Think of your CV as a sales document - you are selling yourself to potential employers and, as such, it should be a professional and concise representation of you and your employment history. Don’t rush this document, this should be polished, detailed but not to the point that you are writing your life’s history. Don't be tempted to write a novel! If you have a long professional experience, up to four pages is generally acceptable, while anything longer will likely see your CV consigned to the reject pile. I suggest outlining the positions that’s actually suited or related to the Job that you’re applying for. In other cases, it may warrant the inclusion of a single line with the period worked, name of company and position held. Even if we have to decide which to include or exclude on our Resume, we still have to follow a certain professional requirement in writing one.
Your CV/Resume should include the following basic information:
Your personal details (name, address, telephone number, email address) are the obvious starting point as you need your prospective employer to be able to contact you easily with regards to your job application.
Professional qualifications (if any) and be honest. Don’t oversell yourself to the point of telling a lie! While many employers look to professional qualifications as a filter in the event that they get a lot of applicants, a strong CV with good professional experience should hold on its own if you have been in a "learn on the job" role.
Career history, write this starting with your most recent job working backwards, I suggest to be honest and write down only the jobs that you were employed in. Don’t exaggerate the Job descriptions as well - answering phones for your boss on a secretarial position does not qualify as a “Call Center Experience”. Believe it or not, I’m actually seeing this on some CVs.
Your achievements in each role should also be highlighted, be concise about it and make sure you only highlight that which deserves to be. Don’t go outlining everything to the point of bragging. Those you highlighted should also show your characteristics that are relevant to the post that you are applying for.
Write down your educational background as well from your most recent working backwards. If you don’t have any employment history yet, write down your academic achievements, seminars that you deem fit for the job as well as on the Job Trainings that’s related to the industry that you are applying for.
Write at least two references and their contact details. Make sure to advise them that someone might call to inquire about you. The best references would be your previous supervisor or college professor and a colleague or someone you know who is already employed at the company that you are applying for. I suggest a combination of both so that the employer can gauge your professional and personal characteristics based on your reference.
The format of your CV should be very clear and easy to read, with a simple font like Ariel or Times New Roman, using 11 or 12 point size and one and half line spacing. Highlight the names of your employers, the position you held and the years spent working there.
Your CV is part of the first impression you make with an interviewer and it is a key to the questions that they would be asking. It would be worth it if you put a lot of effort in crafting an outstanding CV to give yourself the advantage in moving forward on a job application. While writing your CV down, start to formulate the questions that might be asked by the interviewer based on the information that you provided. In this way, you won’t be caught off guard once the questions pop out. Happy hunting and remember, don’t give up on your Job hunt. Those who strive are rewarded.
