Writing a good CV can be a tricky business, especially if you're just leaving college and have little or no work experience. The truth is, however, that a first-rate CV will get you an interview, and therefore yours should be as good as you can make it.

Simplicity is key to a great CV. When you draw up yours, try to ensure that it is as 'to the point' as possible, and that information is easily accessible and clearly laid-out. Application assessors in the majority of UK jobs will not spend more than thirty seconds perusing a CV and so it is crucial that important details are immediately available.

Plan the lay out of your CV carefully. If you have no real employment history because you've just left college or university, make sure that you start the resume with a description of your education and academic history. Again, try not to give too much detail but simply state the year and courses studied. If your results have been exceptional, include the class of your degree. However, if there's a subject you've passed but done poorly in, simply omit the result.

A personal profile is an important feature on the resume of a new college graduate. Because you have little experience, it is necessary to give a very brief summary of your skills and abilities. In a short series of bullet point, list your strengths and try to give an idea of where these come from and what has honed them.

Finally, it is important that you include the details of referees in your CV. These do not have to be from previous jobs if you have none, but can be the names of professors, tutors or teachers with whom you've worked over your time at college or university. Remember to approach your potential referees to ask for their permission first. In short, the keys to good CV writing lie in clarity, intelligent, accessible lay out, a good personal profile and useful references.