5 Simple Ways You Can Refresh Your CV

When looking for a job you are required to send in your Curriculum Vitae. This is what hiring managers use to determine whether or not you are suited for the position. Therefore, it is very important that your CV looks good and sells you as a candidate.

So before you start sending out applications for jobs, try freshening up your CV in order to increase your chances of getting a job.

Here is a list of simple ways you can refresh your CV

1. Update the format

What format are you using on your CV? The priority when choosing a format for your CV should be that it is clear and coherent. By this I mean that it should be put together in a logical manner.

There really is no set guideline as to how you should format your CV; it all depends on what you want to be seen first.

When applying for a job that you posses the required work experience, you can put this first as opposed to having your qualifications appear first. However, when you have no experience, it is best to start with your qualifications.

2. Fine-tune your work Experience

Your CV does not have to carry all your work experience. This will only make it long which is not good. Hiring managers do not have time to go through a 7 page CV, so yours should be as short as possible.

If you have been working for a long time in different organisations then the work experience you put on your CV when applying for a job, should be only what is relevant to the position.

For example, if you are applying for a Human Resource position, there is no point in adding your sales experience from ten years ago.

READ ALSO >>> 7 Mistakes That Make Your CV Look Unprofessional

3. Add industry keywords

You need to show that you have sufficient knowledge in the industry you want to work in. This can be done by adding industry keywords in your CV.

However, when it comes to this it is important that you do not overdo it. Just add a few keywords and you will be good to go.

This is because; hiring managers always skim through CVs looking for something to grab their attention. Remember, they do not have enough time to thoroughly read your CV so if you want to stand out then you will need to capture their attention quickly.

4. Change the Design.

How does your Curriculum Vitae look in terms of layout? If you feel like it is not up to standard you should change it.

You should ensure that your CV has a clean, easy to read and professional design. This will make your CV attractive to the hiring manager and you want them to look at your CV.

I once saw a CV that had columns and rows and was just too clustered. Ensure your resume is well spaced out and that the font is easy to read and of a good size.

You should avoid those fancy fonts and colours that really add no value.

READ ALSO >>> 5 Tips On How To Write A CV With No Experience

5. Focus on your current or most recent job

Hiring managers are interested in where you are now in your career; therefore, you should ensure that you give a detailed explanation to your current or last position.

What have you done in terms of accomplishments? Find a way of relating your achievements to the requirements of the job you are applying for.

This is the same for recent graduates, because you do not have a lot of work experience, you can focus on your attachment work or any volunteer work you have done.

This is a good way to show that you are the right candidate for the job.

After all this, always ensure you go through your CV to remove any grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and to ensure that the information you have provided is correct. It is important to ensure that the resume you send out is up to date and does not contain any silly mistakes.

You can also have a professional work on your CV to make it better.

The writer is a Digital Marketer at Career Point Kenya. Email: michelle@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

Hope these tips help. Do you have any suggestions, give them below.

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