How To Write A Good CV For A Job

When it comes to job hunting, your CV is paramount. Get it right, and you’ll have an interview in no time, but get it wrong, and you may face rejection after rejection.

A CV is supposed to be a true representation of your work experience. It should be able to tell the employer about your professional history and your skills. Simply put, a CV is supposed to be a marketing tool used to sell you to prospective employers.

While the structure of a CV is flexible, bending to your unique skill set and experiences, there are particular sections that employers expect to see on your CV regardless.

Here is how to write a good CV for your next job:

1. Name, professional title and contact details

The first part of your CV, positioned at the top of the page, should contain your name, professional title and contact details. Under no circumstances should you title your CV with ‘curriculum vitae’ or ‘CV’ as it’s a waste of valuable space. Treat your name as the title instead.

When it comes to your contact details, your email address and phone number(s) are essential.

Example:

Name

Location: Town

Phone: 01234 567890

Email: name@example.com

2. Personal profile

A personal profile, also known as a personal statement, career objective and professional profile, is one of the most important aspects of your CV. It’s a short paragraph that sits just underneath your name and contact details giving prospective employers an overview of who you are and what you’re all about.

You should tailor your profile to every job you apply for, highlighting specific qualities that match you to the role. Aim to keep your personal statement short and sweet, and no longer than a few sentences. To make the most of this section, you should try to address the following:

• Who are you?
• What can you offer the company?
• What are your career goals?

3. Experience and employment history

Your employment history section gives you a chance to outline your previous jobs, internships and work experience.

List your experience in reverse chronological order as your recent role is the most relevant to the employer.

When listing each position of employment, state your job title, the employer, the dates you worked and a line that summarizes the role. Then bullet point your key responsibilities, skills and achievements, and boost each point with powerful verbs and figures to support each claim and showcase your impact.

It helps to choose the duties most relevant to the job you’re applying for, especially if it’s a long list. If you have many years’ worth of experience, you can reduce the detail of old or irrelevant roles.

Example:

Human Resource Assistant;
ABC Company, 2012-To Date;
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare reports and recommend procedures to reduce absenteeism, employee turnover and low morale among the workforce
• Provide advice and support to supervisors and staff selection committee
• Actively take part in the staffing function right from recruitment, selection and placement to termination
• Participate in training and development of all staff, new and current as well as outgoing
• Advising employees on employment law and the employer’s own employment policies and procedures

4. Education and qualifications

Like your experience section, your education should be listed in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the institutions and the dates you were there, followed by the qualifications and grades you achieved.

Example:

• Diploma in Human Resource, IHRM, 2014-2015
• Degree in Business Administration, Kenya Methodist University, 2010-2013

5. Additional sections

There is a range of additional sections that may strengthen your CV and highlight your skills. Here are just a few you can include:

Key skills: If you’re writing a functional CV, or have some abilities you want to show off to the employer immediately, insert a key skills section underneath your personal profile. You should aim to detail four to five abilities at most.

Hobbies and interests: If you feel that your CV is lacking, you can boost your document by inserting a hobbies and interests section at the end. This can help to show how well you fit into the company or the industry. For example, if you’re applying for an environmental job, why not include that you have a big interest in climate change activism?

Avoid listing hobbies that don’t add value to your CV. Draw on interests that make you stand out or are relevant to the job.

6. References

Your referees should include your previous employers either in managerial or supervisory level. The section should include the person’s name, their job title, the company they work for, their contact number and email address.

In the end,

Get your CV right from the outset, and you may well find a job more quickly. Your CV is your chance to make a great first impression and secure yourself an interview. Need help in writing a good CV? Reach out to our professional CV writing experts here and receive guidance.