Learn how to write a good CV

According to dictionaries, a CV (curriculum vitae) means " A summary of one’s education, professional history, and job qualifications, as for a prospective employer." In other words, it’s a piece of paper stating who you are and what are you qualified to do, a piece of paper that you send to employers when looking for a job.

The difference between a good and a bad written CV determines whether you pass the HR who screens CVs for a job application or not. Thus, it’s crucial to know the basic rules of putting together a good resume. And that’s exactly what am i going to teach you here: how to write a proper CV.

Writing a CV – basic rules

Nobody can give you a perfect method to write CVs, because in most cases, CVs need to be personalised. But there are some general rules that can be applied:

• a CV should be clearly laid out and easy to read.
• in most cases it should not be longer than an A4 page.
• it must be logically ordered.
• it has to be concise but also informative for the employer.
• it must not contain lies.
• you must pay extra attention to spelling and grammar.

A well written CV should show first what is the most important, but contains all relevant information. That’s why, we can make a distinction between two types of CVs:

• a CV you are going to send to a specific employer that has requested a resume from you.
• a CV you use to apply to all the jobs you find suitable.

The first one needs a little more work. Before writing it, do some research job on the employing company to see if you can find out the qualities they put a high price on. Then, personalize the CV in order to emphasize these qualities and impress them. The second one is easier to write, as it contains the basic information every CV should have.

What sections should you include in a CV?

Speaking of that, what should a CV contain:

•  Personal details – your name and contact information. Use a bigger font for your name and a smaller one for the other details. Also, it is recommended not to include a picture unless it is asked and in this case use one suitable for the job you are applying to.
• Your personal profile:  in a couple of lines write about your skills and qualities. The text should be short and concise, but must spark the reader’s interest.
• Objective (optional). This field is a part of job targeted CVs and is kind of tricky. Should show the employer why are you the most qualified candidate for the position and what you can do for the company more than what the company can do for you.
• Education and work experience. This part of your CV depends on your background and the type of job you’re applying for. If you’ve been working for a while, put your employment history first; if you’re younger and don’t have much work experience, focus on your education and training. On practical experiences, include all your previous work places (with period, position, responsibilities) and also internships if it’s the case.
• Awards received (optional). You can include the Awards received during your career or in school, as long as they are related to the position you’re applying for.
• Languages (optional). List here all the languages you speak, with a grade for conversation, writing and reading skills. Also include any language certificates you might have, like TOEFL, Cambridge or Zertifikat Deutsch, etc.
• Extra skills – write here everything about your skills and areas of expertise. But be careful not to exaggerate or lie about them.
• Hobbies (optional). Hobbies on a CV look nice and show the employer you are a normal sociable person and not just a workaholic. Don’t get into details, just list some of the things you like to do in your spare time.

How should a CV be presented?

Usually, a CV should be printed on a white A4 paper and should be easy to read. Use only one font style, but different sizes: 14 bold for section headings and 12 normal for content should be just ok. Anything smaller is hard to read and everything bigger is just a waste of space (remember, you only have one A4 paper available).  Align the text to the left, as justify and center diminish readability. Don’t use Bold or Italic in content, as they distract attention.

Extra tips about how to write a CV

• pay extra attention to the quality of the paper you’re printing the CV on. Use the best you can find and make sure it’s not dirty or crumpled.
• if you’re CV has more than 1 page, don’t print it on both faces of the paper. Use different sheets for each page.
• don’t lie in your CV. There’s nothing more embarrassing that being caught lying later on.
• try to personalize each CV according to the job you apply to. And even if you send the same CV to several employers, use personalised Cover letters.

Well, that’s about it. If you have other tips or observations, feel free to post them. But for now, i hope this guide helped you learn how to write a better CV than you used to before reading it.

Tags: Internet marketing, job opportunities