Create the perfect CV

Rob Yeung is a psychologist and author. He recently held a CV clinic on the BBC's Working Lunch programme.

He was asked for his CV dos and don'ts: here are his top tips.

Start from Scratch

Always write a new CV from scratch rather than updating an old one.

Stick to recent employment history. Remember that employers are most interested in the last three to seven years of your experience, so write more about those jobs on your CV. If you have considerably more experience, summarise it briefly.

Tailor each CV

Remember to tailor your CV to the needs of each individual employer. Weak candidates often type up one CV and then send it out to lots of employers.

Speak the Employer's Language

Paraphrase the key words and phrases on the CV, that the employer uses in the job description. For example, if the employer talks about wanting people with "leadership and charisma", it makes good sense to use that exact phrase in the CV rather than talking about something you think is similar like "management and presence".

Sell Yourself

Remember that a CV is a sales document. Include only the information that will sell you to the employer. You don't have to include everything - for example, why you left previous jobs.

Work Experience

Don't just describe the job titles you have held in the past. When describing your work experience, also include your main achievements from each job. Consider such areas as:

• If you improved anything.
• Made anything faster or more efficient.
• Coached or developed anyone else.
• Managed relationships with any particular customers.
• Introduced any new technology or new ways of working.

Keep it Simple

Have sensible margins and use a readable typeface. Don't try to reduce the margins or use a smaller font to squeeze more information into your CV - that only shows to employers that you can't prioritise what's important!

Dr Rob Yeung is a psychologist and coach at consultancy Talentspace, and author of books including 'Confidence: The art of getting whatever you want' and 'The Rules of Job Hunting'.