[Tom.]

I've done recruitment and still do with my current job (although haven't for a few months). As a rule of thumb, if starts their "about me" section with anything like "I am honest, reliable, motivated, friendly" then I just give up and move onto the next one.

List qualifications but don't overplay them. True story, when I was recruiting at the end of last year, someone was bragging about their 2:1 Media degree gained at Manchester Metropolitan as though they got a first in English from Oxford. Noone likes a show off and you just look ridiculous.

Print it on tinted colour paper, like a pale blue, yellow, pink or whatever (but not too bright) because it stands out and shows you aren't trying to conform. Being different is good on a CV. Stand out. Even if your CV is ****, the person looking at them will remember "that one on coloured paper" if the rest aren't much better either.

Don't be scared to stick a photo at the top.

List your work history in reverse order, noone cares about where you worked for a month in 2004, what have you been doing for the last year or so? Also don't forget to put why you left your job and be honest about it, so people can get a good idea of the type of person you are.

You'll find loads of places online telling you to do a hobbies section. Don't bother. Noone cares if you enjoy playing football or flower arranging. Basically just leave anything irrelevant off.