The Best CV Tips
Having a flawless CV is essential for you getting further than the application process. If you’re receiving rejection, after rejection, its time to look at your CV. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best tips for your CV to stand out from the rest, no matter your experience.
Keep it Simple.
If your CV is longer than two pages, or two sides of A4, you need to strip it down. If it’s your job history that’s making it four pages, just make sure you are bullet pointing the key aspects from past jobs that demonstrate your skills. You don’t need three paragraphs on your previous role, this is the information you can include during your interview, that’s if it’s even relevant.
A CV should always include your contact details, a professional summary, your employer history, education and your skills and achievements.
Keep a Clear Structure.
Employers need to glance at your CV and see a structure. Include headlines for each section and keep things spaced out.
Most CVs begin with your name and contact information. Next would be your professional summary, followed by your employer history and this is where you include your references. Then your education, skills, and achievements.
There are many CV templates available online, some with innovative ideas on how to keep your CV to just one page.
Keywords
It is likely that employers will skim your CV the first time they look at it. So, try using keywords that are included in the job description. This is a way to give your CV the boost it needs for employers to read on. It works just like a Google search; you type in what you want, and you skim until you get the right link.
Just make sure you can follow up with examples when using the keywords and try not to copy the exact job description.
Proofread
Read it, edit it, give it to someone else, edit it and read it again. How can you include all the good parts and not check that you’ve made spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors? For your CV to be readable, it needs to be concise. Keep your sentences short and include the correct pauses. It’s best to read it out loud to check where the commas and full stops need to go.
If your spelling and grammar are a weak area of yours, AI has you covered. Just be sure to read it again, AI might be intelligent but is also prone to making mistakes.
Make it Role Specific
There is no harm in tailoring your CV for a specific role. It’s the same with keywords, use role specific words in your descriptions. If you’re applying for a role in food manufacturing, make your experience relevant to food manufacturing. Even if you have never worked in that industry before, why do you want to work in that sector? How do your skills relate?