Applying for a job nowadays involves tough competition. You need to have a well presented resume or CV in order to successfully get the job you want. Your CV or resume is an advertisement of yourself, where you have the chance to express yourself and show your capabilities and skills to your prospective employers.
Your Resume or CV is part of the initial steps in the hiring process therefore it has to be well prepared. Here are some guides that can help you create a successful CV.
It is not necessary to write ‘Curriculum Vitae’ as header of your resume or CV since the information that follows clearly conveys what it is. Print your name to appear at the top and use larger font so it stands out than the rest of your Resume. Right below it follow your home address and contact details. Do not include any fancy email address like babygirl1989@gmail.com which sounds unprofessional.
Career Aim
This part is optional but if you prefer to include it be sure it is nit generic or indistinct. Keep it short to at least a maximum of three to four lines. Reveal your career focus and maybe evidence of three major strengths including where you acquired them. This section of your CV or Resume must be well suited to the job and the company you are applying. On the other hand, in order to save more space, you can include this in your cover letter.
Qualification
When presenting your educational qualification, write first your most recent attainment whether it is a degree or postgraduate. University attainments will attract more interests to an employer than any lower school therefore put more focus on this. Be sure to include the exact dates, name of the University, the degree title, and the grade achieved.
It is helpful to include any modules you studied through that are closely relevant to the job you are applying for as supplementary to your dissertation/thesis or work project. You can also state all time spent abroad or time when you attended work placements.
When presenting your school education, be sure to include the proper dates, the name of school, and A grades. You do not have to list down every subject studied at GSCE or any similar level. State the grade you achieved in Mathematics and English.
Employment Experience
Remember that your employer will pay most attention on the Work Experience section of your Resume or CV. Therefore, you should include the employment dates, the job title you handled and the employer’s name. Also be sure to mention the country of your employment for international cases.
Employers are mostly aware of the fact that recent graduates and students have mostly undergone through summer jobs and part time jobs that may not be relevant to the job that they desire to have. Nevertheless, most employers will look more on your responsibilities and skills rendered and acquired out of your work experience.
The best way to present your work experience is to write first the most recent down to the previous in chronological order. However, if you have more relevant work experience such as internship with a company, you may present it first under a distinct heading like “Relevant Work Experience” and place the less relevant experience under “Other Work Experience”. This will have a greater impact to an employer showing to them that you have grabbed the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge of similar field.
Do not get discouraged if this is not suitable for you. Most graduates do not achieved the head start but still succeeded in getting the job they want because they focus more on the experience they had. Always remember that most employers will look closely on your skills you have acquired and developed. They specifically identify the connection between your skills and experience with the job requirements. Here are some hot tips to guide you:
Point out your CV to the utmost specific job advertisement by reading carefully the applied terminology and the skills stated in the advert and where suitable, utilize these terms in your CV.
State support on your claims and avoid writing content that does not make sense. If you possess good communication skills, state how you practiced them effectively to achieve something.
Identify clearly the contribution you had performed. Instead of simply listing down your performed duties, think of other ways to show off your success in certain role. State your work achievements and any evidence of results achieved in measurable way as possible. For instance, instead of stating, “designed company’s website,” you can be more specific like, “designed company’s website that helps increase company’s overall product sale by 55 percent.”
Specialist Experience
Include on your list any qualifications and specialist experience that are very relevant to the job description with specially designed parts. Take for instance where researchers may add the sections ‘Research Interests’ or ‘Research’ and for those who have worked abroad may opt to include a section with heading such as ‘Research Experience Abroad,’ ‘Lectures and Presentations,’ or ‘Foreign Lecturing’, similarly, doctors may include sections like ‘Community Service,’ ‘Qualification Examinations,’ or ‘Licensure Examinations’.
Interests & Positions of Responsibility
These are the more relevant sections to consider since they convey that you are highly interested to pursue other activities that makes you well rounded employee. Positions of achievements and responsibility can also be extra-curricular, like for example, active involvement in the Student Union, social or sporting club events organizing, initiating charity fundraising at university or school, and many others. State your interests in a manner that you are not just writing a mere list. Be sure to point out your level of involvement and what you had acquired from the activity.
Additional Information
Languages
If you are applying for abroad then you must indicate your native language and any languages you can add that you know you are proficient.
Skills
In this particular portion include the vocational that is not included in your CV, like for example, your driver’s license and IT skills. For your IT skills, write down the software packages and applications you use with the corresponding level of competency. Additional certificates like Safety and Health or First aid must be listed in this portion.
Conferences
You may only mention conferences, seminars, or workshops if closely relevant to the job. Provide also the name of the conference, place, date, and organizers.
References
If you have no more space left in your CV, a direct “references available on request” is amenable. If you still have enough space, provide more details of two referees, one employer and one academic. Provide their names, position, their address, pone numbers and or email address. Remember to ask first their permission and keep them updated of your career progress and achievements.
More Tips on Writing CVs or Resumes
When specifying your job responsibilities, be sure not to sound boring in your Resume or CV and include a wide range of action verb and skills.
