Don’t Ignore These 5 Universal CV Writing Rules If You Want A Job.

“I have been following the articles you post on your website and the videos on your channel and I can say that every day is a learning opportunity. For the past five years, I have been struggling to get a job and I have realized that the problem is neither my experience nor skills but how I represent them on my CV. I have applied for more than 100 jobs and I have gotten less than ten interviews. My friends who had their CVs written through CV writing services in Kenya could apply for ten jobs and they received five interviews. After Everlyne reviewed my CV, she gave me the rules and tips to write a perfect CV. I am working on it and I am sure I will get more interviews.” This was a comment on our website from Walter, an accounting professional who has been looking for a job for a long.

A CV is a snapshot of your career journey and having a stellar CV is a gateway to landing an interview and ultimately your dream job.

Crafting a professional CV that is interview-winning can be a challenge when you don’t know what the employers are looking for.

 Here are 5 essential CV writing rules you need to follow to get an interview invite

1. Give It A Narrow Focus

I interacted with the HR managers and one of the issues they raised was the fact that candidates don’t tailor-make their CVs for a specific role. One pointed out a candidate who has been applying for sales jobs using the same CV for all the jobs and that is the reason why she has never considered her for any role.

When you use a generic CV trying to appeal to many employers, you may end up impressing nobody because employers look for candidates with specific requirements to carry out specific roles hence it is important to ensure your CV has the relevant information.

2. Make It Flawless

Before Walter’s CV was reviewed, there were minor mistakes for instance grammatical errors, and that made the employers doubt his credibility.

For your CV to stand out and land in a shortlisted pile, it needs to reflect a professional language, free of grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes.

3. Make An Instant Impression

“When I open a CV and I don’t see a reason to read through the whole of it, I tend to skip and proceed with other CVs” Said Cathe, an HR Officer.

For instance, Walter’s CV didn’t appeal to the eyes of the employers and that is why he spent a lot of time and resources sending many CVs without being considered. His friends, their CVs were well written and they impressed their employers.

To capture the attention of employers when they receive your CV, it is important to create a career profile that gives the employer a glimpse of who you are and the value you will bring.

4.  Showcase The Value In Your Previous Experience

Among the sections that employers check first is the work experience. Does your experience relate to what they are looking for? Did you achieve results in your previous roles? Are you likely to bring value based on your previous experience? If the answers to these questions are yes, they will invite you to discuss further your suitability.

If you cut the cost, generated revenue, or successfully steered a big project, ensure you highlight them under the achievements section on your CV.

5. Make It Easy To Be Scanned

“I usually use an average of six seconds to scan through a CV and if I identify relevant information that I am looking for, I tend to give it more time before putting it to a yes pile,” said an employer.

A CV that is easy to read makes it easy for the employer to navigate through and pick the relevant information.

“So how can I make a CV simple and easy to read? Walter raised a question. Everlyne mentioned that it is important to use simple language, clear font, break text up into small pieces, and use bullet points to make it easy to digest.

To Wrap-Up

A well-written CV can help you showcase your unique selling points and get you closer to your dream job and by adhering to the above rules; you will impress the employer and get the interview invites.

Wondering how to write a CV that will yield positive results? Our professional CV writers will help you out.