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These days you can write your CV in the first
person (i.e. I have) or the third person (i.e. he/she has).
However, you do not need to use 'I', 'he' or 'she' in a CV
because its use is implied.
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| 2. |
Do mention things you are good at, but do
not go over the top. You can oversell yourself.
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| 3. |
Don't mention things that you are bad at
or say negative things about yourself in your CV.
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| 4. | Make sure that the CV you write conjures up the right image of
you and your skills, capabilities and achievements. If you do
not match the picture you have painted with your CV at the interview,
then your application will not be taken further. |
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| 5. | Be careful when you use abbreviations - they can be misunderstood.
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| 6. | If you are not happy with your CV or you only seem to get
rejection letters then please get a professional CV writing
service to write it for you. Yes, you will have to pay for it.
But, it could save you a lot of time. |
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Re-read your CV to ensure that there are no grammatical
errors and the sentence structure is correct.
Make sure the style of the CV remains consistent throughout.
Font, Font style and size should remain the same.
The spacing should be paid heed to, to make sure the CV makes
up for a plain and simple reading.
Avoid using stylistic fonts that looks jarring to the eyes.
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Tips for producing a better CV
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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 will help you produce a CV that
does just that.
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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).
If you haven't caught the recruiter's interest by page two then
they probably won't read any further pages anyway.
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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| 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.
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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?"
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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.
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| 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.
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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.
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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.
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11. |
Enclose a Covering letter
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When sending in a CV or job application form, you must include
a covering letter. The purpose of the letter is to make sure
that the CV arrives on the desk of the correct person. Also
to say why you want that particular job with that particular
employer and to draw attention to one or two key points in the
CV which you feel make you suited to that particular job with
that particular employer.
It should clearly say what job you are interested in. If
in case you are sending a 'speculative' CV hoping that they
may have work for you, explain what sort of work you are interested
in like saying, 'I believe my skills equip me to work in the
product development department/accounts office/whatever'.
When sending a speculative CV, you may try telephoning later
to push your enquiry further.
While drafting your covering letter keep these following
points in mind:
• Start your letter with an underline heading giving the
job title you are interested in. (If you saw the job advertised,
say where you saw it.)
• The letter should only be on one side of A4 paper. It must
be polite and easy to read.
• Mention when you are available for an interview. Ending
your letter with a request for specific extra information
may give a positive response.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Who Needs A Curriculum Vitae?
A curriculum vitae is often required for those applying to
graduate or professional programs, employment with international
firms, or when promoting oneself within professional and academic
fields.
How Does a Curriculum Vitae Differ From A Regular
Resume?
A curriculum vitae is longer than the average 1-2 page resume
because it provides a greater range of information which can
include:
• Professional, Vocational or Research Objective
• Summary of Qualifications
• Professional Licenses or Certifications
• Education including Post Graduate, Graduate and Undergraduate
Degrees and Studies
• Listing of Relevant Course work to Match Career or Academic
Objective
• Educational or Professional Honors or Awards
• Scientific or Academic Research, Laboratory Experience and
Related Skills
• Description of Thesis or Dissertation, Papers Written, Publications
• Academic or Professional Presentations
• Related Extracurricular Activities, Professional and Association
Memberships
• Community Involvement
• Work Experience - Paid or Volunteer
• Technical and Specialized Skills such as Computer Progamming
or Laboratory Instrumentation
• Interests - Future Academic or Professional Goals
• Travel / Exposure to Cultural Experiences
• Foreign Language Skills
• Additional Information that May Support Objective or Qualifications
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