On one hand, searching for a job is exciting and full of thrilling possibilities. On the other, there are also a lot of stressful situations you must contend with through the process. It is a roller coaster of intense hope and disappointment every time you hit send on an application. Although a positive outcome is mostly based on fortune when job seeking, a good CV increases the chance by 80%.

Even when you have a plethora of skills, experience, and achievements, they need to be showcased the right way. Our guide is going to show you what exactly is the best way to write a cv.

Tips to Write a Good CV

Following these guidelines will help your CV to stand out from the rest. It can assist even those job seekers who haven’t yet had any prior professional experience. Let’s go ahead and learn how to craft an effective CV to land you that interview.

• Carefully choose the format

It is a fact that every time you are job seeking, there are at least 250 other candidates competing with you.  It is certainly a daunting thought to be able to outdo such a lot of opponents.

Now also consider it from the recruiter’s perspective.  If you are reviewing an average of 250 applications, will you read each one thoroughly? The honest response would obviously be in negative. Recruiters are only likely to spend six seconds on a CV before moving on to the next. Being one of 250 applicants your window for impressing the hiring personnel is six seconds long. Formatting plays a huge role at this point.

A properly formatted CV exudes confidence and professionalism. If it is uncluttered the eye will instantly latch on to the important sections like skills and achievements. Following are some tips for accurate formatting when creating a cv:

1. Order each section neatly (header, personal profile, work experience, educations, skills, additional sections)
2. Fonts should be clear and legible with single spacing and 12 point in size. Titles and names can be 14-16 pt font size.
3. The layout should be cohesive. Set inch wide margins of all four sides and avoid using italics or underlines.
4. Use as much white space as suited for the design to look neat and legible.
5. Do not include photos unless specifically required.
6. Make sure that all information remains relevant and brief.

• Add contact details the correct way

The document will begin with your contact information section which although easy, is very necessary to get absolutely right. Apart from your full name, professional title, email, and telephone, also include your LinkedIn profile. Recruiters most often do a background check of their candidates these days. So, make sure your professional social media is up to date and impressive when handing them the information. This does impact their final decision considerably.

• Personal profile

This part is also referred to as a CV summary or objective. Give your best shot at this brief paragraph as it can turn things in your favor. Tell the organization what exactly your offer can them as an employee.

There is also a slight difference between CV summary and CV objective which we should mention. An objective focuses on your skills and how they make you perfect for the role. This is best for candidates with little previous experience. While a CV summary highlights your achievements and progress which is recommended for seasoned professionals.

• List relevant job experiences and achievements

The work experience section gets the most attention from the hiring manager. So, instead of merely listing the details you need to make them stand out. Focus on measurable achievements instead of what your duties were. Use verbs like analyzed, created, and implemented to describe your work. It is essential to tailor your document according to the job description. Display those skills on the forefront which they have specifically mentioned.

• Building the academic section

This is relatively the simplest section of your CV. Educational information should be in the following sequence:

1. Year of graduation (if currently studying then enter the expected date)
2. Degree
3. Institute’s name
4. Honors (optional)

Begin from your post-secondary education details. Only include high school information if you do not have any other degrees to mention.

• Consider relevancy when showcasing your skills

 You probably have a great many skills gathered from educational and work experiences.  It is not a good idea to list them all on your CV. Staying relevant is the key point to make the best out of this section. Make a list of your professional skills on a separate page and determine which fits the role accurately. A mix of 4-5 hard and soft skills will provide a balanced overview of your capabilities.

• Additional Sections

You must be wondering what to write in this section if you are new to CV writing. Well, the additional section is a part to show anything further you have to offer. It might not be directly related to the role but it still, demonstrate your value as a candidate. Here are some examples:

1. Professional awards and certifications
2. Any conferences and industry related major events you were a part of
3. Extra training in your field
4. Publications

A well-written additional section can tip the scales in your favor. It will set you apart from candidates that come from similar backgrounds so make the most out of it.

Conclusion

We are sure that our guidelines about how to write a good CV will be transformative for your career. We also recommend getting professional assistance if you find yourself pausing at some point.

At Custom CV, our professional CV writers are more knowledgeable of the ongoing industry trends and requirements of employees. Therefore, we design your CV to meet all the expectations of the modern-day industry. Hiring policies change rapidly which is why your CV must be prepared for digital and human scanning.

Rest assured, following our tips will help you land an interview soon enough. But landing a role that is perfect for you does take time. Therefore, practice patience and remain positive through the process.