e.g. no errors or spelling mistakes 

• Varied language e.g. no repetitive phrases or words 

TIP: keep your CV concise – no more than two A4 pages. 

TIP: ask a friend or family member with professional experience to check your CV for you. 

We hope this has been a useful resource to help you create your CV. Good luck with your job search!