A good CV helps a reviewer see how your experience fits the work. Start with the vacancy notice and list the skills and evidence it asks for.

• Use a professional contact email and an accurate phone number.
• Put the most relevant experience first. Describe what you did and the result, using figures where you can substantiate them.
• Include education, training and practical skills that relate to the role. Explain projects or volunteer work where useful.
• Keep formatting readable. Use clear headings, consistent dates and an easily opened file format.
• Follow the employer’s instructions for forms and supporting documents. Review the final files before sending.
• Keep a record of the vacancy reference, documents submitted and submission confirmation.

Build a requirements checklist before writing. The official bid pack determines what is needed; this guide helps organise the work.

• Record the tender reference, submission address, closing date and exact closing time.
• Check whether a briefing or site visit is compulsory and who must attend.
• Identify eligibility conditions, mandatory declarations, certificates and prescribed forms.
• Assign an owner to every requirement. Set internal deadlines for pricing, technical content and approvals.
• Answer evaluation criteria with relevant evidence. Check that pricing and delivery assumptions are consistent.
• Confirm the required signing, file naming, envelope or electronic submission instructions.
• Check for amendments before submitting. Save the submitted version and proof of delivery.

Opportunity fraud often creates urgency and asks you to move away from official channels. Slow down when a request seems unusual.

• Open the employer or authority’s official website independently and confirm the notice reference.
• Check the sender’s domain, link destination and spelling. A familiar logo alone does not prove authenticity.
• Do not share passwords or one-time codes. Avoid sending identity or banking documents through unsolicited messages.
• Question requests to pay someone personally to secure a job, interview or tender award.
• If the official notice describes a document fee, verify the process directly with the issuing organisation before paying.
• Use a contact published by the organisation to resolve doubts. Report suspicious activity through the relevant official channel.