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Last Updated on April 17, 2024
Investing time in creating a well-crafted CV can significantly boost your employability, whether you’re applying for high-profile jobs or fresh out of university. A clear and concise CV that highlights your achievements and professional identity is crucial in landing your dream job. Here are some essential do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while creating your CV.
Overview
- Do Customize
Your CV : Tailor your CV to the job description to highlight relevantskills and experiences. This shows employers that you’re attentive and seriously interested in the position. - Do Use Active Verbs: Energize
your CV with action verbs like “achieved”, “managed”, and “created” to convey your accomplishments effectively and forcefully. - Do Include Quantifiable Achievements: Where possible, add numbers to your achievements. For example, “increased sales by 20%” is more impactful than “responsible for increasing sales”.
- Do Keep It Concise: Limit
your CV to two pages at most. A concise CV shows that you can prioritize information and that you respect thehiring manager’s time. - Do Proofread: Spelling or grammatical errors can make a bad impression. Use tools like Grammarly, or get someone else to proofread
your CV before submission.
3 out of 4 CVs never get seen.
Employers get hundreds of applications, and most get filtered out before they ever see them. Upload your CV to get through the filters.
- Don’t Use a Generic CV: Avoid sending the same CV to multiple employers. A generic CV can make you come off as uninterested and lazy.
- Don’t Include Irrelevant Information: Do not clutter
your CV with information not relevant to the job. This dilutes your key messages and wastes valuable space. - Don’t Lie About Your
Skills or Experiences: Honesty is crucial inyour CV . False information can be easily verified by employers and can lead to job dismissal if discovered. - Don’t Use an Unprofessional
Email Address: If youremail address is unprofessional, create a new one for job applications. Anemail address like [email protected] makes a better impression. - Don’t Forget to Include Keywords: Many companies use software to screen CVs. Make sure to include keywords from the job description to ensure
your CV passes the initial screenings.
Learn how to find and select resume keywords for your specific area of expertise with targeted tips and techniques. Master the “what-to-do” and “how-to-do-it” for your resume keyword needs. With step-by-step examples and an Internet browser, anyone can identify and collect their own resume keywords.
Do’s
Keep Things Simple
A well-designed CV is crucial in making a positive impression on potential employers. The design and layout of
This might involve trimming old or irrelevant work experiences, part-time or temporary jobs, and irrelevant hobbies or interests. Focus on highlighting the achievements and experiences that are relevant to the job and company you are applying for. Don’t forget to tailor
The most comprehensive reference of its kind, this powerful resume-writing resource gives readers instant access to 2,500 indispensable keywords germane to 300 careers in nine employment categories
Explain Skills Gained From Particular Jobs
Ideally, when listing a job or
Tailor to Specific Jobs
To increase your chances of landing a job, it’s crucial to understand what to highlight in
Don’ts
Avoid Spelling and Grammar Errors
A few errors in presentation and style will ultimately lead to someone dropping
Use spellcheck and tools such as Grammarly to ensure all errors are captured and corrected. Leverage your friends and family to check
The Resume.com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes draws upon the author's considerable expertise, as well as the vast Resume.com
Distort Jobs
Don’t make it out that you had more responsibilities, or gained more
Skip Important Information
It’s crucial to include any relevant information in
Stand out from all the rest by crafting letters and resumes that will blow people away. This career reference guide provides a simple, compelling and foolproof way to create both cover letters and resumes that are uniquely powerful and, most importantly, virtually guarantees you the high value job interviews and career you really want.
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
