A WINNING CV, YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION
A “winning CV” or resume is an important part of finding a new
job. Let us back up and say, that…unless you have a good well-constructed
Curriculum Vita or without a good CV, you are wasting your time…certainly when
it comes to job hunting! CV is a useful tool in opening doors to those elusive interviews;
it is also a confidence builder and therefore a vital document in
finding a good job.
Remember, you only get one chance to make a lasting first
impression...make sure your CV doesn’t let you down!
WHAT IS A
CURRICULUM VITEA?
Definition: A curriculum vitae, also
known as a CV, includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds
as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations,
awards, honors, affiliations and other details.
In the United States, a curriculum vita is used primarily when
applying for academic, education, scientific or research positions. It is also
applicable when applying for fellowships or grants.
CONTENTS OF A WINNING CV
What is the basic information a CV must contain to be judged a
winning CV? To answer this question you must have one thing in mind; the
employer has hundreds if not thousands of other CVs like yours to scan through
in less than one minute for each. So, your CV should be tailored to the
recruiting officer’s need, as such must be highly captivating. Your CV must be
able to capture his attention if you hope to exceed the first stage of the job
selection process.
WHAT ARE THE
BASIC CONTENTS OF CV?
- Heading - This should be your name instead of Curriculum Vitae as most applicants are used to. Please note: You must not write Curriculum Vitea on top of your name. The CV itself is a curriculum vitea.
- Your address - Which should be traceable (NOT P.O. Box) as most employers reject such CVs automatically.
- Carrier Objectives - This should be applied precisely to the position advertised. So do some digging into the organization before writing this. Your carrier objectives should be tailored to suite the company’s objectives (mission and vision) e.g. to provide leading edge services that will add value to my organization’s corporate goals, with undiluted passion for excellence.
- Education - List all academic degrees beginning with the degree in progress or most recently obtained. Include name of institution, city and state, degree type (B.A, B. Sc, MA, MBA etc), area of concentration, month and year degree was (or will be) awarded.
If you are an
undergraduate and your GPA is 3.5 and above, it will be appropriate to include it.
- Certifications - List all relevant certificates and the year you received them e.g. ICAN, Oracle certified etc.
- Relevant experience - List positions (part-time, full-time, volunteer, temporary, and permanent) related to the type of job sought: include department; organization complete name, city, state, and job titles/positions and dates.HOT TIP: Also include a brief description of your activities/duties using strong action verbs such as developed, achieved, encountered etc
· Other experiences - You can also
group other experiences not related to
the job you are applying for in order to enhance your chances. They may be broken down into other categories such
as; Teaching, Counseling,
Administration, internship, community services etc
·
Professional memberships - This also enhances your chances of being shortlisted. WHY?
Because it proves your professional inclination. It could be a national,
regional, state, or local professional organization.
· Take note! Student memberships in professional associations are highly
looked out for by employers.
· Others include - Honors and awards, publications, hobbies (relevant to the job
applied), Recent or current research, presentations, grants received.
TIPS FOR WRITING
A WINNING CV
How to write a winning CV (Curriculum Vitae)
Think of your CV as your shop window – it must effectively display
your experience, skills and qualities in a very short period of time. The
following tips are listed below.
1. Keep it short and clear
Before you start, choose the right structure for your CV. The most
important information, such as your key skills and recent experience, needs to
be near the top, where it can be seen straightaway. Sections you usually need
to include are your Profile, Achievements, Experience, Special Skills
(languages / computers), Education, Training, and (if you wish) Interests. Your
CV should normally be two pages in length (unless you have a very long career
or you are a contractor or the recruiter asks for a longer CV).
2. Make it look good
Clear, attractive presentation is also important if your CV is to
stand out. Ensure that it’s uncluttered, with key points easy to spot. Use
bullet points and keep the sentences relatively short. Plenty of ‘white space’
around the borders and between each section keeps the document easier on the
eye.
3. Most recent first
Put your employment history in date order, starting with the most
recent first. Avoid leaving any gaps, so if you’ve had time out for some
reason, do mention this. Don’t go into detail about positions you held over 10
years ago. Include details of holiday or temporary work only if it’s relevant
to the job you’re applying for.
4. Include many facts
List your job duties beneath each position. List your
achievements, responsibilities and results. Talk about results – what
difference did your presence make? Use numbers for achievements wherever
possible, e.g. “Boosted sales by 20% in first year”. And always write in a
slightly formal manner and never use the word “I” – e.g. “Supervised the team”
rather than “I supervised the team”. Use the past tense for previous jobs and
the present tense for your current job.
5. Not too many lists
Include specific skills, such as languages, administrative or
computing skills, in a separate section in your CV. Don't relist them for every
job you've used them in. This is particularly so for IT work - lists of tools
and packages make dull reading and won't make you stand out from other people
with the same abilities.
6. Breath some life into it
Remember the employer wants a sense of the kind of person you are,
as well as what you can do. Are you punctual, conscientious, or motivated? Do
you rise to a challenge? With each point you write, ask yourself "What
does this say about me?"
7. Be accurate
Always check for errors. Run a spelling and grammar check and ask
someone else to read it for you. Read it aloud to the dog. The employer isn't
going to believe you're a good communicator if your CV is full of mistakes.
8. Adapt it
You don't have to use the same CV every time. You can have two or
three versions, each for a different kind of job. Or you can tailor your CV to
suit the job you're applying for. It isn't a case of one size fits all.
9. Send a covering letter
Unless the advert tells you not to, always send a covering letter.
This should highlight the two or three areas of experience from your CV that
are most relevant to the advertised job. Never send your CV out on its own.
10. Be truthful
Although you obviously want to present yourself well, don't go too
far and embellish the truth. It can easily backfire on you.
More tips is coming on this topic.
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