Revealed! Burning Questions On CV Writing Answered

By Ruoro Kairu 

Over the past month, we have been looking at some of the mistakes that you could be making while writing your CV that could harm your job search process.

Have you seen a mistake in your CV? Have you been going about it the wrong way?

In today’s continuation, I shall address some of the questions you have asked in the last month through the series.

Juma asks, “How should I list my education and professional background? Is it from the most recent or the oldest? Also, if I have one that stands out, can I start with it even if it’s out of order with the rules?”

This is a valid question. I see many people who send their CVs with the educational and professional experience listed in all manner of ways.

I spoke to Ms. Brenda, a professional CV writer. Here’s what she had to say, “You should always start with the most recent position you’ve held. The same goes for education.”

While recruiters and employers are interested in seeing all your qualifications and experience, they want to see what you did most recently in reference to the position you’ve applied for.

Mary asks, “I took a break to take care of my sick mother two years ago. She got better after a year and three months. But all this time, I hadn’t been working. Should I list it on my CV (that I was out of employment for 15 months) or will employers overlook this?”

Employment gaps are a key issue in the job search process. Whether you had been fired, took a sabbatical, or you have been out of employment for a notable amount for time, you should have a way of addressing it. If an employer sees a substantial gap on your CV, they might end up making an assumption that could cost you your job.

Additionally, you should not be tempted to stretch out dates of your previous employment so you can cover up employment gaps. Recruiters and employers today carry out an extensive background search. If they find you’ve lied for how long you’ve worked in an organization, your application might end up being rejected.

Lucy says, “I have been unemployed for two years. I have been looking for a job with no success. Most days, I’ll send my CV to over 30 companies. But I barely hear from any of them. Please help me understand what I’m doing wrong.”

Many times, desperation can get the better of us. It is not strange to wake up and feel like you want to apply for every job you see.

Firstly, only jobs you qualify to have a genuine chance of responding. Many at times, when you apply for jobs not in your field, or ones you don’t qualify for, you’ll likely never hear from the employer.

Secondly, recruiters and employers are most of the time looking for a few very specific skills. When you send your CV to a dozen employers, you miss out on the chance of customizing your CV to fit the job description. Every CV you send should be customized with the keywords specific to the job or industry.

When sending your CV, prioritize on quality rather than quantity.

Jack asks, “I have listed all my qualities –team player, hardworking, detail-oriented etc., on my profile summary. Does this help my case or does it make my application look cliché?”

To answer this question, I sought Ms. Ida, one of our recruitment managers. Here’s what she had to say; “There are some applicants who’ll even include a quote from Winston Churchill or Shakespeare. This not only looks cliché, but it eats into space you can otherwise utilize. The profile summary is among the first things we see when we open your CV, it should, therefore, include relevant and objective information about you.”

In the introduction segment, quickly mention which industries you’ve excelled in, and the skills you can offer the company and the new role.

Ultimately, your CV will determine whether you’ll be called into an interview or not. How you tailor it, the words you use, the format you employ will all go into seeing how professional the CV is.

To have a CV that will get you called into interviews, consider the advice offered by our CV writing and recruitment professionals. To have your CV professionally written, email our CV writing specialists on cvwriting@corporatestaffing.co.ke.

What other questions would you like us to address in regards to CV writing? Share with us in the comments section below.