These days a professional CV is crucial to landing your dream role. If you have faced rejection after rejection when applying for jobs it may be because you lack a quality CV. With this document you are presenting your employer with their first impression of you, so make sure you make it a good one with these 5 tips for writing a CV in 2019.
Basic Information
There are many ways to write a CV but no matter how you write it there are some general sections and information that you must cover. Your personal and contact information will be the first section you fill out. Do not forget to add your name, phone number, address and email address. Your work history and experience are important bits of information as they tell your employer if and how much experience you have in the field. Your relevant skills for the job in question shouldn’t be overlooked. Make sure to include any and all skills you have that may contribute to the job you are applying for. Finally, there’s references. This is a must for any CV. The employer will want to know your past work history as well as how effective and efficient you were in your previous jobs.
Experience and Employment History
Experience and Employment history is an important section of your CV so pay extra close attention to it. Here, you can outline previous jobs, internships and work experience. Take advantage of this section and make yourself marketable. Outline your history in reverse chronological order with your most recent job being the first on the list. The employer will be interested in your most recent job history.
Create a list that details each job title, the employer you worked for, the dates you started and ended working and a small summary of the role. Use bullet points to organize your skills, achievements and responsibilities. If you have years’ worth of experience from different jobs make sure that you only include the skills and experience that are relevant for the role you are applying for.
Presentation
The way you present your CV is just as important as the information you put into it. Though opinions vary from company to company, there are key factors that all employers look for in a CV. Your title and objective may be the first thing the employer reads so you will want them to stand out. You will want to add a useful, professional sounding title. “Joe of all trades” isn’t going to cut it. The employer is likely to toss out your CV as soon as they see silliness over professionalism.
Focus on the look and feel of your resume. Consider choosing one of the many professional CV templates made for word. These premade templates are designed by professionals and include gorgeous fonts, dividers and all the sections necessary for a professional CV. All you have to do is fill the sections in with your own information.
Stand Out
Recruiters receive dozens of CVs so it is important that you do what is necessary to make your CV stand out. This includes being clear and conscious. Recruiters do not have enough tie in the day to read through every individual CV so they so a lot of scanning. Choose an attractive layout and eye-catching title that will encourage them to examine your document more closely.
Have you ever heard of the term “less is more”? That saying holds true with CVs. Do not use colorful fonts of fancy embellishments. Instead, keep it simple, clear and straight to the point. Keep it short. Recruiters are more likely to pass up documents that are more than two pages long o keep your work experience and history recent and relevant. Make sure that you have all the necessary information on your CV that will make it easy to contact you. If you don’t you are sure to get passed up.
Include your Social Media
Social media has helped many people get their dream careers. If you have spent time engaging in industry groups or commenting on forums and articles it shows that you have an active mind and work towards contributing and learning from your industry. If you are active in these industries on social media it can give you an advantage over others applying for the same role so be sure to include your social handles in the professional profiles section of your CV.
Refrain from using personal accounts on your CV and stick to using only professional accounts. Make sure that you are 100% satisfied with your digital footprint before showcasing it to potential employers and recruiters.
