Guidelines for writing CVs and covering letters

• Avoid using personal pronouns.
• Have a consistent format across your CV and covering letter.
• Use a font size of 10-12 (Arial and Calibri look clean and modern).
• Phone number – mobile recommended, split into 5 then 6 digits, for example, 07777 123456
• University email address recommended whilst a student at Leeds or personal email address if you are a graduate.
• Keep your formatting simple - no boxes or columns (apart from optional use for technical skills), no borders, no photographs. Avoid CV templates.
• Use bold typeface sparingly (e.g. for headings) and italics only for publications.
• Use bullet points (not dashes, stars etc.) Each bullet point should be 2-3 lines only. Start each bullet point with an action verb, e.g. collaborated, initiated, implemented.
• Dates on either the left-hand or right-hand side – be consistent throughout your CV.
• Use either all full stops or no full stops at the end of each bullet point. Be consistent.
• When using numbers in descriptions, express them as one to ten (in words) and 11 to 10,000 (in numerals).

• Start with what you are currently doing and work backwards in each section, in reverse chronological order.
• At the top, add your name, email, mobile phone number, LinkedIn as a website link if appropriate. Don’t include date of birth, nationality or gender. Your address is optional. It’s fine to just add your location, for example, Leeds, UK, or leave it out.
• Education –  degree first, relevant modules, include all relevant qualifications, year abroad, year in industry. Include grades, actual and/or expected.
• Work experience. This can include paid/unpaid work and volunteering.
• Interests and achievements. Can include relevant podcasts you have listened to/documentaries you have watched/publications you read to keep up to date with industry developments and current affairs.
• References – optional. No need to include full details – can just put “Available upon request” or omit this if short of space.
• We don’t recommend a personal profile unless it is specifically asked for by the employer or the CV does not have a covering letter with it. If you do include one, it should be tailored to the specific role you are applying for, and include relevant experience and what you are looking for, for example, ‘Consumer Analytics and Marketing Strategy Masters student with relevant experience in luxury brands, now seeking a role in’
• Optional sections if not already covered: additional courses (at an institution or online), internships (in person or virtual), positions of responsibility/leadership, awards, publications, voluntary work, additional skills (for example, languages), technical skills, project work.

Use the CV and covering letter to show how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the job, as listed in the job description/person specification.

The type of CV depends on the level of experience required for the role: broadly speaking, traditional CVs are easier to read. With little or no relevant experience, a skills-based CV may be more suitable, as it can help to highlight the transferable skills you could bring to the new role but discuss this with your Careers/faculty staff.

A one-page CV is preferable for some areas of employment such as investment banking or management consultancy. If in doubt, check with the employer.

• Be clear and concise. Employers usually scan CVs in about 8 seconds so it has to be easy for them to find key points. AI is increasingly used to scan CVs so use keywords from the job description and/or person specification.
• Check spelling and grammar. Avoid using the same word multiple times and proofread that there are no missing words in sentences.
• Use plain English to express experience. Use technical terms where appropriate. Mirror the company terminology where appropriate.
• Provide context not just a list of things you have done. Try to provide details of impact, for example, increased traffic to the website by 35%.
• Pick the most relevant information for the role, you don’t have to include everything you have ever done.