Unemployed? Follow This Simple CV Guide To Get That Job

By Joan Igamba

If you’re unemployed it can be difficult to know what to write, how to write it and whether to tell a potential boss that you’re currently not working.

You might not have been successful in the Kenyan job market  the right job yet but how you market yourself is what counts.

Here’s our guide on how to write your CV while dealing with a period of brief unemployment.

Get Busy During Your Unemployment

Unemployment periods should not be treated as a holiday. You should use this free time to do activities that you can include in your CV.

Activities such as volunteering, teaching/training, learning a computing language or even freelance work can show current experience in your CV.

While you are writing your CV and you realise that there is nothing that is CV-worthy to include then you need to get busy.

Do Not Lie On Your CV

It might seem possible that you can get away with lies on your CV but eventually they will catch up with you.

Do not get tempted to exaggerate dates on your CV to extend the duration of your last job.

Keep it honest.

Do Not Sell Yourself Short

Achievements are still achievements even if you accomplish them in volunteer roles or any other form of unpaid job.

If you work with children’s homes and you are able to constantly get donors on board to support the running of the home, then that is a great achievement.

You can include that in your CV as long as it is relevant to the job vacancies in Kenya that you are applying for.

Customize Your CV For Every Job You Apply For

The days where a one size fits all CV could work are long gone.

With employment gaps you need to customize your CV to market yourself to future employers.

If you’re going after a job in sales, think about that company and that specific job and highlight areas of your past experience that are most relevant.

Order your skills and experience in bullet points to make you the most perfect candidate you can be.

Use this CV Sample to show you how you can best customize your CV.

Let Your CV Focus On Results Not Tasks

Each segment of your CV should focus on the results you’ve achieved for your employer. Too many CVs focus on tasks.

To stand out, focus on the results you generated in your areas of previous employment.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

You should remove anything from your CV that could make it seem like it would be a risk to hire you.

Things such as typos or errors could communicate that you are careless or not organized even if you know you are not those things.

Use a CV Format that makes it easy for the employer to go through your CV.

Make it easy for the person reading your CV to find exactly what they need from you.

In Conclusion,

Doing your CV right will increase your chances of finding a job more quickly. If you’d like your CV to stand out even more, consider getting the help of a professional CV writer by emailing brenda@corporatestaffing.co.ke and you will get your CV looked over to increase your chances of landing those job interviews.