Sophie Malyon, Partner at Nexa gives insight into the tips and tricks of a strong CV.
A strong CV is your golden ticket to landing your dream job! A well-written CV can be your secret weapon. It’s the first impression when speaking to potential employers and should be impactful, concise, clear and showcase your unique value proposition.
No matter if you are liaising with external or internal recruiters, hiring managers or even submitting your CV via an application tracking system a well-structured and written CV can open doors to exciting opportunities!
The next question is – how do I write that stand out CV? We have you covered! Below are some top tips to craft that winning CV:
Structure is Key: A well written CV must be easy to navigate. Use headings, bullet points and a consistent font & format throughout. A recommended structure is:
- Contact Information
- Summary/ Profile overview
- Education & Training
- Work Experience – in reverse chronological order
- Skills & Expertise
- Additional – items to strengthen application i.e. publications, awards, volunteer work or professional memberships
*Ensure you are using a format that can be read by an applicant tracking system. Avoid fancy fonts or graphics as these can be misread and may be scanned incorrectly by a tracking system.
**Save your CV with a file name that included your full name and the keyword “CV” or “Resume” to make it easy to identify.
𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁: You aren’t generic, so your CV shouldn’t look or feel generic! Take the time to tailor your CV to each opportunity you apply for. Take a look over the job description before applying. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match and are mentioned in the job description. Keywords are key!
Use strong action verbs rather than passive to showcase your achievements.
𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹: Depending on experience level aim for no more than 2 pages. Use clear headings, bullet points, and white space to make your CV easy to scan and read.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Include two forms of contact info for easy reachability. Have these at the top of your CV.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 & 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Typos can be dealbreakers! Always check for spelling or grammar errors. It can be useful to ask a friend or colleague to review for you. Don’t forget to keep it up to date with all your new skills and achievements.
These tips are simple and easy to follow and will help to create a compelling CV that showcases your abilities and skills and will significantly increase your chances of landing your dream job!
