Having a good CV is probably the most important part of getting a job, the employer will see your CV before they see you. It will introduce you to the employer and is your first chance of making a good impression on them. But it is not that easy, your CV needs to be perfectly tailored to the job you are applying for. After all, it is what will convince the employer that you might be right for the job and land you an interview. A CV is what will make the hiring process easier for both you and the employer.
If your CV showcases the skills relevant to that job, you will get a positive response right away. A carefully devised CV will make the employer believe that you are dedicated and actually interested in the job. To prepare a CV that is tailored to the job you are applying for, the first thing you will have to do is read the job posting to get an idea of what the employer is expecting from you. It will help you immensely if you know exactly the kind of skills that the employer is looking for so that you can include them in your CV. You might not even have the relevant experience required for that job but you can still qualify for it based on your skills. Having a CV that is fully true to your actual experience, skills and interests will also prove beneficial for you. It will save you from being stuck in a job that you do not enjoy or that is not up to your professional standards. Some of the things that you need to keep in mind while writing a CV include:
Accurate Contact information:
This is probably one of the most important parts of your CV and it needs to be 100% correct. If you have recently changed your number or if you have relocated, you should update your contact details in your CV. This is the only information the employer has to contact you and you might miss a chance of landing a great job, that you were perfectly suitable for, just because the employer could not get in touch with you. Add your most recent contact number, the email address you use professionally and your current address. You can also include if you will be willing to relocate. Even if you are not including your full address, you should include your city and state because that will provide the employer with the knowledge of whether you live in the same city or if you will be willing to relocate and if you are, then will the employer have to sponsor you.
Previous Experience:
This is also one of the most important sections of your CV. It should include all of your professional experience and any relevant projects that you have worked on. The work experience needs to be included in the order or your most recent job and then go backward from there. You also need to include what responsibilities you handled in each of your jobs but refrain from including too much detail or making longer sentences. Including the job duties in bullets is best for making the CV readable and precise. A CV should preferably be 2 pages long but if your experience is wide and you have worked a lot of jobs then it can be extended. Make sure the words you use are accurate and easy to understand for the recruiter. If you are a fresh graduate with no job experience, you can include your university or high school projects that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Skills:
Your CV needs to showcase all the skills you have acquired over your life span whether in a professional environment or a personal one. The best way to include the most suitable skills that the job requires is to read the given responsibilities in the job description. This will give you an idea of what skills the job requires and which of them you already have. You might even have skills that you do not usually include in your CV such as if you have ever served as a group leader in a university project then you can include Leadership in your CV or if you are applying for a Teaching job and you have experience in babysitting you can add it to your CV. The skills can also be included in the form of keywords which will make the CV more readable and even ATS optimized.
Why is a CV Important?
A well-written CV can help you land an interview with the employer if it highlights all your best professional features that are relevant for the job. You might have to remake your CV if you are applying for a completely different job so that the CV is relevant. A CV should always make you look like the perfect candidate for the job and ensure the employer that you will be the best fit for the role you are applying for. Although you should not ever include false information in your CV just to get a job because that will work against you in the future and you might find yourself working in a job that does not comply with your interest. It is also important you look up a little about the company you are applying for so that you know if the objectives and values of that company align with your personal values, for example, if the company believes that quantity matters more than the quality but you believe otherwise then working for that company will only cause you trouble in the long run.
A cover letter is also necessary if you are applying for a job because it gives your application a more personalized touch. The interview process is also really important so you should prepare for that beforehand. All in all, a CV holds much significance in the recruiting process and it is worth all the effort you put into making it so make sure that your CV is perfect and demonstrates all your personal and professional skills that will help you land your dream job.