CV is the first step towards getting a job in today’s competitive world. First impression counts & is made even before you meet. The core purpose of your CV is to get you the interview. To do this you need to –
1. Firstly, work on its structure: Is it professionally built? Have suitable headings to help recruiter spot the information they are looking out for;
2. Secondly, what’s the content – sentence structure, language & grammar used, highlighting achievements etc.
We however don’t recommend CV templates as we believe that every CV has a unique story to say & one template cannot fit all. Therefore, we have highlighted few points below which can be customized basis individual requirement –
Name: (Do not title your CV ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘CV’)
Personal profile: Use 2 or 3 sentences. Sentence 1 explain your experience, Sentence 2, explain the skills you offer, Sentence 3 explains what kind of role you are looking out for.
Key Skills: Use (2-3) bullet points & explain how you used that skill
Key Achievements/Noteworthy Credits: Use (2-3) bullet points, explain your contribution to the role you are currently into.
Work Experience – for each job, highlight:
• Company name / job title / dates
• Insert a sub heading ‘Work Synopsis’ and use 4-5 bullet points to explain the key responsibilities
• Insert a sub heading ‘Noteworthy Credits’ and use 2-3 bullet points to highlight your key achievements
• In case, there are various roles within the same organization, condense the points you make for your least relevant jobs
Education & Qualifications: Latest qualification first & a summary of old results.
References: It’s a good practice to state references up-front & gives an impression that you can back-up what you have stated.
If you have little or no work experience you should move the education section before your work experience. If you are trying to change career you should input more points in the key achievements and key skills section and reduce the focus on your work experience.
Ensure your CV holds enough information to spark interest without it becoming a literary masterpiece! Around 3-4 pages CV is ideal. Be positive and take full advantage of all your skills and experience. Make sure your CV is achievement orientated. An employer will reject your CV if the structure is poor.
Best of luck !!
