CV Writing Tips

Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is often the very first impression a potential employer gets of you. In a competitive job market, a mediocre CV simply won't cut it. It needs to be a concise, powerful marketing document that highlights your most relevant skills and achievements.

Here are some essential tips to help you craft a CV that gets noticed and lands you an interview.

 

1. Tailor it to the Job

This is arguably the most critical step. Don't use a generic, one-size-fits-all CV.

• Analyze the Job Description: Read the posting carefully and identify the key skills, keywords, and requirements.

• Mirror the Language: Incorporate those keywords naturally into your CV, especially in the "Skills" section and your professional experience summaries. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs, and matching keywords is crucial to pass this initial hurdle.

• Prioritize Relevance: Only include experience and skills that are relevant to the role you're applying for. If a previous job is completely unrelated, consider leaving it out or minimizing its description to just a line or two.

 

2. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties

Recruiters want to know what you accomplished, not just what you were assigned to do.

• Use Action Verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs (e.g., Developed, Managed, Led, Increased, Reduced, Launched).

• Quantify Your Success: Whenever possible, use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to illustrate the impact of your work.

  • Instead of: "Responsible for managing the company's social media accounts."

  • Try: "Increased user engagement by 40% across all social media platforms in six months."

  • Instead of: "Trained new staff members."

  • Try: "Trained and mentored 15 new hires, improving team onboarding efficiency by 25%."

 

3. Keep it Concise and Readable

Brevity and clarity are key. Recruiters often spend only a few seconds on an initial scan.

• Length: For most roles, especially early-to-mid career professionals, aim for a maximum of two pages. If you're a recent graduate, one page is often sufficient.

• Formatting: Use a clear, professional font (like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia) in a readable size (10-12pt). Utilize bullet points and sufficient white space to break up the text and make it easy to scan.

• Structure: Use clear headings (Contact Details, Profile/Summary, Experience, Education, Skills) to guide the reader.

 

4. Perfect Your Personal Profile/Summary

This short section, placed at the very top, is your elevator pitch.

• It should be a 3-4 line paragraph that summarises your professional background, your most relevant skills, and your career goals, all tailored to the specific job.

• Use it to immediately grab the reader's attention and explain why you are a good fit for this role.

 

5. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!

A single typo can make you look unprofessional and careless.

• Check Grammar and Spelling: Use spell-checkers, but don't rely solely on them, as they won't catch words used in the wrong context (e.g., their vs. there).

• Read it Aloud: Reading your CV out loud helps you catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and grammatical errors.

• Ask a Friend: Have at least one other person review your CV for mistakes and clarity before you submit it.

 

A well-crafted CV is your ticket to the interview room. By focusing on relevance, quantifying your achievements, and keeping the presentation flawless, you'll significantly increase your chances of standing out from the crowd.

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