A good CV is essential if you want to get noticed by employers and land the job you want. But what makes a CV stand out from the rest? And how can you make sure yours is tailored to the specific job you’re applying for?
Let discuss some tips on how to write a good CV, including what information to include, how to format it and making it stand out from the crowd. We’ll also share some CV dos and don’ts to help you avoid common mistakes. So whether you’re just starting out in your career or looking for a change of direction, this will help!
The basics of writing a good CV.
When creating a CV, be sure to include the following sections and information:
1. Contact Information: Name, Address, Phone Number, Email Address. Include alternative contact methods as well (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
2. Professional Summary: A brief overview of your qualifications for the job. Think of this as an elevator pitch for yourself – you should be able to summarize who you are and what you can do in a few sentences.
3. Work History: Your employment history, including internships and volunteer work. Be sure to list the dates of each position and include a short description of your duties and responsibilities in each role.
4. Education: Include the names of any degrees or certificates you have earned, along with the dates you completed them and the institution where you studied.
5. Skills: List any skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. These could include computer skills, foreign language fluency, or expertise in a particular software program or industry-specific knowledge.
6. References: List at least two references who can speak to your professional skills and experience. Include each reference’s name, job title, company, phone number, and email address.
How to format your CV.
Once you have gathered all of the information you need for your CV, it is important to format it in a way that is clear, concise, and easy to read. Here are a few tips for formatting your CV:
1. Use simple, clean language throughout your CV. Avoid using jargon or acronyms that might not be familiar to the reader.
2. Stick to a standard font (e.g., Times New Roman) in a font size that is easy to read (e.g., 12 point).
3. Use white space judiciously to break up sections of text and make the document more visually appealing.
4. Use bullet points or short paragraphs rather than long blocks of text wherever possible.
5. Proofread your CV carefully before sending it off – check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Tips for making your CV stand out.
In addition to following the tips above, there are a few other things you can do to make your CV stand out from the rest.
1. If you have any relevant hobbies or interests, include them in a separate section of your CV. This can help to show employers that you are a well-rounded individual with interests outside of work.
2. If you have any relevant awards or accomplishments, be sure to list them prominently on your CV.
3. If you have any relevant skills or experience that are not included in your work history or education sections, feel free to add them in a separate section of your CV.
4. Use action verbs when describing your duties and responsibilities in each role (e.g., “managed”, “ oversaw”, “ coordinated”).
5 . Use numbers and concrete examples wherever possible to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., “ increased sales by 20%”).
Tailoring your CV for the job you want.
Before you start tailoring your CV, it's important that you research the company and position you're applying for. This will help you understand what they're looking for in a candidate, and how you can best sell yourself as the right person for the job.
To do this, take a look at the job listing and see what skills and experience are required. Then, take a look at the company website to get a sense of their culture and values. Finally, try to find some reviews of the company online to get an idea of what current and former employees have said about working there.
By doing your research ahead of time, you'll be able to tailor your CV more effectively and stand out from other candidates who haven't done their homework.
Highlighting your relevant skills and experience.
Once you've researched the company and position, it's time to start tailoring your CV to them. The first step is to highlight your relevant skills and experience. For example, if they're looking for someone with customer service experience, be sure to include that prominently on your CV.
You should also highlight any relevant skills that you have which aren't directly related to previous jobs. For example, if you're applying for a sales position but don't have any prior sales experience, you could highlight other times when you've been successful in convincing people to buy something (e.g., fundraising).
The goal is to show that despite not having direct experience in the field, you have the necessary skills to be successful in it.
Use keywords to your advantage.
When employers are looking through CVs, they often use software to help them filter out candidates who don't meet their requirements. This means that your CV needs to include the right keywords and phrases in order for it to be picked up by the software.
To figure out which keywords to use, take a look at the job listing and see what words are used most frequently. These are likely the words that the employer is looking for, so make sure to include them in your CV. For example, if they're looking for someone with "customer service experience," you should include that phrase prominently on your CV.
Including the right keywords will help ensure that your CV makes it through the initial screening process and gets seen by a human being.
CV dos and don’ts.
It's important to proofread your CV carefully before you send it off. Check for typos, grammatical errors, and factual inaccuracies. Have a friend or family member read it over as well to catch anything you might have missed.
Do: use simple, clear language.
Don't try to impress with big words or long sentences—keep it simple and straightforward. The person reading your CV just wants to know what you've done and what skills you have; they don't need an essay.
Do: keep your CV up to date.
Make sure you keep your CV current, adding any new experiences or qualifications as they come up. This will make it easier for you to apply for jobs in the future, as well as giving potential employers a more accurate picture of who you are and what you can do.
Don’t: include irrelevant information.
Don't include anything in your CV that doesn't relate directly to the job you're applying for. Stick to the relevant facts and leave out anything that isn't directly related to the role.
Don’t: make your CV too long.
Your CV should be two to three pages at most. Any longer than that and you risk losing the attention of the person reading it. Stick to the essential information and don't include anything that isn't absolutely necessary.
Conclusion
A CV is one of the most important documents you will ever write. It is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer and make a good first impression. With so much riding on it, you need to make sure that your CV is well-written, well-formatted, and tailored to the job youwant...