It
might seem seem obvious but many employers report that an alarming
number of job applicants don't put their contact information in a
prominent position on their job application or CV. Most employers
recommend putting your contact details at the top of the CV. You should
include your home address, e-mail and phone number. If employers find
it's too much like hard work to search all the CV they may discard it
and move on.
Accomplishments
Your
qualifications and accomplishments should be presented clearly and
concisely starting with the first job you held and working backward. By
far the best way to write about your accomplishments and experience is
to write it backwards, i.e. the last job you had first and then the rest
backwards chronologically.
Job history
You should focus on your job history section. It's fine to include a few
lines about what you did at work, but the bulk of material should
include the things you did that made you stand out. Did you secure
several new accounts? Did you have work published? Try to make yourself
stand out from other applicants and show you know how to find work .
Job title
Employers know what you do because of your job title, (ie mechanic). So
instead of listing your daily tasks, talk about what you did that made
your company better or your department more successful. Talk about the
unique things you did, so your CV will stand out from someone who has
the same job title.
Length
CVs need to be crisp and short as most of the time your CV is an opening
gambit, if the employer or placement agency like what they see they will
get back to you for more details. One thing holds true don't ramble on
as the best idea is to keep the CV clear and concise.
Keywords
Use keywords to describe your
accomplishments and roles. Not all keywords are the same for all jobs.
Therefore, examine five to 10 of the job listings you're applying for
and highlight repeated words. Some common words include "leadership,"
"team player" and "self-starter." Then sprinkle those words throughout
your CV. Using keywords will increase your visibility with the employe.
You should first understand that keywords are the means by which a
prospective employer searches for an appropriate CV. Hence, you should
know how to use these correctly to bring optimum effects and how to find
jobs online.
a. Use keywords and phrase keywords that are specific to (i) skill set,
(ii) industry, (iii) experience and (iv) job
b. Add a great number of different types of keywords as any of the
relevant keywords may attract your CV for perusal
c. Use extremely descriptive and sharp keywords (for best selection,
think what would you type in the search bar if you were looking for the
job you are applying for; make a list of all the words that come to your
mind, and then try to incorporate as many as you can in the CV without
spoiling its informative backbone) .
Education
If you are just starting out in the work
world it is recommended to put your education first. List any
qualifications you have achieved. It's not necessary to mention every
part time job you had from high school and beyond. Only include it if
you progressively gained more responsibility. The bottom bottom line
advice is to keep it short and sweet.
Advertise yourself
Treat your CV as an advertisement for yourself. Why should the employer
choose you? Put this question to yourself and write the CV in such a way
that the answer should be evident. (For example the employer wants a
good Sales Manager, what skills would be attractive, what qualifications
would be attractive, what achievements would be most impressive for this
profile, what traits would be best for this job, etc.- all these should
be highlighted and clearly evident in your CV.
Research
Research about the job you want (ie what it involves as responsibility,
qualifications, growth, and goals) Research about the company you are
applying to for a job (ie what are its goals, its products, its
financial get-up, its past success, its future plans). Use websites to
find jobs.
Get to the point
Be as
much to-the-point as possible; the employer may have to read a lot of
CVs in one hour so the time for perusing one CV is short. In 10 to 20
seconds the employer should get enough relevant information from your CV
so he/she can decide whether you are suitable or not. Your CV will have
only have a short time to make an impression.
Myth: Your CV will get you hired
The
purpose of your CV is to introduce you to the employer. Your CV will
serve as an introduction to the employer and it should highlight your
abilities and your experience with the use of relevant facts. CV's on
there own will not get you a job.
