Ignite Your Potential - Submit Your CV
Looking at a blank piece of paper or laptop screen and deciding where to start with your CV can be daunting. Many questions may cross your mind, such as where to begin, how much information is too much or too little, and the best structure to use.
Although each CV should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for and not include irrelevant information, the general tips below should give you a good starting point and steer you in the right direction to create an excellent first impression that will get you to the next step in the hiring process. A mix of soft and hard skills should be included in a successful Curriculum Vitae.
Soft skills are characteristics that show how you interact in your relationships with other people, such as active listening or being a team player.
Hard skills are teachable skills that can be demonstrated in a measured way and are needed to perform particular jobs or tasks, such as computer programming or foreign languages.
A CV summary is a short paragraph showing your strongest qualifications at the top of the CV. A good resume begins with positive character traits and includes your current job title, key skills, and the highlights of your career to date in a few short sentences tailored to the position being sought.
There is no template you can download, insert your personal and contact details and be done. Ideally, prepare a master CV with all your information, skills and experiences and use that as your template to make different versions relevant to the role being applied for. Each interpretation should be customised to the position being applied for and emphasise the qualifications, skills, and experience most relevant to that role to improve the chance of catching the employer's attention.
The decision to put work experience or education first depends on your situation. If you are applying for a promotion or new job in a role where you have experience, it makes sense to put your experience first. If this is your first job, you are new to the role or have recently finished schooling, begin with your education.
Clear and effective communication is crucial, as no one will be impressed by a CV filled with flowery or pretentious words. Using industry-specific terms is acceptable and can be used to demonstrate your knowledge and experience, but avoid overuse of jargon or slang, which might lead to confusion. Keep your language clear, concise, and easy to understand, as simple, straightforward communication reduces your chances of your CV being immediately discarded.
Before sending your CV, correct your spelling, grammar and personal information. There are tools online that can help you verify this. Ensure your CV is up-to-date and includes your most recent work history, experience and qualifications.
Look at the visual appearance of your document. Does it look professional? Is the formatting and colour scheme consistent, or does it look like it has been cobbled together from various sources?
Before hitting the send button, ask a friend, colleague or someone you trust to run their eyes over the CV for you. A second pair of eyes can often spot mistakes, errors or other issues that have been overlooked and make sure you send the best possible version to potential employers.
By following these guidelines, you will create a solid first impression and increase the chances of your CV having a positive and lasting impression on potential employers.