The most challenging step of finding a new job is creating a successful CV that is professional and according to the recent CV writing trends.
Most companies will glance over your CV for a few seconds before placing it in their 'interested' pile or dismissing it entirely.
It is harsh, but job hunting is a hard reality. Some positions attract many applicants, and employers do not have the time to read through every CV.
You may be excellent for the job and confident in your ability to give a wonderful interview, but if your CV is not up to par, you will not get very far.
That is why we have listed the top 10 tried-and-true tips for a successful CV to help you avoid the rejection pile! Please take a look at them below.
Keep it short
Successful CVs are concise, clear, and never go on and on. This means using no more than two sides of A4 paper. However, CVs that are longer than this are rarely viewed.
It will not be required to go over your complete career history, so limit yourself to job experience that is relevant to the position.
It is fine to use formatting like bullet points to swiftly showcase your talents and expertise on your CV to show potential employers that you check all the relevant boxes for the criteria they are looking for.
Customise your CV for each position
It is easy to draw out a generic CV and send it out to everyone. It saves time and allows you to apply for many jobs rapidly, but it is unlikely to result in many interviews.
You do not need to make a whole new CV for each job you apply for. Unless you are applying for many different positions, a few minor changes will be enough.
Read the ad carefully, underline the abilities they are looking for, highlight the ones you have, and cross off any that do not apply.
One of the most essential tips for a successful CV is that you should also research the organisation and try to incorporate any principles or characteristics that you believe are significant to them into your CV. For example, the 'About Us' section of the company's website is a fantastic place to start because it often provides its vision, mission, and values.
Include a personal profile on your CV
A personal profile or statement can help you introduce yourself to potential employers and demonstrate why you are a good fit for the position.
It is your chance to tell them about yourself, your qualifications for the job, and why you want to work for them.
This section should be kept brief and simple for creating a successful CV. It would help if you aimed to modify it for each new position you apply for. You should strive to answer these three questions on your personal profile to stand out genuinely:
1. What is your name?
2. What value can you add to the organisation?
3. What are your long-term career objectives?
Be truthful
It may seem like a good idea to overstate your experience if you have trouble getting your CV noticed, but trust us, it is not.
You might get an interview, but you will be discovered sooner or later. Even if you pass the interview, the last thing you want is to start your new job, only to be fired because you lied.
Only include the abilities, knowledge, and experience you genuinely have on your CV. If you feel compelled to lie or exaggerate to secure a job, you are probably not at the ideal stage of your career to be applying.
Provide evidence of your accomplishments
For creating a successful CV, list any significant accomplishments and responsibilities from your former job. This shows employers that you understand their needs and how well you can fulfill them.
If you have numbers and percentages to back up your accomplishments, provide those as well - as long as they are completely accurate!
For example, telling an employer that you raised sales by 50% in five months will offer them a better impression of your abilities than simply saying that you increased sales.
Perfect your presentation
Successful CVs are always well-presented, which means that an employer should be able to scan your CV and discover the information they need.
Calibri, Arial, and Verdana are all excellent choices for an easy to read professional typeface. Under no circumstances should you use a font such as Comic Sans; it belongs in the 1990s!
To divide the different components of your CV, utilise headings. Avoid cramming too much material onto your CV since it can distract eyes from skimming it and lead to critical data being overlooked.
Avoid using bright colours, charts, or graphs since they can be distracting and are rarely read by scanning software. However, the experts believe that there are a few exceptions to this rule here: applicants in fields like Graphic Design, for example, can be more adventurous with their presentation because creativity is a big part of the work.
Explain any gaps
If you have been unemployed for a long time, it is best to include a brief explanation on your CV. However, if you fail to fill a gap, employers may become suspicious of you, and you may be passed over for more forthright candidates.
In the light of the keys to a successful CV outlined by the experts, it is not necessary to go into extensive detail concerning your unemployment. However, if it was because of something you do not want to talk about, such as family concerns, you can simply say you needed to focus on your family and are now ready to return to work.
Mentioning the abilities you learned during this time can help put a positive perspective on job gaps; be sure to add any volunteer work or short courses you took.
Use a positive tone
Consider your CV to be a marketing brochure that you use to pitch yourself to potential employers.
This implies speaking boldly about oneself and using favorable terms to describe yourself and your qualities.
Use positive verbs to describe your activities rather than just your responsibilities when describing your accomplishments. For example, words like 'made,' 'lead,' and 'implemented' are appropriate verbs.
Avoid using clichés
Employers may be turned off by generic phrases like 'flexible,' 'passionate,' or 'hard working' because they do not tell them much about you as an employee and are commonly overused.
Instead, use adjectives like 'adaptable' or 'driven' and demonstrate your work ethic by informing them about all the accomplishments you have made in your profession.
Another key to a successful CV is to avoid unnecessarily cheesy phrases like "superstar" or "rock star" - you may be an Excel superstar in your own eyes, but employers will see you as unprofessional.
Double-check for errors
Do not allow all of your hard work to waste by forgetting to check your CV thoroughly. Employers may perceive typos and mistakes as sloppy, especially if you have been bragging about your attention to detail.
Spell Checkers can be helpful, but they do not always catch everything.
Another key to a successful CV is checking your CV several times for any errors that spellcheck may have missed. It is a good idea to read it aloud to help you concentrate. You might also have someone else go it through to ensure you have not overlooked anything.
Writing a strong CV by following tips for a successful CV is guaranteed to help you get your foot in the door with potential employers, so take the time to update yours and bring it to its maximum potential to achieve your goals.
Photo by Simon Hattinga Verschure on Unsplash
