5 Fundamentals When Writing Your CV

While wearing a business suit or jeans to a job interview can tell an employer a lot about you, so too can what you include in your CV.

Instead of thinking that the creation of this CV is a boring, mundane task, however, realize it is your unique chance to sell yourself and make such an impression that can lead to a yes rather than a no.

To get started, here are the 5 fundamentals for writing your CV.

1. Create a Clean Design and Format

While you don’t have to follow old, boring templates or rules, you do need to ensure the formatting and design of your CV is simple, clean, and pleasing to the eye.

A few tips to help with this include:

Keep it straightforward and easy to read.

Use simple language and non-fancy fonts.

Include short bulleted sentences.

Save any graphics or elaborate designs for your portfolio.

Make it no more than two pages.

2. Always Tailor It to the Particular Job

Avoid sending out a generic CV and instead always tailor it to the particular job.

To do so, first, be sure you thoroughly understand the job description. Highlight everything important so you know what to include on your cv.

If you find you lack certain abilities or experience, look to see if you can find a way to adapt the skills you do have to address these.

Be sure to use the keywords you find in the job description in your CV as well. The reviewer will be looking for these words, so make them easy to find at first glance.

Always create a unique document for each job description. One way to go about this is to create a personal template, then modify or adapt it to fit the particular job.

3. Present Your Accomplishments

The employer or recruiter will be looking for your accomplishments to show your abilities and your experience.

Most prefer to see quantifiable achievements, so use numbers and facts whenever possible to show how you are already positively contributing to other employers.

Unless your experience is in one area only, avoid listing accomplishments by themselves. Instead, spread them out in your work experience section, listing them below a short description of each job.

4. Highlight Skills

Include a separate skills section on your CV as a way to stand out and grab an employer’s or recruiter’s attention. Mention key skills that relate to the job you are seeking.

Examples you might want to include are:

Computer skills

Communication skills

Teambuilding or team-working skills

Problem-solving skills

Foreign Language Skills

Artistic Skills

Take a good look at your previous employment experience to date, and see what you can extract. Also, examine other activities such as your volunteering, group memberships, or sports participation.

If you have a digital portfolio, provide a link in your CV to show your skills first-hand.

5. Include Relevant Work Experience

Only include relevant work experience in your CV.  You don’t need to list out every job you’ve ever had, just those that relate somehow to the new one you are seeking.

If you feel you do need to add a previous work experience, find a way it can relate to the new job. Look for such shared skills as sales, customer service, writing, editing, or speaking in public.

So, there you have it – the five must-haves for your CV. Include these, and you’re well on your way to landing that next job.