CV advice esp from academics but others too

[hatwoman]

working in the NGO sector I haven't had to do, or look at, a CV for years (all applications forms - cvs frowned upon). I need advice firstly from any academic types - I'm applying for some small bits of university teaching work and am unsure how much detail to include about my education. I have a masters in the subject I want to teach, and will definitely include a list of the individual subjects covered; but I also have a MPhil (from 10 years ago) in a not entirely unrelated area but not directly relevant either; plus undergrad and of course A levels (which by today's standards are crap). Any advice on whether to include the individual subjects for all of these?

Any general advice also welcome. Should I include a brief description of my jobs - which are relevant - and can I, in my mid-30s ditch the interests etc, which are surely only there when you haven't got anything else to write. also what's the maximum size?

[msrlmoss]

I'm not an academic but I am a Recruitment Consultant and I write CVs as part of my job. Take this with a pinch of salt as my CVs are all for accountancy-related jobs, but I lay mine all out in the following way:

Name
Contact details (address / email / mobile / home phone)
Personal details (driving licence / notice period / date of birth [although you no longer have to put this on so if you think they're ageist just leave it off])

Certificates e.g. if you're a first aider, or if you have been CRB checked etc.

Education in reverse date order (i.e. most recent first). BTW I normally keep it brief but if you're applying for a job in academia you may need to expand a little e.g. what subjects did you study, what grades did you get etc. Personally I suggest that even if you didn't get such great grades, if you leave them off people will assume you got dreadful grades! Again, you are entitled to leave off dates of education if you are worried about age discriminiation.

Career / work / volunteer history in reverse date order including any gaps. Put all your duties in bullet points. If you were a SAHM it is worth putting in a few bullet points about the transferable skills this gave you e.g. time management, budgeting etc.

Achievements: Obviously everything is an achievement but this normally means special projects you worked on, things that were "above and beyond the call of duty", you know things you did but they weren't in your job description.

Extra skills: for example, IT packages you can use e.g MS Office applications and the level of your proficiency (i.e. if you can do macros in Excel you're advanced; set up spreadsheets you're intermediate etc), or if you can speak any languages etc.

Interests: I always advise to put these on I'm afraid! Only put two or three, and keep them brief, but it just gives a brief view of you outside of work, and people often use it to judge team fit (I once had a candidate get a job because she had cross stitch on her CV and the employer was really into it too).

Hope this helps. Two pages is best unless you have a really long career history, but even then three max. As I say, this is more for accounting and office staff but I hope it's of some use!!