Busy recruiters spend less than 30 seconds looking at each CV to decide if yours goes on the "Yes" pile or is a "No", so your CV has to get their attention – quickly.

It is worth noting that the literal translation of Curriculum Vitae means the story of your life, and as such your CV is one of the most important marketing tools in demonstrating your suitability for a role.  The challenge in CV writing is to be more appealing and attractive than the others.  It must be presented professionally, clearly, and in a way that indicates you are the perfect candidate for the job (and demonstrate you have the relevant skills, experience, behaviour and attitude that the employer is seeking).

A CV presented effectively demonstrates your ability to communicate and, particularly, to explain a professional business proposition.  Put yourself in the position of the employer and write down a description of the person they are looking for.  You can now use this as a foundation for your CV.  The better the match the greater chance you have of being called for interview.

There is no one right way to write it, but your CV should reflect your individuality.  Try to tailor your CV for each application, and suit the culture of the company you are trying to impress.  A one size fits all approach will not always do you justice.
 
Read the advertisement, job description and person specification carefully, if there isn’t one, contact your consultant and ask them to get you one.  Include the skills you have used in each job, it will mean much more than just a list of roles, dates and employers, and talk about your achievements – inside and outside work.
 
This will help you to write a strong selling document if you have an understanding of the ways that you can appeal to potential employers, and a belief in your strengths and key selling features. 

What is your experience in communication, management/supervision, finance or budgets, working with people, problem solving/analysis, technical (e.g. computer skills) and creativity? What have been your key achievements or outcomes in each area?)