Font
Type: I suggest you use a single font, like verdana, which is very legible and works well in small sizes. It's easy for the eye to focus on and (research tells us) nice round letters make the reader tune in. Italics are the most difficult type of font or character type to read. Keep it simple. Everything you can do to help the reader will be useful.

Size: Rather than use too many different sizes to highlight and make an impact, use the bold command instead. Make key words, phrases, or messages stand out like this.

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Format
Keep your CV to two pages (the reader will tune out after that) and fill it with information that is relevant to the job.

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Content
Your entire personal - and even career - history is not required. You will see that I only account for ten years or so of my working life in the sample CV. For someone 42 years of age, this might be considered unusual. However, I don't consider my career history prior to working at Rank Xerox relevant to what I do now. Tell the reader the relevant milestones, whet their appetite, and leave the rest as talking points in either cover letters or the interview.

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Structure
First, open your CV with an objective: what you would like to do next. This is hugely important but so often forgotten. Just a sentence or so outlining what it is you want to do, and the reader can see at a glance what you are looking for. Make a recruiter's life easier and he or she will thank you for it. It also helps them see what else you might be able to do.

Then comes a personal profile: how you work. Provide a few sentences that paint a picture of you at work. It helps the reader understand your 'intangible qualities' and how you would fit into their organisation. It is also a useful exercise for you to consider your strengths and weaknesses. One of my key strengths is also a weakness!

Next comes select achievements. Consider three or four key things that you rank as an achievement. Explain not only what you did and how you did it, but also the benefits to the company. Where possible, quantify the achievement. I used the bold key to highlight the impact any achievement had on the company. Why? Because it tells the reader how valuable you can be. Remember, no jargon, plain English and one word not three! I've used an example of managing an ISO 9001 standard registration; yours might be results achieved.

Now comes career history. Pick one approach, eg job title, company, dates worked, or company, dates, job title, and stick to it. The point of this section is to tell the reader your key responsibilities in each role, and so establish your credibility.

• the use of bullets is always good, as it cuts down on romantic prose that makes the reader pick his way through sentences

Professional training is very relevant and I attempt to maximise that. List out useful training so that the reader is made aware of your capabilities. If you have been through many courses, be selective and spell out the key qualifications you now have or the skills you have gained.

Last but not least, a little about yourself. You don't need to say too much. You have already painted a picture of yourself at work, outlined your strengths, told them some selected achievements, and listed your work experience. Keep something back for when you meet at the interview...

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