How to write a CV in a post-pandemic world

What exactly is a curriculum vitae?

A curriculum vitae, or CV, is a document used when applying for jobs. It enables you to summarise your education, talents, and experience, allowing you to successfully pitch your abilities to prospective employers. Employers typically need a cover letter in addition to your CV.

CVs are known as résumés in the United States and Canada. These papers are often shorter and do not adhere to any specific formatting guidelines.

How long should a CV be?

In the United Kingdom, a normal CV should be no more than two sides of A4.

That being said, one size does not fit all. A school leaver or recent graduate, for example, might only need to use one side of A4. Although it is not commonly utilised, a three-page CV may be required for individuals in high-level positions or for those who have earned a lot of experience or worked in many companies in the previous five to ten years. Some medical or academic CVs, for example, can be longer depending on your experience. While it is critical to keep your CV brief, you should also avoid selling your experience short.

To conserve space, please provide the most important aspects of your education and experience. Stick to pertinent material and avoid repeating what you mentioned in your cover letter. If you're having trouble editing your CV, consider if particular material sells you. If it doesn't, remove it. If it isn't relevant to the position you're going for, eliminate it, and if it's outdated information from 10 years ago, sum it up.

What Should Be Included in a CV

Include your entire name, home address, phone number, and email address in your contact information. Your date of birth is unimportant, and you do not need to attach a photograph unless you are looking for an acting or modelling job.

A CV profile is a brief statement that emphasises your essential characteristics and helps you stand out from the crowd. It is usually included at the top of a CV and highlights a few key achievements and abilities while expressing your professional goals. Because your cover letter will be job-specific, an excellent CV profile focuses on the industry you're applying to. Keep CV personal statements brief and succinct - 100 words is the ideal amount. Learn how to write a personal statement on your resume.

Education - Include any past education, including professional degrees, and date it. Put the most current at the top. Include the qualification type/grades as well as the dates. Only mention individual modules when they are important.

Work experience - List your work experience in reverse chronological order, making sure that everything you provide is relevant to the position you're applying for. Include your employment title, company name, length of time with the organisation, and import duties. This part should appear before schooling if you have a lot of relevant job experience.

Skills and accomplishments - This is where you discuss the foreign languages you speak and the IT products you know how to operate. The primary abilities you describe should apply to the job. Don't overestimate your talents because you'll be required to back up your assertions during the interview. If you have a lot of job-specific talents, create a skills-based CV.

Interests - 'Socialising,' 'going to the movies,' and reading will not pique a recruiter's interest. Relevant interests, on the other hand, may present a more complete picture of whom you are while also providing you with something to talk about during an interview. Examples include producing your blog or community bulletins if you want to be a journalist, participating in a theatre club if you want to work in sales, and your engagement in climate change action if you want to work in the environment. If you have no relevant hobbies or interests, skip this area.

References - At this point, you are not required to give the names of referees. You can say references available upon request,' but most companies would assume this, so if you're short on space, leave this out.

CV layout

Avoid using the terms 'curriculum vitae' or 'CV' in the title. It's a waste of room. Instead, use your name as the title.

Section titles are an effective approach to organising your CV. Make them more noticeable by making them bigger (font size 14 or 16) and bold.

Fonts like Comic Sans should be avoided. Choose a professional, clear, and easy-to-read font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. To ensure that potential employers can read your CV, use a font size of 10 to 12. Make certain that all typefaces and font sizes are consistent throughout.

Everything should be listed in reverse chronological order. The recruiter will then look at your job history and most recent accomplishments first.

Use precise spacing and bullet points to keep it succinct. This sort of CV formatting enables potential employers to swiftly browse your CV and identify the most crucial information first.

When saving, give the document a name rather than simply storing it as 'Document 1'. Make sure the document's title is professional and identifies you, such as 'Joe-Smith-CV.'

Always save and submit as a PDF file extension. Unless otherwise specified in the job posting (for example, it may request that you submit your CV and cover letter as a Word document),

If you're sending your CV through email, print it on white A4 paper - Only print on one side of your CV, and don't fold it if you don't want it to come crumpled.

How to Write a Good CV

When possible, use active verbs. Include terms like 'made,' 'analysed,' and 'devised,' for example, to promote oneself as someone who takes initiative.

A good CV is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Use a spell checker and have a second set of eyes go through the paper.

Avoid using trite, overused terms like 'team player,' 'hardworking,' and a multitasker.' Instead, give real-world instances that exhibit all of these abilities.

Personalize your CV. Examine the company's website and social media accounts, check if they've been covered in the local paper recently, and utilise the job advertisement to ensure your CV is tailored to the role and employer.

Create the best sort of CV for your situation. Determine if a chronological, skills-based, or academic CV is appropriate for you.

Make sure your email address comes across as professional. Create a new account for professional usage if your address is unacceptable.

Don't overstate or lie on your CV or job application. You will not only demonstrate your dishonesty to a possible employer but there may also be significant consequences. Changing your degree grade from a 2:2 to a 2:1, for example, is considered degree fraud and can result in a prison sentence. Take a look at this student to advise and information about degree fraud.

If you submit your CV online, do not disclose your home address since you may be targeted by scammers.

Always include a cover letter unless the employer specifies it differently. It will allow you to customise your application. You can highlight a specific section of your CV, identify a handicap, or explain gaps in your job history.

What can be done to fill the void left by the COVID-19 pandemic?

The first thing you should know is that COVID-19 has thrown thousands of students' career goals off course, and you are not alone. Career-enhancing activities such as work experience, internships, and volunteering have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the epidemic. Let us set your mind at ease if you're concerned about the corona-shaped gap on your CV.

Employers are fully aware of the difficulties posed by lockdowns, and they will not expect you to have completed a length of work experience during this time. Having said that, you might still show potential employers how you spent this time properly, demonstrating yourself to be a proactive, diligent, and resilient applicant.

You may mention something like:

Online courses you have taken.

New skills you have acquired such as coding.

Volunteering activities such as visiting and shopping for vulnerable neighbours or caring for small siblings or elderly relatives charity work - perhaps you became engaged with fundraising or increasing awareness of a certain organisation

New activities, such as beginning a vlog, taking up a sport, learning to cook, or establishing a communal book club

Remember, you'll need to link them to the job you're going for, so concentrate on the abilities you learned through these activities and how/why they'd be valuable.

The location of this information is determined by the actions. Volunteering or charitable work might be counted as 'job experience.' Online courses and further qualifications can go in the 'Education' area, while any new talents you've learnt should go in the 'Skills and accomplishments' part. If you develop any new hobbies that are relevant to the job you're looking for, list them in the 'Hobbies and interests' area.