Consider your CV to be your storefront; it must effectively display your experience, skills, and qualities at a glance. The following suggestions will assist you in creating a CV that does just that.
- Keep It Brief & To The Point:-
Before you begin, select the appropriate CV format. The most important information, such as your key skills and recent experience, should be near the top and easily visible. Profile, Achievements, Experience, Special Skills (languages/computers), Education, Training, and (if desired) Interests are typical sections to include. Normally, your CV should be two pages long (unless you have a very long career span or have a lot of projects).
- Make It Look Nice:-
A clear, appealing presentation is also necessary if your CV is to stand out. Make sure it's not cluttered and that key points are easily visible. Use bullet points and keep your sentences short. There is plenty of 'white space' around the borders and between each section to make the document easier to read.
- The Most Recent Initial:-
Sort your work history in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent. Leave no gaps, so if you've taken a break for any reason, mention it. Don't go into detail about jobs you held more than ten years ago. Include information about vacation or temporary work only if it is relevant to the job you're applying for.
- Include Specifics:-
Under each position, list your job duties. Compile a list of your accomplishments, responsibilities, and outcomes. What impact did your presence have? Use numbers for achievements wherever possible, e.g. "Boosted sales by 20% in the first year". And always write in a slightly formal manner and never use the word "I" - e.g. "Supervised the team" rather than "I supervised the team". For previous jobs, use the past tense, and for current jobs, use the present tense.
- There Aren't Too Many Lists:-
Include specific skills in a separate section of your CV, such as administrative, functional, or computing skills. Do not relist them for every job in which you have used them. This is especially true for IT work - lists of tools and packages are tedious to read and will not set you apart from others with similar skills.
- Inject Some Life Into It:-
Remember that the employer wants to get a sense of who you are as well as what you can do. Are you reliable, conscientious, and motivated? Do you enjoy a good challenge? Ask yourself, "What does this say about me?" with each point you write.
- Be Precise:-
Always double-check for mistakes. Run a spell and grammar check, and then have someone else read it for you. Otherwise, read it aloud. If your CV is riddled with errors, the employer will not believe you're a good communicator.
- Modify It:-
It is not necessary to use the same CV each time. You can have two or three versions, one for each type of job. Alternatively, you can tailor your CV to the position you're applying for. A CV should not be one-size-fits-all. Send a cover letter as well. Always send a covering letter that is specifically tailored to the job at hand, unless the advertisement states otherwise. This should highlight two or three relevant areas of experience from your CV.
- Be Honest:-
Although you obviously want to present yourself well, avoid embellishing the truth too much. It is very likely to backfire on you.