Imagine finding the perfect job opportunity but you do not get any feedback after sending your CV. Ninety percent of the time, this happens because your CV did not give a good first impression.
According to statistics, recruiters take less than 30 seconds to look at CVs. Therefore, to grab the attention of a recruiter with your CV, there are certain things you need to put in place. To be able to land the dream job of your choice, you have to be ready to put in the work and this starts with your CV.
Now, you might have come across companies asking for a resume rather than a CV. This can get you thinking if a resume and a CV are the same thing or are two different things. Well, they are used interchangeably in some cases but a CV and a resume mean different things.
A CV is a more detailed document that contains your work experience, skills, achievements, and some other sections. While a resume is a one-page document of your career experience that is specifically for a job you are applying for. Regardless of their difference, either of them can get you that dream job you desire if you take note of the things mentioned below.
CV Layout
It is essential to choose a CV layout based on the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a job in the finance or banking industry, you would want to go for a simple and one-page CV. However, if you are applying to a tech company, you may want to be innovative and creative with your CV format.
Section 1
Name, contact details, email, and location (if necessary): Your first name should come before your last name. Add your country code at the beginning of your phone number. Cross-check your contact details to be sure you are not missing any numbers. Your email should at least have your name in it. State your present location and if you are looking for a location sponsor. You can add social media profile URLs of platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to show expertise.
Section 2
A captivating and brief summary of yourself: This is important as it would make a good first impression. Your summary is like a pitch that determines if you will be considered for a job. In addition, it determines if the recruiter should keep reading or not. Your fonts and colors used should be consistent. Ensure there is enough white space to make the contents easily readable. Some of the things your CV summary should entail are your work experience, relevant achievements, and future goals you plan to achieve for your career and the organization.
Section 3
Relevant Skills and tools: Write down relevant skills you possess that might be required for the job. This can be hard or soft skills. Based on the job requirements, you can tailor your skill list to meet up with them. If written properly, this section will give you the upper hand over other job applicants.
Section 4
Relevant work experience and achievements: This is a major part of your CV that recruiters would use to decide whether you will get hired or not. In this section, arrange it in this order: job title, company name, duration of time spent in the company, and achievements. Note that your work experience should be arranged in reverse-chronological order i.e from your most recent job.
Section 5
Add an education section: In this section, you can add the following details: program name, university name, and duration of the year attended. Other optional things you can add are GPA and academic achievements.
Section 6
Add other sections: This could be certifications, awards, personal projects, interests, hobbies (with achievements in them), languages, and references.
Cover Letter
After your CV is ready, the next step is to write a cover letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to summarize your professional expertise in a way that would convince your hiring manager or recruiter that you are fit for the job. Here are the things to include in your cover letter: an introduction, qualifications you have, and a “wrap-up” message at the end of the letter.
Interview
Now, here is the most important part. After you have submitted your CV and cover letter, the next step is an interview. To make the interview process seamless for you, here is a compilation of 5 major questions interviewers ask. These questions will help you prepare beforehand:
Tell us about yourself
Why are you the best fit for this job?
Why would you like to work here?
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
How much would you like to be paid?
Conclusion
To land your dream job, there are certain requirements you need. One of them is optimizing your CV to include necessary details like work experience, skills, and accomplishments. This can make you stand out from other ignorant applicants.
In addition, ensure that your CV is tailored to the specific job you are applying for. Do not forget to optimize your cover letter to support your CV. Study common interview questions and research the company you are applying to. With this, you will be able to land your dream job.
