A well-written CV will leave a good impression on recruiters or potential employers and will have a huge impact on the way you look for a job. There are many free templates for resumes and CVs online and that makes it easier for you to create your own.
You can stand out from the crowd by following these simple guidelines:
Choose your format: Your formatting choices rely on chronological (the most traditional format and suitable for any level of experience), functional (more skill-oriented and suitable for people who highlight a particular qualification or have career gaps, change industry) or a combination of both (it is a mixture of chronological and functional CV and focus on a particular qualification, but has a chronological style).
Choose a suitable font and size: Font style and size are dependent on your preferences, but there are still some limitations. You should only choose a font that is easy to read and change the size in descending order from the name, heading to the bullets. The font size should not be less than 9pt.
Be accessible: The contact information section should be near the document header and should include your name, email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile, and the link to your portfolio.
Choose an impact introduction: The CV introduction is designed to attract the attention of a recruiter or potential employer by highlighting your goal and your relevant skills and experience. It should not be longer than 2-3 sentences.
Highlight your skills and experience: This section is the core of the CV. The skills should have a good fit for the role and it is good to check whether they are the keywords from a job description. It is better to list only the relevant experiences for a particular job. As a rule, each experience should have about 3-5 key points with the main responsibilities and achievements. Use action verbs and measurable points for each experience. Quantifying your experience helps recruiters in the context of your work and gives them more confidence in your skills.
Create the education section: Many jobs require degrees or certifications, so be sure to include the relevant foundation of your knowledge and expertise. You should include the name of the university/technical school, location, graduation date and degree. Certifications, licenses, publications, or awards should also complete this section.
Don’t forget the soft skills: A great CV contains a mix of hard and soft skills. This section is important for job seekers working in areas that don’t require advanced competencies.
Insert lines: You can insert some strategic lines in order to break up the resume and allow prospective employers or recruiters to better process the information. They are of good help in dividing the main sections of your CV.
The length of the CV is important: Many of my recruitment colleagues say that a resume or CV longer than 2 pages lose their focus on the application. I don’t share this opinion, but everybody is free to choose the number of pages they’d prefer.
Review your CV: Your worst enemy in a job application at this point are grammar or spelling mistakes. Proof several times before sending your CV and don’t forget to check the e-mail text as well.
I sincerely hope that my advice will help you improve your job search.