CV Tips
Your CV is a key tool when it comes to your professional advancement, so it's worth taking the time to get it right.
Treat your CV as a ‘living’ document, update it as soon as you engage in new activities. By doing this, you save time in recalling experiences and achievements when you have an opportunity to present yourself and need to respond quickly.
Photo
It's completely up to you whether you choose to include a photo on your resume. If you do decide to use one, make sure it is up to date and fit for purpose - a passport style photo is ideal.
Length of CV
The recruiter usually spends approximately 30 seconds reading the CV. If you send a four-page novel, they probably won't catch the most important parts of it. Even if your career is extensive, try to fit no more than two pages.
Structure your CV
First, include your name and contact details - mobile phone and email. Use an account with a more professional tone as your contact email. It always looks more credible jana.novotna@gmail.com as opposed to partyjana@gmail.com.
The summary
Similar to your LinkedIn profile, it's a good idea to add a brief summary of your qualifications, experience, and the job field in which you are seeking employment. This should be a short paragraph of three to five sentences at the most, giving the recruiter a basic picture of your qualities.
Working experience
Start with the most recent one and work backwards in time. Be sure to list all relevant experience and job descriptions for each position. If they are not relevant to the position you are applying for, there is no need to go into more detail.
Read again the job description you are responding to and tailor your CV by highlighting and emphasising relevant experience in your previous job descriptions.
Education
List your highest level of education and subject of study. If you are just starting out in your career or looking for your first job, you can include details of your experience during your studies or projects you have had the opportunity to work on.
Knowledge and skills
This is where you list and highlight your both hard and soft skills - i.e. language and computer skills and your personal qualities. Don't forget any certifications or awards.
What else is good to keep in mind when updating your CV:
- Make sure you know what position you are applying for and that the information in your CV/cover letter refers to that position.
- Use similar adjectives to describe your experience. DON'T copy them from the job description, that's too obvious.
- You also have the opportunity to "spice up" your resume with a bit of professional terminology. Don't overdo it though, you just want to show the employer that you know the field or profession.
- If you're not ypplying to a specific role, review online descriptions of similar positions you've held and tailor your CV accordingly. This is always a good way to see what other skills/experience you may need
- Keep your CV handy at all times. Save it so you can update it with the latest information as needed. Each time you update your resume, do the same on your LinkedIn profile.
- Don't make things up. Don't embellish your skills and experience on your resume. A skilled recruiter will soon spot a lie in an interview and you run the unnecessary risk of missing out on an interesting job offer.
- Check the final version of your CV carefully for grammar. More eyes can see more, so have one of your friends read it.
REMEMBER: The purpose of a resume is not to get you a job; its purpose is to get you an in-person interview. Make it concise, interesting, appealing. Forget unnecessary graphics, fancy boxes, complicated fonts. Make the content interesting so that the employer is interested in learning more about you.
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