A CV is your written representation while applying for a job. This is what a recruiter sees at first and decides whether to meet you in person or not. But, many people are careless or ignorant about preparing a CV properly to impress and grab an opportunity.
A good CV talks fluently about your skills and experiences and tailors them rightly to the job you are applying for. Here, we will try to put together some tips to help you prepare a good CV and get a step closer to your dream job.
1) Set the Basics Right
There is no such right or wrong way to write a CV, but there are some essential aspects you must cover in the CV as;
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Personal details
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Contact information
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Educational qualifications
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Work history and experience
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Relevant skills pertaining to the job applied.
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Interests
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Achievements
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Hobbies, and
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References.
2) Way of presentation is the key
A good CV is always carefully prepared and clearly presented. At the first point, it is printed on to a clean white paper. The layout should be clear and CVs should not be folded or crumpled. For general job applications, unless otherwise specified, the standard paper to use is A4 size.
3) Take care of the CV hotspot
What is called a ‘CV hotspot’ is the upper middle part of the opening page of your CV, where the first sight of the recruiter falls naturally. Ensure that you put in the most relevant information about you at this spot.
4) Don’t go beyond two A4 pages
A good CV should be concise and straight to the point without beating around. You don’t need four or five pages, but a CV should not be more than two singe side sheets. Employers receive hundreds of CVs and will not be having a lot of time to go through your several-page CV, so make it short and sweet.
5) Understand the Job Profile
You clues for preparing a winning resume are there in the company’s job notification itself. So read the job description carefully from start to end. Take notes, highlight everything that your skills and knowledge satisfy, make bullet points, and note the things you can’t fulfil. Even with the areas you are lacking, you can bridge it with your applicable knowledge and skills from previous experience. Say for example, if the job demands sales skills, even if you are not largely experienced, you can fill the gap by noting down your leisure time support to a friend’s business helping in sales. Mention your skills and explain how these are transferable to the job requirements.
6) Include References
Authentic references needed to be included in your CV even if you are a fresher or experienced. It can be your previous employer, supervisor, or someone who can vouch for your experience and skills. If you are a fresher, it may be your professors or some other dignified person whom you know to give a genuine feedback about you.
7) Keep your CV updated
It is important to review your CV from time to time and also customise it while applying for each job. People used to forget about changing the age and other time-centric parameters, which can create confusions to the recruiter. So, the best practice is to review the CV in full each time when you send it to someone.