How to Write a Perfect CV

When it comes to writing a CV, the basics are the same as for any other job application: work experience, education, personal profile, and references. Your academic achievements should be listed in reverse chronological order, with the highest listings being your university or college degrees and the final high school examination you passed. You should also list any relevant thesis topics, especially if they are related to the job you’re applying for. In addition, demonstrating your proficiency in a foreign language will give you an edge over other candidates, especially if you’re not a native English speaker.

Work experience

Work experience is a crucial section of a CV, but it can be difficult to include in the right way. It’s best to keep it brief, focusing on positions held over the past one to five years. This section of the CV is not the place to exaggerate your achievements; instead, make sure the hiring manager will quickly get an idea of your capabilities in a short period of time.

The best way to summarize work experience is to make the description of each position bullet-pointed. Start your bullet points with a high-level overview and then list common duties and responsibilities. Afterward, list two to three significant achievements in bullet form. These achievements should be measurable and should show how you performed in the role.

Your CV should not exceed two pages. Ensure it has relevant work experience and any additional experience you may have. It is also important to highlight titles held and key achievements. You should also include a professional website and a voicemail message. Your CV should contain the title of your current role, the date you applied for the position, and your name.

Relevant work experience is any experience you have gained that relates to the type of job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a software engineer, make sure to include any relevant jobs you’ve held. However, if you’ve held a paralegal role for many years, you shouldn’t include that on your resume.

If your work experience is not extensive, you should list your most recent three employers. Depending on the job, you may want to list a few years or add some explanation for a gap. Make sure to list your job titles with dates to avoid confusion. It’s also best to avoid using acronyms.

You can also include volunteer work, charity work, and online courses in your CV. It is best to put these under the ‘Work experience’ heading. Be sure to note the achievements separately and include the date and place. It’s also a good idea to include your hobbies and interests if you can. If you’re unsure of how to list your achievements, consider consulting with a career adviser or your university’s careers service.

Personal profile

The personal profile is an important part of your CV. It should focus on your soft skills and highlight your relevant personal attributes. Do not list hard skills unless you have them. Instead, you should include relevant personal attributes that relate to the type of position you’re looking for. The personal profile should be brief and highlight your most important achievements.

Personal profiles should not be longer than a page. If you need more space, you can add another page, but make it short enough. Generally, CVs should be a page long, and two pages are okay if it’s needed. Remember, people don’t want to read your life story, so keep it short. Your CV should also have clear section headings and a consistent font size. Make sure you choose a font that stands out and is easy on the eye.

After your skills and achievements, list your job titles and roles. If you have worked at different companies, list their names, not the entire work history. In the work experience section, use action verbs, such as managed, led, organised, and demonstrated. These words will show employers that you can deliver on the responsibilities.

A graduate CV and personal profile can be more detailed. For example, an IT manager CV profile may include details about their previous experience as a teacher. It might also highlight their technical expertise and their ability to work with non-technical staff. It can be more interesting to outline how they can benefit from their skills.

The personal profile is a critical part of the CV. It is your chance to set your stall within a few seconds. If you want to stand out from the competition, your personal profile should be concise, focused, and relevant to the job you’re applying for. It should also be focused on your career objectives.

In addition to your CV, you should also add your social media handles. For instance, LinkedIn is an excellent option for building your online profile, but it’s important to remember to optimize it and make it look clean. Make sure to proofread it for grammar and spelling errors. Moreover, don’t forget to include references and additional cover letters.

References

In the first place, you need to make sure your references are still working for the same company and have the same job title. If they have moved on, you should list their new job title in the reference section. It is also important to include their full names and the name of the company they are working for. To make this section more impactful, include their names in bold and italics.

Your references should also have contact information and the email address they have used. The phone number should be listed first, and the email address should be listed second. Next to the phone number, you should add the extension codes for private offices. Providing this information will help your references understand what you’re trying to communicate to them.

Once you have listed your references, you need to reach out to them and thank them for their time. Remember to reach out ahead of time, as references are busy professionals and may not be available at short notice. When you send them an email asking them to provide references, you need to use a professional format and make sure the subject line is direct and the contact details are clear. You should also use the same format for your reference emails as you would when addressing a business letter.

The best references are those in the industry who are not related to you in any way. They should not be your direct supervisors or friends, and they should not be biased or unprofessional. Instead, they should be people you know well and who have been able to speak favorably about you.

Remember to add references when you are submitting your CV. When listing your references, be sure to list them alphabetically and include their names. It is also a good idea to list your academic and professional references separately. Remember to mention their full names as well as their current jobs. You can also add their contact information, as it is a standard practice.

References are extremely important in the job search process. They can help you highlight your achievements and impress potential employers. It is also crucial to list references who are reputable in the industry or the company.