People need to know where you’ve been and which skills you’ve picked up along the way. Keep in mind what your prospective employer would be looking for and keep your list current and relevant - school achievements probably aren’t going to do that much more to get you through the door.

Detail your work experience from your latest job to your first. This is often the most persuasive part of your CV, so highlight the skills you needed and the experience you gained. Be honest - don’t talk up your achievements and relate them specifically to the job you’re trying to get.

List applicable achievements from your previous jobs. For example, if you were employee of the month for racking up the highest sales, say so.

What about your general skills? Can you speak a foreign language? Have you got a driver’s license? Are there any unusual and relevant computer programs you’ve mastered?

Make sure you mention these. Your life is about more than just your job, so list one or two of your hobbies or special interests.

Include your contact info and double-check for mistakes. If you’re going to use an email address, keep it professional - fluffybunny@holla.com probably won’t make the best impression. If you don’t have an email address, get one. Try Gmail, Webmail or any of the other free and recognisable services available.

Stay honest. Background checks and character references are standard for most companies.

Unless you’re asked for them, don’t mention your marital status, age or weight. None of them should get in the way of you landing the interview.

Make sure your grammar and spelling are correct. Again, make sure your grammar and spelling are correct. It’s a basic and you can’t afford to get it wrong.

Unless you’re applying for a modelling or acting job, don’t include a picture of yourself. Your interviewer can wait to meet you face to face.

Choose a font that’s professional and easy to read. Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana will work, but Comic Sans probably won’t. Pick a practical font size - 11pt or 12pt is the acceptable standard.

It’ll help motivate why you’re applying for the job or interview, and could set your CV apart from the pile stacked on someone’s desk.

You never know when you’re going to need it.

Print out a few copies of your CV and keep them handy. It’ll save you hassle later.

Unless it’s impractical, deliver your CV by hand or post a physical copy. An emailed CV could get lost in someone’s inbox, but a hard copy will make it into their hands.