How to make a CV to get a job in 2019?

When you are approaching towards the end of your bachelor's degree, you start to look for internships or jobs because now you are approaching to the next chapter of your life and that what we call the "real practical life". So it was the case for me as well. When I was in the 3rd year of my BBA degree, I had to do an official internship to get graduated.

At that time, I haven't even thought about working for a company. I never had a thought about it. I was like a carefree person who had lots and lots of dreams but execution or action to make those dreams come true was not even on the list. It is said right:

Luck is when opportunity meets preperation.

 But here, it was something else. Living in dream life with the perception that, HUH! who will not give a job to me, I am a student of the prestigious university in Pakistan. But, the reality is the total opposite. It is correct many companies hire on the bases which university you are from but only if you have:

1. Experience
2. Extracurricular activities
3. A CV.

So lets to the analysis. Did I had experience? No! (negative marking). Did I had done some extracurricular activities? No! (negative marking). The most important question: DO I HAVE A CV? No! Out of the league. But wait!

I had lots of friends who had taken part in extracurricular activities and had a CV but they were still not getting jobs. Experience can be neglected for internships as we were soon to be fresh graduates. Now, what is this? Where is the problem? You might be thinking till now that I am just making this up, but I am not. It is all real.

So where does the problem lies?

After some research, I found many statistics to prove that the problem was with our CVs. Yes with our CVs. A single-page document which contains your basic information with your skills, hobbies, and experiences. This is what we send to recruiters/hiring managers/HR people to see and make a perception about us, even without knowing us, that will this candidate suits for this position or not.

Let me share with you some stats first.

1. There are a total of 95000 registered companies in Pakistan. (Techjuice)
2.  Every year Pakistan produce 445,000 university graduates. (Wikipedia)

This means that the chances of a student get a job right after graduating is 21.5% only. So it is pretty evident that the competition is very high. Now, what about CVs?

Let me share some stats about CV and HR:

1. HR gives only 6 -10-sec view on a CV.
2. If you have made a grammar mistake in a CV, chances to get a job lower by 60%.
3. Companies have installed Applicant Tracking System to lower the burden of HR.

There are many stats which I can share but this is not the right place.

So now what to do? Make a good attractive CV.

How to make a CV?

Many people get confused with the size of the CV that how long it should be and so on. But they do not focus on the content. Every industry might have there owned typical formats but every format have the following basic rules which you must follow.

1. Name and a Meaningful Heading:

Your name is a must. It has to be prominent and easily visible. You know the importance of your name but what is this heading? Well, a heading is the one or two or three words which easily tells the recruiter what do you do or for which job opening you have applied for.

2. Correct contact information:

Provide correct contact information to your recruiter. I have heard stories from many recruiters that, "We liked a candidate and we wanted to call him for an interview. When we dialed his number, it was an incomplete number". Don't you make this mistake? Here in the contact information include the following:

1. Correct Phone number.
2. Correct Professional Email Address.
3. Just the name of the area you have residence.
4. LinkedIn link or if you have a personal website then provide it's link.

3. Compelling Summary:

Nowadays, a recruiter is still interested in looking at a 3 to 4 line paragraph which you write in a CV just to have quick know-how about you. Here many people write something like this.

But instead of this, it is recommended to write what you can offer to the company so that they can have an idea what this candidate has done and how he can be beneficial for us.

4. Relevant experience with time period:

Many times, due to any reason when you are not able to find a job, you do like teaching but you are a civil or mechanical or software engineer. So let's say for a year you did teaching in a school. Now you are applying for Trainee civil engineer, will you add your teaching experience in it or you will not? Hmm... You said that you will add it right? You see, I know many people love to add everything that they have done or accomplished in life but it makes your CV so much crowded that the HR manager gets a headache if he keeps on reading your CV to find the relevant information. Remember 6 - 10-sec rule of HR? Here it helps them.

Add only the experience which is relevant for the job you are applying for and leave the rest for the interview. Just add the experience from current to last with dates. And don't forget to check spelling of the company as well. It's a big turn-off for the HR.

5. Relevant Education & Accomplishments & Rewards:

Now it's the time for you to add your education, accomplishments, and rewards which you have achieved in your life so far. Again, the dates are important. Add them from current or recent to last but only those which are relevant. Not your School or College as well. Like example, You are applying for Manager Marketing, why would you add in your education "Diploma in Software Engineering"? Does this make sense?

Now you all will be thinking about what I am doing nowadays? Well, I am the Co-Founder & CEO of Academic & Career Excellence. We help you get all your problems solved related CVs and LinkedIn.

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