How to write an excellent CV
Your Curriculum Vitae (also known as a resume) is the first thing your potential future employer will see about you.
For a lot of people, writing a CV can be a real challenge as it is your first chance to make a good impression but also to the first reason to discourage the employer to offer you the job.
Here are our 4 top tips to help you create a great CV:
1. Be honest
One of the most common mistakes make by job seekers is assuming that you need to fill all the requirements listed on the job description when in fact employers are also very interested by your former experiences and how you, as an individual, can bring something new and different to the company.
Some job seekers lie on their resume to compensate the fact that they are not filling all the requirements.
DO NOT LIE!
A lie on the CV is easily detectable especially during the interview, when you are not sure about what you are saying or during the job when you are unable to complete a task that have been asked to you.
Being honest on your CV, will allow the employer to understand your world, know you better, and you will definitely feel more confident during the interview.
2. Be precise and concise
When putting together your CV content, the expression “less is more” is very relevant. Remember that you don’t need to put everything on your resume. A list of everything you have done during your life will not interest the employer; they want to see results. If you are a really hard worker, prove that claim with back up information like results or the score you have done at a sport event for example.
There is no need to write every one of your interests or your whole education history. Stay focus on what the job requires and make a list of your experiences and interests according to that.
If your CV is too long, the employer will lose attention so the trick is to include relevant information and data (ie. results) to make their interest in you grow.
Writing short sentences makes you seem more active and gives your accomplishments greater credit. Show your abilities by getting straight to the point.
3. Stand out from the crowd
After reading a lot of CVs, your goal is that the employer has not forgotten about yours. If you have certifications, grades or awards that relate to the job that you are applying to, writing them on your CV will show to your employer that you are qualified for the position.
Including links to your personal website, blog, Twitter Instagram or LinkedIn will provide an easy way for the employer to learn more about you if they are interested.
Outside of your education or your employment history, your interests like photography or sport and how far you’ve gone into these passions, like competitions or ranking in tennis for example also say a lot about you and your personality. You don’t need to make a list of all your qualities but having done sport in competition for example, show that first, you are an athlete but also that you are motivated and committed.
Volunteer work or personal work projects of any kind are also a huge plus on your resume because it shows that you are not self-centred and ready to help if there is a problem.
4. Focus on the presentation
Don’t forget that recruiters will generally skim read your CV. You need to grab their attention and keep them interested. This is why the presentation of a CV is as much as important as its content. Use bullet points, colours, and keywords, keep the focus on what you want them to see the most.
In the UK, a CV is usually done in one page and without a picture. All these elements are up to you but don’t forget that the more pragmatic you are on your CV, the more chances you have to get the job. Bullet points will give a more well rounded look at your experiences, giving equal importance to each role and the nicely formatted flow of your resume will allow easy readability that can catch the eyes of the employer.
Moreover, most of the CVs are now submitted online and go through an applicant tracking system that can analyse the CVs before being forwarded to the recruiters so they can save some times. This scanning process is based on the use of keywords from the job description to make sure that all the resumes are relevant and comply with the company’s goals and needs.
Other useful websites
Here are some websites you can use to help you with your CV presentation:
Even if writing a CV can be a real challenge and feels like a job in itself, it can ultimately be very rewarding because you start on the right foot in the hiring process.
Good luck from Uptree!
By Uptree
Published on:
Wed 5 Feb 2020