You’re probably well aware of just how important a CV is when it comes to landing a job. Your CV is pretty much the only way you have of showing a hiring manager that you are suitable for the role. Writing a good CV can be complicated for most because it can be hard to know whether you are writing it in a way that will encourage hiring managers or not. The good news is creating a good CV is not as difficult as you would image. In this article, we are going to provide you with some crucial tips and advice on how to write a good CV.
Determine Your Suitability to the Role
Before you get the ballpoint pen out, it is crucial that you double check to make sure you are applying for a job that you are suitable for. In the digital age, most CVs are now being sent online which means keyword optimisation is important. In other words, your CV needs to contain certain relevant words to the role you are applying for. Therefore, look through the job and the required keywords and compare it to your personal skills, qualifications and achievements. It should become clear pretty quickly whether you are a good fit or not.
CV Layout
When writing your CV, you should create it in a Word document and make sure that you can fit everything on two pages. Anything longer than two pages means the hiring manager may not even look at it. Make sure to save it as a standard attachment and rename it with your name as well as the filename. Doing this will make it easy to find for when you send it out. Let’s get into the specific layout and format of your CV.
Font & Size
You should type your CV up in times new roman in a size 12 font. This is the safest bet and looks the most professional. Some say you can also opt for arial or calibri. However, just remember to stick to one font throughout that is easy to read and looks professional. Ensure that the headlines and your name on the CV stand out. You can increase these headings to a font of 14 or 16. When it comes to important information, you can also use italics, underline or bold relevant sections and also, you can use bullet points where necessary.
Contact Information to Include
It is essential to include contact information so that the hiring manager can get in touch with you. Therefore, be sure to include your name and address. Also, include your phone numbers – mobile and landline. Another tip here is to add a voicemail to your mobile in case you miss a call from the recruiter. Also include your email, however, ensure it is a professional sounding one. The best option is your name or a variation of it.
The Information You Should Not Include
Do not include your marital status on your CV because this is irrelevant to a job post. Only include your nationality if you are applying from outside of the country. Don’t include your date of birth because companies do not need this. Another thing to not include is photographs.
Personal Profile
Your personal profile should be written just below your contact information. This section is a great way to pique the interest of the hiring manager. Your personal profile should be a short 3-5 sentences summary of why you want the job and to provide an overview of your experience and skills and how they make you a good fit for the role. Your personal profile is your sales pitch to the company.
Key Skills
This is one of the most important sections on your CV. To put it in perspective, recruiters are keen to learn what you can offer the company. As a result, it is essential to showcase your skills and outline how you will have a positive influence on the business going forward. When writing your CV, try to focus on job-related and transferable skills. Some of these include communication, teamwork, interpersonal, technical skills, flexibility, problem solving and initiative. Employment History For each job you include on your CV, you need to ensure you are adding the name and address of the previous employer along with your job title and the start and finishing dates. You should begin with your most recent roles and work your way back. When describing your previous duties, ensure you focus on the ones relevant to the job you are applying for and be as specific as possible. Discuss your skills and responsibilities here. Education When writing your CV, always think carefully about the educational details you want to include. For example, do you need to mention your leaving certificate when you have a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree? Ensure your most recent qualifications are first on the page and work your way down. Hobbies & Interests Employers want to know that candidates have social life outside of work and want to learn more about their interests and hobbies. Therefore, you should activities you are interested in and also include the likes of voluntary experience and charity work as they will speak volumes about you. References Add a line to the bottom of your CV that reads ‘references available upon request’. There is no need to include them on your CV just yet. If the company specifically asks for references, include them on a separate sheet.References
Add a line saying ‘references available upon request’. There is no need to include them in your CV. If the company specifically asks for references, include them on a separate sheet. Conclusion Your CV is very important when applying for jobs. Your CV is the only way an employer can determine whether you are suitable for the role. Therefore, your CV needs to be as compelling and convincing as possible. Keep it informative, concise, relevant and positive. In addition, ensure it is formatted properly with no grammatical or spelling areas with lots of white space and headlines for easy reading. If you write a high-quality CV, you have a greater chance of beating the odds and being invited to an interview.