So, you’re ready to take the next step in your career, and it’s time to start job-hunting. Before applying anywhere, you must prepare, or update your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
A summary of your professional and educational history, your CV provides potential employers with an overview of who you are and why you might be the right fit for their company. Your CV is quite simply the most powerful tool you have to get you where you want to go in your career.
The objective is to get potential employers interested in meeting you. A great CV can open the door to an interview. This is when you’ll get your opportunity to show them that you’re the perfect asset for their business.
To understand why it’s crucial to build a great CV, we have to look at today’s job-hunting reality. Most employers, recruitment companies, and job seekers now use online portals as their first option.
Here are a few interesting facts:
What can you do to increase your chances of making it through to that short list? The answer is: Prepare a Curriculum Vitae that will ensure you stand out from the crowd and make a positive impression.
To make a positive impression, ensure that your CV is:
It must include all contact details, professional experience, and educational history. Recruiters don’t have time to hunt for missing components.
With hundreds of CVs to review, it’s unlikely that a recruiter, who may have multiple positions to fill, will read more than one or two pages. Keep it short and to the point.
Focus on details of your most recent experience, especially that which has a clear connection with the role you’re applying for.
Select a clean, attractive layout that will be pleasant to read.
Spelling or grammatical errors are never impressive. Also, make sure that your employment and education dates are correct, as these may be checked at a later stage.
Invest time in creating a great CV to make a powerful first impression. It will help you stand out among the many applicants competing for the best positions in a crowded job market.