How Do You Make Sure Your CV Is Saying the Right Things About You?

Have you been applying for jobs and neither getting regrets nor interviews?

Your CV could be saying the wrong things about you. Having a CV is one thing, but having a professional CV that says the right things about you is another thing.

As you write your CV, it’s important to remember that it is a personal statement. It’s primarily a business marketing document and it therefore needs to be professional and positive in tone, content and presentation.

With the job market flooded with many job seekers, how do you then ensure that your CV is giving the right impression?

Here is how you can achieve this;

1. Contact Details

The top of your CV should have your full name, contact details, and address. Some candidates usually write nicknames in this section and this is not the way to go since it gives a bad impression. Avoid fun emails which may make the employer think otherwise of you for example using emails like john@thedrugaddict.com will throw your CV to trash even if you are not a drug addict. Fun emails should only be used for friends and not for employers. Give the correct phone number which will make it easier for employers to reach you when they call. Some job seekers usually give out their family members’ phone numbers and this makes them lose some opportunities.

2. Profile

Show the employer what they are looking for if you possess the required skills.  Avoid soft skills unless you back them with evidence. Do not lie about your skills for the sake of getting a job because employers will know the truth with time.

WATCH THIS

3. Employment History

Give the correct dates of employment history to avoid confusion. Do not give a summary of the information but highlight activities you were involved in that relate directly to the job you are applying for. Include achievements, such as how you met or exceeded any targets set and how you added value to the organization. This could include additional income you helped to generate, costs you reduced, improvements in quality, or the introduction of new ideas. No matter what role you worked in, you should find a way to demonstrate your positive impact on your team, organization, or customers.

4. Relevant Skills and Experience

If your career history or extra-curricular experience is more relevant to the role you’re applying for than your current role, use a heading like “relevant skills and experience” or “career achievements” to bring together the information and evidence. Ensure that this is emphasized in your CV.

5. Avoid The Pitfalls

If you want an employer to get the right impression of you from your CV, then avoid common mistakes which include irrelevant information, unsubstantiated claims, generic information, and grammatical errors. Your CV should demonstrate professionalism and attention to detail.

Conclusion

Your CV should be presented in a professional way for it to portray who you are and if you are suitable for a certain position. Having the correct information will eliminate doubt and it will not force the employers to probe further when doing background checks.

Would you like to write a CV that says the right things about you? Consult professional CV writers for a FREE CV review and be on your way to your next interview!