Looking for CV writing tips? Look no further! Here are our best CV writing tips for crafting your most effective CV.
Use a template:
There are a wealth of CV templates available on the internet that plot out all the important information required for the document. The majority of these have been professionally designed, providing an aesthetic and functional layout for ease of reading. Once downloaded, all you need to do is fill in your unique information. Importantly, this template is just there to provide the basic structure and layout of the CV. It is your job to customize it as much as possible to set you apart from the crowd!
Build on your accomplishments:
It is important to show the various responsibilities you have held in your previous work experiences. However, recruiters want to see what you have done with the responsibilities you were given. For example, if you manage a team, speak about how you improved productivity, increased turnover etc. On your CV, list the responsibility, and then what you achieved from it. An example would look like this:
- Handled accounts for public relations firm
- Managed 10 accounts in excess of $5 million annually and came in under budget by 10%.
By doing this, it shows more specific and practical information on your work. If you are able to quantify your accomplishments, even better!
Tell a story:
You want to make sure your CV is a succinct and connected document that tells the story of your career trajectory, rather than a series of disconnected points. Highlight the major milestones that have led you to your current position, and show your progress. As much as possible, try to simplify the chronology of your career.
Revise, revise, revise:
It is incredibly important that you are constantly updating your CV to map all your career changes and accomplishments. Get as much feedback as possible from those within your field, as well as recruiters who have viewed your CV. Take the feedback into consideration when editing your CV.
Scale emphasis based on importance:
The information that is most relevant to the post, and that you would want the recruiters to see should be given billing priority. Furthermore, give more weight to this information. For example, if you applying to be a manager, focus on writing about your managerial experience and accomplishments. Any other skills or accomplishments you might have should be listed after, and not with as much focus. These points are there to strengthen the already strong image you’ve created with your focal experience.
Do you have any other CV writing tips to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
Once you’ve used our CV writing tips, check out out tips on preparing for the job interview HERE.