Refresh Your CV With These 6 Easy Steps

Are you looking for a new job or looking to change jobs and have no idea where to start?

Well, the first step is to make some major changes on your CV.

Your CV serves as your first contact with the employer and it, therefore, needs to showcase your experience, skills, and qualifications in a clear manner.

So before you start your job search, revamp your CV and give it a whole new look.

Here are ways to refresh your CV in simple steps.

1.Update your CV format

Hard to believe, but the way you format your CV has a big impact on whether you succeed in your job search or not.

A too complicated format shows that you are trying too hard while a not so done well one may not give the right impression about you. While there are no set rules about how to format your CV, it makes a whole difference if you pay attention to what you want the employer to see first.

If you have a lot of relevant experience to the role you are applying for, let that be the first thing they see.

Avoid cluttering your CV with too much unnecessary information but rather include the most relevant and start with the most important.

If you are a recent graduate, and you do not have much in terms of work experience, you can emphasize on any skills attained in volunteer work or internship or attachment that is relevant to the roles may be applying for.

2.Rewrite your career objective

Your personal statement or career objective is a one-paragraph statement that draws attention to the things that you want a potential employer to notice most about you.

Consider taking your time to getting it right as it sets the tone for the entire CV.

Try and include a few verifiable examples from your career and demonstrate the value and expertise that you are bringing with you.

3.Refresh your work experience

You don’t have to include every position that you have ever held to have a great CV.

If you have got a lot of hands-on experience or have held a lot of positions in different industries, lay emphasis on those positions that are relevant to the job that you are applying for.

By fine-tuning your experience to the most relevant, you will give yourself enough space to include the achievements from your previous positions.

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4.Add relevant industry keywords

Nothing makes for a good CV than demonstrating your knowledge of the industry you want to work in.

You can do this by adding relevant keywords related to that industry.

However, avoid going overboard with this but just add a few words here and there to show the hiring manager that you have a grasp of what you are talking about.

Most hiring managers in Kenya will skim through a CV in a few seconds and so including the right phrases will grab their attention.

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5.Keep the focus on your current job

Hiring managers in Kenya will be interested in knowing where you are currently working and the position you hold, so take your time to explain this in your CV.

Include any accomplishments you have made so far and try to tie them to the job you are applying for.

If you are just out of college, do the same with any attachments, internships or volunteer work you have done or include any achievements you made in your college years.

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6.Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

I cannot stress enough the importance of going through your CV once you are done.

Grammatical or formatting errors are likely to portray you as not having a keen attention to details which is enough to put off a recruiter, so double check your work before sending it.

I hope that these tips on how to refresh your CV in seven simple steps have helped you. For an ultimate CV makeover, why not let us draft you the perfect CV worthy of the current job market in Kenya by emailing cvwriting@corporatestaffing.co.ke.