Your CV is one of the most important factors for job hunting. Without it you won’t have a platform to sell yourself to the recruiter. Here are a few tips to create a great CV.
Your CV is one of the most important factors for job hunting. Without it you won’t have a platform to list your qualifications, work experiences and achievements – in short, there’ll be no tool to sell yourself to the recruiter. This is why it’s so important to ensure your CV is perfect and always kept up to date. Here are a few tips to create a great CV.
Take it back to basics
While there are many ways to write or present a CV, the ingredients should remain the same. Always include your personal and contact information, education and qualifications, work experience with the skills you’ve acquired, a short summary of your interests and trustworthy references.
Make it look good
Your CV should be concise, clear and clean. If you haven’t written a CV before, use the internet to find a good template that will help you separate the various sections. A good CV is well-structured and easy to read.
Keep it short
Your CV should be factual and easy to read; avoid endless sentences at all costs. If something needs explaining, use the interview to do so. Always try to make your CV fit on no more than two A4 pages. If you’re struggling to include important information, try using bullet points to list things such as work responsibilities, interests and qualifications. Remember, most employers simply glance over a CV and look out for the important bits; the shorter the better.
Customise your CV
Once you understand what the job entails, create your CV to suit the role. You should never just send the same CV to different employers without thinking, as each role requires its own set of skills. Sending a CV that you’ve tailored for a specific role will show the employer that you understand the job description. Laziness never got anyone anywhere.
Skills and interests
Mention skills that are both relevant to the job and will make you stand out from the crowd. Think carefully before you list your skills and abilities as they have to make you outshine the rest. Interests need to link in with your skills and enhance them. Avoid listing passive interests that could imply you don’t get along with other people.
Don't forget the cover letter!
Remember your references
Include references from previous employers or if you haven’t worked before, use a teacher or lecturer.
Make sure your CV is always up-to-date
Take a look at your CV from time to time to ensure that it’s always current. If you’ve gained a new skill or completed a new course, include it in your CV – every bit helps.
Once you’ve perfected your CV, upload it onto Careers24 to increase your chances of finding the perfect job and get noticed by recruiters.
Did you know? Careers24 has a convenient, FREE job search app that lets you search for jobs on the go. The app is available for BlackBerry, Android, iPhone and iPad users.
