Write a CV that Grabs the Attention of Your Employer 

Whether it’s the first job of your career or the 5th one you’re planning to switch, the first thing you might need is a CV. A CV or Curriculum Vitae is a detailed document that highlights your professional and academic history and achievements. Many employees don’t even get a call for an interview because their CV looks bad. CV is the most crucial document that helps you pass the screening stage and sometimes a direct job! That being said, creating a proper CV is no easy task. A good template doesn’t necessarily form a good CV. There are a few things a candidate must know to create a CV that truly showcases or highlights the employee properly.

A comprehensive list has been compiled of how to write a proper CV in 2021:

1. When is a CV Required? 

While 9 out of 10 jobs require a CV from the candidates, a few jobs don’t require one. For example, internships. So, make sure you know if the job you’re interested in requires a CV to apply. Some jobs often simply require recommendations and references. Sometimes a recommendation from a verified and qualified source can have more authority over a CV. But that doesn’t mean CVs are not that important. On the contrary, other than these few cases, every other time when you will be required to apply for a job that needs a CV. Just make sure to know when you don’t need one, and it will save you from a lot of hassle.

2. Pick the best CV format 

An average CV requires the following: Contact Information, Objective or Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, and Additional Sections. Different job sectors require you to highlight different aspects of your CV. This means you’ll have to slightly modify your CV format depending on the job you’re applying for. The modification is never too vast or something completely different. It’s just mentioning and highlighting relevant information that may interest the recruiter.

3. Add your contact information the right way 

Make sure your contact information is added properly to your CV. The information should not be so obnoxious that it sticks out like a sore thumb. But it also shouldn’t be negligible when screening. Nowadays, people write down their contact information on either the left or the right side of their CV. This way it doesn’t distract the recruiter from seeing your information.

4. List your relevant work experiences & key achievements 

People with prior work experience at the same job or job sector will get prioritized by the recruiters first. The more experience and achievements you have, the better your chances are of being recruited or called for an interview. So, it’s a good idea to list your experiences and achievements chronologically on your CV. Bear in mind to only include relevant information. A school teacher’s job doesn’t require you to mention your bike riding skills.

5. Start with a CV personal profile (CV summary or CV objective) 

It’s always a good idea to start with your Objective or summary when writing a CV, as that is what the recruiter is going to read first. Recruiters don’t read long narratives and dismiss short summaries. So, make sure your objective or summary is precise, brief, and to the point. A good summary or objective can express a lot in just one line.

6. Build your CV education section correctly 

Your educational background needs to be added perfectly to your CV. It is often a deciding factor in jobs with higher pay. The higher the pay, the more requirements there are for you to fulfill, and education is just one of them. Make sure to add specific dates of graduations and admissions. You could try adding a few lines about your education under each institution you mention, just to express yourself a little better. 

7. The Skill Sets Should Fit the Company’s Requirements 

Suppose you’re applying to be a restaurant manager and you have a year of experience in it. Simultaneously, you are also skilled as an artist. But these skills, if mentioned in the CV, will only confuse the recruiter who’s screening it. A man who is a jack of all trades can have various skills, enough to fill his CV to the brim. But that won’t help him/her to get the relevant job simply because those irrelevant skills don’t have any value to a recruiter who is only looking for a specific skill set. So, make sure to put only relevant skills in your CV when applying for a job.

8. Fill in the additional sections 

Statistically, on average, you are competing against 250 other candidates for every job you apply for. And you have no power over a recruiter’s screening process. Your CV may just slip the recruiter’s eyes if it’s just another CV. But if you have enough achievements and skills to mention and fill out additional CV sections, you can give yourself a better fighting chance to earn that job. 

9. Find the Perfect CV template 

A CV template is a template with all the basic sections of the CV, sometimes with room for additional sections. CV templates can be found anywhere on the internet, just by googling. However, despite having multiple different options to customize how your CV looks, it’s always best to stick to a professional CV. Not all jobs will give you creative independence, so a well-designed but informal CV does not have enough credibility as a professional CV. Professional CVs are precise and to the point, which helps with the recruiter’s screening process. So, make sure to use professional templates when making a CV.

10. Complement your CV with a cover letter 

IF your CV is a list of your specifications, then your cover letter is your marketing campaign. Never shy away from complimenting your cover letter using your CV. The more your CV and cover letter complement each other, the better your chances are at getting the job, simply because your CV is now being better marketed.