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How To Write A Great CV To Target Your Next Job

By Lisa Osiako

When writing your CV, think of it like a movie trailer – something that brings out the best parts of the movie and makes one want to see the whole movie.

You want to write a good CV that provides information and persuades the one reading your CV to want to learn more about you.

You, however, may be unsure of how best to capture your qualifications and achievements without sounding biased. Writing a perfect CV is something that you may want to do, but don’t know where to begin.

Here are a few things to include to have a good CV that will ultimately get you a job:

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1. Metrics

While it is important to highlight the specifics of your role, if you are not highlighting your achievements, your CV will not be as effective as it should be. Seek to show a potential employer what you have accomplished so that they can get a better idea of what you will bring to the company.

Include as much data and metrics as possible.

Ms Rebecca Nyawira, our professional CV Writer who helps professionals in writing a good CV, advises that some of the questions you should ask yourself in gathering metrics are:

  • How many accounts did you manage?
  • How much in sales volume did you secure? (weekly, monthly, or annually)
  • Did you reduce cost? (either by a percentage or dollar amount)
  • How many clients did you interact with (daily, weekly, monthly, or annually)
  • Did you manage a team? If so, how many team members did you manage?

2. Side Hustles

Have you published a book? Do you manage an online business?

Highlighting side hustles is a good way to give insight into who you are as a person and enables a reader to see another side of you.

They also serve in highlighting related experience, motivation, and the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently. A potential employer can get a better sense of your value as a candidate.

If you’ve had significant accomplishments in your personal life, you should include them to have a good CV, as long as they don’t conflict with the position you’re applying for.

3. Volunteer Work

Do you volunteer every Saturday at a local hospital? Do you spend time offering music lessons? Have you had an unpaid internship?

While you may not be working for profit, volunteer work not only helps you build meaningful relationships but also provides you with valuable experience. This can help you get the perfect CV and make a good impression on employers in showing some of the skills you possess.

The experience you gain may provide you with opportunities to increase your expertise in client-facing communication, multi-tasking, or just provide you with additional industry experience to add to have a good CV.

4. Short Courses, Specialized Training or On the Job Training

Many roles require certain skills such as QuickBooks, Project Management or Digital Marketing. Take a course so that you can get the skills required and stand out in the job market.

Including certifications and specialized training helps highlight your expertise and adds value to you as a candidate. If you can show that you’re well-versed in a qualification or requirement of the position, this will help you stand out from the crowd.

Another thing that you can add to your CV for a position is on-the-job training. Did your company host a training workshop on workplace violence or on specific software that was being implemented? You can include this on your CV.

Any time you took a professional development course, sat in on a seminar, or improved your skillset, it’s worth adding that, to have a good CV.

In Conclusion,

If you have left out any of this information in your CV, this is the time to update it. Read over the job description to familiarize yourself with what the employer is looking for, and include it in your CV. This way, you will have a perfect CV that is ready to get you jobs.

24 Comments

  1. You are helping so may of us. I had my CV improved by Rebecca, i was able to change my job immediately. And since the market is really evolving, i need a touch up.

  2. This is so insightful and coming out at the right time, already making adjustments but I would really wish to send a sample of my resume so that you can rework on what I currently have to make it better and outstanding,I feel that as we respond to your job advertisements on your website on regular basis,
    kindly respond to our applications whether one had been shortlisted or not and advise accordingly so that we can rework on red areas that through us out from the best pool that you so desire.

  3. You people helped me improve my CV last year and i got a new job immediately…now enjoying everything.thanks alot

  4. Happy new year
    This is so informative and will help me market myself
    I have so many short courses i have been omitting in my Cv.
    Hoping for a fruitful year 2020

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