Updating your CV when you've been working or out of work for a long time can be daunting.

But you will need to write a successful CV to make a good first impression on potential employers, and overcome the first hurdle to finding that job.

You can use your CV to make the most of yourself and your achievements.

It is often the first contact you will have with an employer.

The essentials are: name, address, telephone numbers and email address, key skills no more than six career to date, work experience or employment history and dates, education or qualifications If you are over 50 you may have had a lot of different roles, but you can't include everything.

Aim for one or two pages and edit down so as to prioritise your most recent and relevant details.

Only include the highlights there is no need to give all the steps on your career ladder.

You can save space by compressing earlier roles into short descriptions or just including job titles.

It is very important to tailor your skills, qualities and achievements to the job for which you are applying.

Look at the job requirements and try to focus your CV to match the requirements where possible and then give examples to reflect this.

Here are some basic dos' and don'ts' that will help you create a good and professional impression.

Type your CV on good-quality, white A4 paper, in a clear font, put your name at the top of the page not curriculum vitae or CV, keep the content clear and concise, aim for one to two pages only, use positive language, aim for one page.

If you go to two pages which you may have to do if you have years of experience - make sure that it's evenly spread, not bunched up into a page and a half, put all personal details, other than name, address and contact number, at the end of the CV, include your full contact details, take care how you lay out and present the information, making it easy to read and understand.

Start with your most recent experience, ask someone else to proofread it for you when you've finished.

Don't include your salary on your CV and always assume that salary is negotiable, don't give the impression of being a job hopper, don't allow spelling and typing errors to creep in.

Don't overuse I', the first-person singular, or the past tense.

Avoid time gaps even if you weren't in paid employment refer to voluntary work or experiences that added to your skills set.

Don't apologise for employment mistakes, like periods of self-employment or running your own business that didn't work out.

It's courteous and professional to enclose a covering letter with your CV, giving the job reference and repeating your contact details. While your CV gives the facts about your employment, the covering letter might explain why you are interested in the job and why it's just right for you.

You must try to give the prospective employer a reason to want to read your CV.

But it's best to keep it short. Use no more than three or four paragraphs and only one side of A4.

Keep your CV up to date and revise it for each job application.

For more help log on to www.direct.gov.uk