How to Write a CV

Creating a strong CV (curriculum vitae) is crucial for presenting your skills, experiences, and accomplishments effectively to potential employers, especially for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Here are some tailored tips to help you craft a compelling CV:

Clear and Concise Format:
- Keep the CV format clear and easy to read.
- Use a clean, professional font and maintain consistent formatting throughout.
Contact Information:
- Include your full name, phone number, email address, and location (city and country).
- Optionally, mention any preferred methods of communication or accommodations.
Personal Statement or Objective:
- Write a concise statement that highlights your career goals and why you're a strong candidate.
- Mention any relevant skills, experiences, or traits that make you a valuable asset.
Key Skills:
- List key skills relevant to the job you're applying for.
- Include a mix of general skills and those specific to your field or role.
Education:
- Mention your educational history, including the name of the institution, degree obtained, and graduation year.
- If applicable, include any certifications, training, or workshops relevant to the job.
Work Experience:
- List your work experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
- Include job titles, company names, dates of employment, and brief descriptions of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Focus on quantifiable achievements and skills developed during each role.
Volunteer and Extracurricular Activities:
- If relevant, include volunteer work, internships, or extracurricular activities that showcase your skills and commitment.
Accomplishments and Achievements:
- Highlight any awards, recognitions, or achievements that demonstrate your capabilities.
Adaptability and Accommodations:
- If needed, discuss any accommodations or adaptations that have allowed you to excel in your academic or work environments.

Tailor to the Job:

Customise your CV for each job application by emphasising skills and experiences that align with the job requirements.

Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your suitability.

Proofreading:

Thoroughly proofread your CV to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

Consider using assistive technology or asking someone you trust to review it.

Seek Advice:

Consult with a career advisor, mentor, or trusted friend to get feedback on your CV.

Confidence:

Believe in your abilities and showcase your achievements with confidence.

Your CV is a reflection of your potential, so own it proudly.

Remember that your CV is a powerful tool for showcasing your skills and experiences. Tailor it to highlight your strengths and demonstrate how you can contribute to a potential employer's success. With careful attention to detail and a focus on your unique abilities, you can create a strong CV that stands out in the competitive job market.

Video from Jeff Su

Further Support

Career Connect

Career Connect is an information, advice and guidance service. For young people with an EHCP, the service is offered up to aged 25. Career Connect Personal Advisers can help you find and apply for jobs, training, education, voluntary work or leisure activities.

Tel: 0151 556 2620

Email: adviser@careerconnect.org.uk

Website

Best Bites (Wirral Evolutions)

Best Bites is one of the vocational services within Wirral Evolutions that provides training for adults with both physical and learning disabilities, adults on the autistic spectrum and people with mental health issues. Providing a person-centred service, that offers people the opportunity to train in a real working environment in the centre of local communities on the Wirral

Tel: 0151 637 2030

Email: referrals@wirralevolutions.org

Website

Community Action Wirral

Search for local volunteering opportunities in the community.

Tel: 0151 353 9700

Email: info@communityactionwirral.org.uk

Website

Department for Work and Pensions DWP

DWP aims to 'promote opportunity and independence for all' through 'providing work for those who can and support for those who cannot.' Your local job centre (Birkenhead or Upton) also has 'Disability Employment Advisors' who have access to additional funding and schemes for those with additional needs.

Tel: 0800 169 0190

Website

Do it

Website with a search engine to help you find volunteering opportunities - can be filtered by areas of interest and location to help you find local opportunities.

Website

Even Break

Jobs board for disabled candidates - search for job opportunities with Disability Confident employers.

Tel: 0845 658 5717

Email: info@evenbreak.co.uk

Website

Merseyside Community Training MCT

The Youth Employment Hub is accessible to all young people aged 16-24 for employment and training support with a vision of then progressing onto a positive destaination. The Hub embraces a collaborative approach by working with a host of partner organisations and key stakeholders to ensure that members have access to the best possible provision to support their individual needs.

Tel: 0151 294 4460

Email: info@mymct.co.uk

Website

Steps to Work @ Strawberry Fields

The Steps to Work programme is a 12-18 month programme which reaches out to people with learning difficulties, autism or other barriers to employment. Alongside this is 'Steps to Volunteer' for those who want to take the next step in their volunteering journey and receive a formal qualification, and Recycles - an hands on programme based at the Recycles Project in Liverpool City Centre.

Tel: 0151 252 6130

Website

Supported Internships

A Supported Internship offers young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan the opportunity to gain practical work-based learning experience, providing a smooth transition from education to paid employment and further study. Students on the internships spend 3 days a week in employment and 1 day a week at college developing employability skills.

Tel: 0151 551 7777

Website