You’ve found a great job and you know you’d be a good fit. You send your CV and wait for a call-back, but nothing happens. Your CV may not even have made it to the point where it was read.
Recruiters spend roughly six seconds scanning a CV because there are usually so many applications. The first impression is very important and if you want to know how to write a CV that gives you the best chance of being hired, here are some tips for you.
What is a CV?
A CV is a detailed document that tells a prospective employer why you’re the right person for the job. It shows your professional history, academic credentials, skills, and achievements.
Use the right format
Using a CV template can make it easier to write your CV. because you have a format to follow. Use clear, legible fonts, be consistent throughout, stay away from graphics and only include a photograph if it’s requested.
If you’re a student who is about to graduate, and you have no experience, you should put your education above your work experience on your CV and add some more detail, such as your dissertation title and relevant course work.
Using a bibliography writer is another instance where you can receive help when you have no experience. The same service can also offer you quality writing work for thesis, dissertation and college essays.
Header and Contact information
Your contact information will include details such as your full name, professional title, telephone number and email address. Include your LinkedIn profile, but make sure it’s up to date and matches up to your CV.
Personal profile statement
Create a short paragraph of about 100 words that tells a recruiter why you’re the best candidate for the job. If you don’t have much work experience, you can focus on your skills and how you’d fit in.
If you’re a seasoned professional, focus on your achievements. Be super-specific and show what you have to offer. If you want to learn more about creating a personal profile statement, check out this comprehensive guide.
Relevant work experience and key achievements
Listing your previous positions, the dates you worked and your responsibilities is not enough to get you your dream job. An example of a good CV will show relevant, measurable achievements.
Read the job description carefully and if you’ve done the type of tasks that will be expected of you, use them on your C.V. A key achievement with some hard numbers will impress.
Education
If you have a post-secondary education, you don’t need to include your high school information. Do include your graduation year, institution name and degree.
Skills
When it comes to your skills, relevance matters more than anything else. List all your professional skills, check the job description and see whether any of your skills match. These are the ones to use on your CV.
Additional section
The additional section can help you to stand out from the crowd. Include your professional certifications, publications, conferences attended, industry awards, etc.
A final word
Remember that many recruiters won’t review your CV if there’s no cover letter attached. Follow this advice on how to write a CV and get right from the outset. You may well find a job more quickly. A great CV gives you the opportunity to make the right first impression and secure yourself that all-important interview.
