Tips for writing a professional CV

Whilst there are no formal rules for CV writing, there is an expected etiquette or ‘good practice’ to follow, a list of do's and don’ts. This may vary from country to country, but in today’s business market it is likely that you will be applying for jobs with global companies, so it’s important that your CV is internationally accepted.

 Let’s start by looking at content. What to include and what to leave out. Space is a vital commondity on a CV, so we need to use it wisely.

 A CV is not just a list of things you have done, it’s the story of your life. Your story must be set out in an easy to follow format, telling the reader exactly who you and why they should hire you. Many people forget to include relevant achievements that demonstrate key skills, sometimes because they simply don’t realise their importance. Being modest is undoubtedly a good quality in life, but not when writing your CV. Don’t play down your accomplishments! Never lie, but don’t undersell yourself either.

 On the other hand, don’t make the mistake of including unnecessary information that has no value to your application. Here are some authentic examples of things people have written on their CV’s that they should probably have omitted!!

 “I am very detail-oreinted.”

“Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.”

“Graduated in the top 66% of my class.”

“I have a bachelorette degree in computers.”

“Vocational plans: Sea World”

“Excellent memory; strong math aptitude; excellent memory; effective management skills; and very good at math.”

“Married, eight children. Prefer frequent travel.”

“I am a rabid typist.”

“Personal Goal: To hand-build a classic cottage from the ground up using my father-in-law.”

“Never been fired, although it could happen anytime now.”

 As well as content we also need to consider the style and layout of an International CV.

 Never write ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘Resume’ at the top of the page

If the reader doesn’t instantly know what it is without stating it in large font then you have a problem! Space is limited, don’t waste it on the obvious.

 Make sure your CV is one page only!

There are for two reasons for this. Firstly, recruiters are incredibly busy and don’t have time to read a long document, make it short and sharp so you don’t lose their interest!

Secondly, when recruiters receive a CV they often print them, so it’s very easy for second or third pages to get lost.

 Don’t put a photo on your CV

Unless you work in a specific industry, such as acting, a photo is not necessary. Many recruiters have been known to dismiss CV’s that include a photo as they run the risk of being discriminatory. They are supposed to judge you on your skills and ability to effectively do the job, not on how you look.

 Personal details

Put your name and contact details clealy displayed in slightly larger font, centred at the top of the page. It is no longer necessary to write your address – when was the last time you received a letter in the post to invite you for an interview? Nor should you put your nationality or date of birth, they are not normally required and again can be considered discriminatory.

 CV headings

Make the headings clear at the top of each section, either by using bold font or slightly enlarging the font size. Here are the typical headings that should appear on your CV:

 Personal Details / Contact Information

Education

Work Experience

Skills & Qualifications

Personal Achievements / Additional Information

 Dates

Recruiters need to see when you did things, so put the dates you have completed courses, employment or other significant achievements clearly and easily visible at the side of them. Ensure that the dates match up, flowing from one to another, this will avoid recruiters having doubts about gaps in employment or education.

 Bullet points and spacing

It is important the curriculum looks clean and easy to follow, don’t cram information in that is hard to read. Bullet points are effective as they help to separate sentences.

 Keep it simple

You may have heard stories of people who produced a unique CV, big, bold and brash. For every person who may be impressed by your original approach, many more will be put off; taste is a complicated issue, so it’s better to keep your CV simple, logical and effective. Use A4 plain white paper, not coloured paper, and choose a suitable font, that is consistent throughout. The temptation is to use a small font to fit more in, be careful its not too small and looks unprofessional. Never use, for example, the font ‘handwriting’as it can be difficult to read.

 Use positive language to describe your skills

Identify and eliminate common negative phrasing you might be using, such as but, not, can’t, etc. Choose your words carefully and try not to repeat the same ones over and over – use a synonymn. You can find an extensive list of verbs for constructing strong sentences to explain your skills in our earlier post “Skills Inventory”.

Be careful when using technical terminology. Remember, initially your audience is more likely to be HR and not the department you want to work in. Sometimes technical words are necessary but don’t overdo the jargon.

 Double-check everything

Don’t make the same mistakes as those people at the start of the article! Double and triple check everything . You only get once chance to submit your CV, make sure it’s perfect.

 Refresh regularly

Don’t forget to refresh your CV with all your new skills on a regular basis so you don’t forget anything. It’s like any task, if you keep on top of it, it’s much easier to manage!!

 If you would like more information on how we can help you with your CV or interviews, check out our website: www.softskillslanguage.com or contact us on 910 251 789 or 656 455 770 

Want to know more? Read our next article 'The Cover Letter'.