How To Perfect Your CV In 7 Easy Steps & Start Getting Interviews

How To Perfect Your CV In 7 Easy Steps & Start Getting Interviews

Are you looking for a new job or looking to change jobs and have no idea where to start?

Well, the first step is to make some major changes on your CV.

Your CV serves as your first contact with the employer and it therefore needs to showcase your experience, skills and qualifications in a clear manner.

So before you start your job search, revamp your CV and give it a whole new look.

Must Read >>> 7 Sections That Every CV Must Have

Here are ways to refresh your CV in simple steps.

1. Update your CV format

Hard to believe, but the way you format your CV has a big impact on whether you succeed in your job search or not.

A too complicated format shows that you are trying too hard while a not so done well one portrays you as careless and ignorant.

There are no set rules about how to format your CV but it makes a whole difference if you pay attention to what you want the employer to see first.

If you have a lot of relevant experience to the role you are applying for, let that be the first thing they see.

Avoid cluttering your CV with too much unnecessary information but rather include the most relevant and start with the most important.

If you are a recent graduate, you have not much in terms of experience and so in this case you can emphasize on your education qualifications instead.

2. Rewrite your career objective

Your personal statement or career objective is a one paragraph statement that draws attention to the things that you want a potential employer to notice most about you.

Consider taking your time to getting it right as it sets the tone for the entire CV.

Try and include a few verifiable examples from your career and demonstrate the value and expertise that you are bringing with you.

For more on this, find out how to write a powerful career objective.

3. Refresh your work experience

You don’t have to include every position that you have ever held to have a great CV.

If you have got a lot of hands on experience or have held a lot of positions in different industries, include only those positions that are relevant to the job that you are applying to.

By fine-tuning your experience to the most relevant you will give yourself enough space to include the achievements from your previous positions.

4. Add relevant industry keywords

Nothing makes for a good CV than demonstrating your knowledge of the industry you want to work in.

You can do this by adding relevant key words related to that industry.

However, avoid going overboard with this but just add a few words here and there to show the hiring manager that you have a grasp of what you are talking about.

Most hiring managers in Kenya will skim through a CV in a few seconds and so including the right phrases will grab their attention.

5. Work on the CV design

You may have not updated your CV in a while and the design may be out of date. Update it to fit the current job market by giving it a fresh look.

And I’m not suggesting that you go for a really complicated design. Just ensure that it looks clean, up to date and professional.

Freshening up your design may entail simple things like adding a few spaces here and there or changing the font. A few small changes will really make a big difference.

Find Out >>> The Kenyan CV Format 

6. Keep the focus on your current job

Hiring managers in Kenya will be interested in knowing where you are currently working and the position you hold, so take your time to explain this in your CV.

Include any accomplishments you have made so far and try to tie them to the job you are applying to.

If you are just out of college, do the same with any attachments, internships or volunteer work you have done or include any achievements you made in your college years.

7. Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

I cannot stress enough the importance of going through your CV once you are done.

One single grammatical mistake may be enough to put off a recruiter, so double check your work before sending it.

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