Overview
- Assured by the CPD Certification Service
- All course fees are included – there are no hidden charges
- Most learners complete the course in approximately 3 hours
- Works on PC, tablet or smartphone (with internet access)
- 100% online, including the final assessment
- Free retake of the assessment if needed
- Download the course certificate on completion
- Comes with a dashboard to monitor course completion
- Course and dashboard can be accessed 24/7
Aim
The aim of this course is to equip learners with the knowledge and practical skills to create a clear, professional, and effective CV. It supports learners to highlight their strengths, tailor applications for different roles, navigate modern recruitment systems, and improve their chances of securing interviews and progressing in their career.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, learners should understand how to:
- Explain the purpose of a CV and how it is used by employers and recruiters to make shortlisting decisions
- Identify and structure the key sections of a CV, ensuring relevant and concise information is included
- Write a strong personal profile that clearly communicates professional background, strengths, and career goals
- Highlight skills, responsibilities, and achievements in a way that demonstrates value and impact
- Use measurable outcomes and the STAR technique to turn tasks into compelling achievement statements
- Analyse job descriptions and tailor CV content, language, and keywords for specific roles and industries
- Optimise a CV to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) while remaining clear and engaging for human readers
- Apply professional formatting, layout, and consistency to improve readability and first impressions
- Review, refine, and update a CV using self-assessment criteria and feedback to support ongoing job searches
Module 1 – What is a CV?
- The CV as a marketing Document
- How CVs are used in Recruitment Decisions
- Common Myths
Module 2 – Understanding the Modern Job Market
- Digital Recruitment
- How Online Applicants are Screened
- ATS Basics and Keyword Use
- Employer Expectations
Module 3 – Why a Good CV Matters
- First Impressions
- Standing out from Similar Applicants
- How a Poor CV Harms Opportunities
Module 4 – Preparing to Write your CV
- Information Gathering
- What Information to include in your CV
- Identifying Achievements
- Matching Skills to Job Descriptions
Module 5 – Writing Strong Content
- Turning Tasks into Achievements
- Using Measurable Outcomes
- Creating Strong Personal Profiles
- Chronological CVs
- Handling Employment Gaps
Module 6 – Drafting your CV
- Visual Layout and Readability
- Formatting Consistency
- Using Templates and Avoiding Common Formatting Traps
- Creating a Digital Friendly Document
Module 7 – Checking your CV is fit for purpose
- Self Assessment Criteria
- Final Polish Checklist
- Eliminating jargon, Repetition and Irrelevant Details
Module 8 – Gaining Feedback and Refining your CV
- Who to ask for Feedback
- How to Interpret Feedback
- Creating Tailored Versions for Different Roles
Module 9 – Presenting your CV Professionally
- File Naming and Saving Formats
- Emailing your CV or Uploading Online
- Online Presence
- How your Cover Letter Supports your CV
Module 10 – Final Steps and Next Actions
- Keeping your CV Updated
- What to do next
The end of course assessment
- The assessment fee is included in the cost of the course. We do not charge any extra to gain access to the assessment
- The assessment is 100% online. So there is no need for the learner to attend a training centre to complete it
- The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions
- Learners must achieve at least 80% in the assessment to register a pass
- We do not charge a fee to take the assessment again if the learner does not achieve the 80% pass rate (provided the course is completed within 6 months from enrolment)
- The learner will be able to download a course certificate once they pass the end of course assessment
- The coordinator will also be able to download the course certificate through their dashboard once the learner passes the end of course assessment
Purchasing your course(s)
You can purchase your course(s) online using a debit/credit card. To purchase online, simply select how many users you want the course(s) for, then click on the ‘Add to basket’ button on this page.
You can purchase your course(s) over the phone using a debit/credit card. To pay over the phone, please call 0333 733 1111 between 0900 and 1700 hours Monday to Friday to talk to one of our Support Team.
Please contact us at support@hsqe.co.uk if you would rather pay by BACS transfer. You will need to provide in the email your name, postal address, email address, what course(s) you require and the quantity of courses that you require. We will issue you with an invoice and contact details.
Receiving login details (online and phone purchases)
You will be sent an email from no-reply@myvitalskills.co.uk once you have made you purchase online or over the phone. Please check your email SPAM / JUNK folder if you do not receive the email as it may get blocked by your email firewall. If you have not received it within one hour, and it is not in your SPAM / JUNK folder, you can email support@hsqe.co.uk for a duplicate copy to be sent to you.
If you are a returning customer or have purchased multiple courses, the email will contain details of how to access your Training Coordinators Dashboard. If you are a new user that has purchased a single course, the email will contain details of how to go straight to your course. You should add no-reply@myvitalskills.co.uk to your email safe-senders list to prevent future emails from us also being blocked.
Enrolling multiple learners onto courses
If you are a returning customer or have purchased multiple courses, you will be able to enrol your learners onto their courses using the Training Coordinators Dashboard that we provide you with. You will be sent individual login details for each learner that you enrol. These details will also be sent in an email from no-reply@myvitalskills.co.uk . You will need to pass the login details onto the learner.
Course access
The course materials will work on any internet-enabled device running an up-to-date internet browser. Each student will have 190 days from the date of enrolment to log on and complete their course. The course does not need to be completed in one sitting. Students can log out and return any time up until the course is completed or until the 190-day access expires. The course cannot be accessed after the 190 day expiry.
Suitable internet browsers
Both our courses and the dashboard will work on any modern web browser, for example Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. You should ensure that they are fully updated. Internet Explorer should not be used because it is no longer supported by Microsoft and so may be unstable.
Course certificate
On successful completion of the course and end of course assessment, both the student, and the coordinator, can download the course certificate.
Course expiry
Courses not allocated to students will expire after 12 months from purchase.
Courses allocated to students will expire on completion of the course or after 190 days from the original enrolment (whichever is sooner).