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It is hard to give advice on such a subjective issue but, in our experience as recruiters there are a few guidelines which are worth considering.

• Keep it brief
  One page of A4 is perfect. At the graduate level this should not present too many problems. We have seen 20 years of experience distilled on to one page. There was no loss of impact and no need to put on powerful glasses in order read the text. It can be done if you choose your words wisely.
  
  
• Last First
  It may seem obvious but reverse chronological order works much better. Horrifying as it may seem not every CV is read from start to finish at the initial employer screening stage. It is best to make a good initial impression. Your first ever job is unlikely to give as great an impact as your most recent experience. The same rule applies to educational achievements. Give prominence to those issues which you feel make you stand out from the crowd.
  
  
• Detail
  In this case the 'Devil' is in the amount of detail. It is a balancing act but it is also true to say that many CV's go over the top on irrelevant detail. Relevant detail is good, helpful to the reader in making their decision and ultimately beneficial to you. Irrelevant detail will see your CV in the out tray in the blinking of an eye.
  Work hard at paring down your CV to the bare essentials. It really does pay dividends. It also give the right impression to potential employers and recruiters alike. 'efficient', 'organised', 'focussed', 'professional'.
  
  
• Fiction
  A thorny area that is often the downfall for candidates. Fiction is best left on the shelf at the library. If there are any terminological inexactitudes lurking in your CV then you can be sure that Murphy's law will operate to ensure that you get found out! The best policy is 100% honesty.
  The same rule applies to omission. Some people are amazingly forgetful. Even going so far as to forget that they once worked for the firm to whom they are applying! (they also forgot that they had left under a cloud!!) The best policy here is to include all information that is pertinent to a potential employer. If there is a negative on your CV then work hard to highlight the positive side. You will be surprised how much better it makes you look in the eyes of a potential employer.
  
  
• E-mail
  A fantastic tool if used wisely. Target your approach. It may seem obvious and archaic but try to speak to the recipient first. It is better that they expect to receive your details and are looking out for them. We all know that unsolicited email is and annoyance. Worse still, an emailed CV containing a virus is not likely to impress and will probably be auto deleted, if you are lucky! Make sure that your virus software is up to date.
  
  
• General
  Remember that your CV is a marketing document. Get someone whose opinion you value to read it through first. Act on their constructive criticism before you send it out. You will be surprised how much more effective a document it will be.