How to Write an Outstanding CV: 3 Aspects to Keep in Mind
A CV lets the recruiters form their initial opinion about you, so making it stand out from the crowd should be the priority for any job seeker. Although it sounds complicated at first, the secret to making a CV good enough lies in following some simple rules, and this article will take a brief look at them for you.
When writing a CV, it is important to highlight your achievements rather than dryly describing your career path. Your personal accomplishments are more impressive than a dull outline of your job history. You can also highlight your skills and education and ensure your CV is well formatted. Using these tips will make writing your CV a breeze.
Formatting basics to follow
When writing a CV, the document’s format is a crucial step to making it stand out from the rest. The font size and style are important and should be between 10 and 12 points for the body of the text and 14-16pt for the headings. The font should be readable and consistent throughout the document. Use a consistent color scheme, font size, and bulleted lists to keep the document organized.
The most recent role you held should appear prominently. Recruiters want to see that you are in the present. To make your CV look more professional, use bullet points to break up the text and make it easier to read. You can also reduce page margins to fit more information in the top quarter of the page. Adding icons is also a good way to save space and add design flair to your CV.
If you have a long work history as an essay writer or anything similar, consider splitting it into sub-sections. For example, your publications section could be divided into books, journal articles, and academic papers. The same thing goes for your hobbies and other relevant experiences.
How to describe your education
The education section of your resume should include the name of the school you attended and the degree you obtained. You should also include any honors or special awards you’ve received while pursuing your studies. Your education section should be concise and consistent. You can find resume examples to understand better what to write. If you’re a high school student, include your extracurricular activities or volunteer work as well. You can even place them before the education section.
The order of the sections on your resume will depend on your experience level. If you’re a recent graduate, you may want to prioritize your education section above your work experience. However, if you’ve already accumulated much experience, you can put the education section after your work experience. When formatting the education section of your resume, keep in mind the rule of relevance, which states that the most relevant qualifications are listed first.
If your education is unrelated to your work experience, including it on your resume could be detrimental to your job search. Moreover, employers may think that your degree is of little importance. Therefore, leaving this section off the resume can sometimes be beneficial.
How to include your work experience
Your work experience should be in a different CV section from your academic background and interests. If you’ve worked at various companies, include a brief description of your job responsibilities and your years of employment. This section of your CV should be short and concise. This section can be used to describe your skills and achievements in a job interview. Make sure to use positive and assertive language when describing your previous jobs.
In the work experience section, highlight your most relevant experience. Include at least three to seven bullet points and begin with a high-level overview. Use bold text to attract the employer’s attention, as well as 1-2 colors, fonts, and heading sizes for the bullet points.
It is important to remember that students don’t need to have five or more years of work experience. It is okay to have internships or volunteer activities related to the job. It also helps if you list any noteworthy achievements. If you’ve worked for a nonprofit organization or volunteered at a conference, include those activities as well.