Careers Service

Guidelines for different industries

One page resumé style CV - used in the USA and for some investment banks

There are some institutions eg Investment banks who may ask you to produce a one page CV. (Always check the application instructions). If this is the case, you need to think carefully about the layout and the content of your CV, only highlighting the relevant information to create a positive impact.

• Be concise with your academic experience,
• Focus more on any relevant work experience you may have had (eg internships or work shadowing)
• Include any achievements and key skills (eg languages/ IT) you may have had.
• Personal interests and hobbies are also good to include.
• Competition for positions is fierce in investment banking, so it's important that when a recruiter receives your CV, they get a clear synopsis of who you are and what makes you suitable for their firm.
• If you are using a one page CV this will normally require a longer covering letter.

• Investment Banking CV Example.‌
• Article on investment banking CVs from E Financial careers

This style of CV is also suitable for applying for most jobs in the USA.

• Berkerley University Resume and letter writing tools
• Harvard University Resumes, CVs, Cover letters

Law CV guidelines

If you are studying for / have a law degree and are applying for a place on a training contract, pupillage, or other legal position and applying to a large firm then the CV will be attached to an application form where all modules will be detailed so there is no need to duplicate this information in your CV. Smaller firms are interested in consistent academic achievement so an overall year percentage is good. However, if you did particularly well on a module of direct interest to the particular firm, it is worth a mention.

In essence, all LLB degrees do exactly the same modules in Years 1 and 2 so only detail modules in Year 3 as this demonstrates an area of interest (hopefully the same as the firm’s interests). Our advice – check with the firm. It’s a sensible question.

If you are a non-law student / graduate: Mention any law-related subjects and business / commercial ones if applying for a commercial firm / chamber.

• It is useful to include a Legal work experience or Legal sector experience section. This can include vacation placements, mini-pupillages, participation in mooting, negotiation competitions, Student Legal Advice Centre work, court visits, work shadowing lawyers etc.
• In other work experience it is useful to highlight customer/client focused work plus commercial awareness and team working.
• Include two referees with full address, plus email and telephone number (if agreed with the referee).

• Legal Summer Vacation Placement Example CV with job decription‌

Creative industries including advertising

There are no firm rules on whether it is advisable to send a "creative" CV for a creative job.

Following a trail of clues to get to a CV wasn't well received by one advertising agency! They prefer to receive standard CVs. However, something imaginative and clever (but not bizarre) might go down well with another creative employer.

Ideas the Careers Service have come across include a tea bag attached to a CV - "Next time you take a break, read this!" and a CV in the style of a box of headache tablets, titled "Take this person to solve your recruitment headaches," with a traditional CV inside.

However, sending a creative CV can be a gamble. If considering a creative approach, try to gauge the nature of the organisation. If they have a conventional recruitment programme, and are likely to receive hundreds of applications, a creative CV may not be welcome. Read what the organisation says about itself to decide whether they would respond well to something quirky.