This post about how to write good CV or resume. These tips are  quite general in
nature as different countries have different formats  for CV's. So keep that in
mind while reading, and writing your CV.  This post is by far the longest I have
written but I just could not make it any shorter.

First advice
Customise your CV depending on the job. I
personally have many different versions of my CV depending on what kind of role
I have  applying for. You should do the same. Customise the CV for the role, if 
its sales role highlight all relevant work history and education. For  example
if you are looking for sales role only list sales related work  experience in
details, others you can mention but not write details  about.

1.
Your contact details
Check once, check  twice, check three times!
You would be surprised how many people write  their contact details incorrect.
How is the recruiter going to contact  you if you phone number is incorrect.
With regards to email address, if  you are using one of free email accounts keep
the address sensible, best if you have your.name@email.com. It does not give
good impression if  your email is something like this
very_lazy_but_funny@email.com. I have  seen some questionable email addresses in
my time.

2. Summary  of your skills
This part is
optional but me as a recruiter love  it. Its a three-four sentences of your core
skills. Its difficult to  write but its worth it. And your reader will like it
too!

3.  Your education
You might have work history
first, its up to you  which way you like it. There is no rule about this.

Start with the  latest degree. Keep this part only for high school and
university, lists courses separately on the CV. List your diploma,
school/university,  graduation year/or is still doing put down expected date.
Its up to you  if you want to have your grade in the CV or not. My experience is
that  those who graduated with flying colours will have their excellent grade 
in the CV, those who didn't keep it out. If you  did student exchange, mention
that with where and for how long.
Example:
Diploma of Life - University
of Life - January 1998 - January 2000 - Student  exchange in China for 6
months.

4. Your work history
Same as education, current first. Write
down your title, name of the  company, dates you worked there. Write details
about your role, not just "sales manager" or "personal assistant". Both roles
can have so many  variations so open up the role. Think who is reading your CV,
they dont  know anything about you at this stage. You can use bullet points or 
write few sentences what ever feels better for you.
Example:
Sales
Manager - Company XYZ - February 2000 - April 2010
As a sales manager.... Use
action words such as Generated, Implemented, Coordinated, Managed and so
on.

4. Skills
This part can be IT and/or language
skills. Keep it  relevant to the job. No need to tell that you know Photoshop
when they require someone  with Excel skills. Or write emphasize your excellent
French skills when  they require Chinese. List your skills followed by a grade,
for example  beginner, intermediate, advanced. Be honest about your skills but
dont be  to modest!
Example:
French - Advanced
Excel -
Intermediate

5. Courses
This is the part where you
can lists all relevant  courses you have attended. For example if employer has
sent you on  Excel-course, write it down with details where and for how
long.
Example:
How to live life - School of life - 3 day seminar

_
6. International experience
If this is relevant to the job, keep it separate in order to highlight that you have international experience. State where you were, what you were doing and for how long you were there.
Example:
Work experience at XYZ Hotel - Costa Rica - 6 months
Volunteer work doing XYZ - Vietnam - 3 months

7. Hobbies
Personally I really like this part. All above on the CV is very formal and is about knowledge and achievements, reading about persons hobbies tells something about that person. And its always good to show you have life outside work. Be honest in this, no point writing sailing if you never even been on one. I bet it would be your luck and the interviewer is keen sailor and starts to talk about it. You will be caught in minutes - and not offered the job! It does happen in real life.
Example:
Photography specialising in black & white and "Photoshopping"

8. References
Its up to you if you want to write down your references or just write "references available on request". As long as you have somebody who can talk positive about you.

9. Check, Check and Check
Get your family and/or friends to check your CV for you. They can spot spelling mistakes and say that you have been bit too modest in this and that. I always give my CV to few people to check, and always get excellent feedback.

10. Other things to consider

Do you need to explain gap's in the CV? Yes and no. Its good to explain but do that in application but maybe not in CV. More on that in my next Hub about the applications.

Reason for leaving job: You can write this but perhaps best to leave it, it will be most likely asked in the interview.

Age/marital status/kids: These you do not need to put in your CV and it is advisable not to do so.

Photo: This is hot potato in recruitment. Its up to you, it can be to your advantage or not. But if you do decide to have a photo, think what kind of photo. In the old days passport photo was usually good but now that you have to be very serious in it, I would consider not putting that. Have a photo that gives positive look of you but no one where you are on a night out with your pals.
If nothing else go to these passport photo boxes to take it. Remember just before taking the photo think something positive or funny and I promise your eyes will light up and you'll have excellent photo for CV.
If you dont like having your photo, leave it. It wont loose anything by not having your photo in the CV.

Stand out from the groud: Its always good! If you want to stand out, do not use red paper or something similar trick. Best is to stand out by your experience than anything else. Same goes for format of the page and CV, keep it to the old and boring. That does not apply if you are looking for creative jobs then its completely different game.

And again make the CV readable think about the reader! And check one more time..

Happy CV writing!