Curriculum Vitae
A good CV is one that is designed to match the job description, is well laid out, is factual and honest, and displays your achievements. Your CV should sell you at first glance. It must give sufficient information to create interest and tempt the employer to want to know more.
The information on your CV should be confined to two pages. Don’t be tempted to squeeze more information into each page by decreasing the font size. Your words must be organized, accurate, carefully selected, concise, and radiate success. Bullet points can make the information easier to absorb.
Homework
Find out as much as you can about the job and the company. You can reflect this in your CV and it will be helpful to you at the interview stage.
Job description
If you have 70% or more of the requirements in a job description, then it is probably worth applying for that job. Your CV should convince the employer that you have precisely the skills and experience they are looking for. You must demonstrate that you understand the job description and your CV must show this. Your CV should use language and keywords that reflect the job description.
Layout
You must get the interest of the recruiter in the first 30 seconds. It is vital to have a good layout with the correct information and the most relevant information first. The format may have the following headings – contact details, personal profile, education and training, work experience, skills, and references.
Contact details: Name, address, phone number, e-mail
Personal profile: For example: “I am a Project Engineer with five years of senior management experience overseeing construction projects valued over 50 million euro in the ABC district.” Stick to your area of experience and keep the information closely relevant to the position that is advertised.
Education and Training: Date, college, and qualification
Work experience: Use bullet points and short statements. Show your success with values – for example, I increased profit by 100%.
Skills: Use a two-column list after a short introduction.
References: Remember that qualifications and references will be checked before a job offer is made and any untrue information will be uncovered at this stage.
Keep a copy
Always remember to keep a copy of your CV as you will need it if called for an interview.
Proofread
Writing a good CV takes a lot of time. You will need to write – edit – review – and edit again. Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Then, get a friend to check it. You will need to work on your CV until your document will impress the recruiter or employer. If you are unhappy with the final result, get professional help.
Summary
Your CV must:
Get the attention of the employer
Have a good, simple layout
Be easy to read – using bullet points without padding
Be accurate and truthful without mistakes
Be tailored to the job description using relevant keywords
List your most relevant achievements
Allocate the most space to the most important information
