23 your cV Your CV needs to: 4 attract attention out of dozens or even hundreds of other CVs; create a good impression, as professional and businesslike; present your relevant skills and qualities clearly and concisely. The letters CV stand for the Latin curriculum vitae, meaning course of life, and early CVs were just that: an outline of someone's career history, listing the places he or she had worked with dates and job titles. These days CVs put the emphasis on skill, experience and achievement, and tell employers what you will be able to do for them rather than just who you have worked for in the past. attract attention The purpose of a CV isn't to get you a job; it's to get you an interview for the job. Don't try to put every detail of your background into your CV: put in what will interest an employer and make him or her want to know more about you. The things employers most want to know are whether you have: the specific skills needed for the job; the right sort of experience; an understanding of what the job requires; the personal qualities needed.