Force Select

General

• Use concise, unambiguous sentences; avoid exaggerations and a 'flowery' writing style.
• List responsibilities and achievements within each of your roles.
• Be proud of your military background and don't undersell your experience.
• Include all key dates of your career history.
• Ensure all dates are accurate.
• Explain any long career gaps (e.g., travelling, maternity leave).
• Don't change tenses. Always write from the first person.

Approach

• Tailor your CV for the specific vacancy you are applying for. Think of what they are looking for and explain why you would be ideal for that position.
• Include a brief summary of significant technical and managerial skills where appropriate, as well as soft skills (e.g. able to meet deadlines). Include specific accomplishments (e.g. organised adventure training expedition).
• Describe what you did 90 percent of the time, not 10 percent of the time.
• Highlight your successes and the skills you used to achieve them.
• Focus on information that is relevant to your career goals.
• Stress what skills are transferrable to support your new career objectives.

Formatting

• It is important to make sure your CV is well laid out so that it is easy to read and understandable.
• Leave plenty of white space. Ensure size and font are consistent throughout.
• Always use the spell check function and get someone else to proof read it.

Example CVs

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3