In today’s competitive job market, writing a great CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a crucial step towards landing your dream job. Your CV is often the first impression you make on a potential employer, so it needs to be professional, concise, and well-structured. A high-quality CV can set you apart from other candidates and help you secure interviews, making it a powerful tool in your job search arsenal.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating an outstanding CV. We’ll cover the essentials, including formatting, content, and expert tips for ensuring your CV captures attention and passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Why is Writing a Great CV So Important?
Your CV is much more than a simple list of your qualifications and work experience. It’s a personal marketing document that showcases your skills, accomplishments, and potential value to a prospective employer. A well-crafted CV can:
Highlight your qualifications: Showcase your education, certifications, and relevant work history.
Demonstrate your achievements: Show how your skills have translated into real-world results.
Reflect your personal brand: Give a sense of your professional personality and what makes you unique.
Pass ATS filters: Many companies use ATS to screen CVs before a human recruiter sees them. Including the right keywords and formatting is key to ensuring your CV gets noticed.
Step 1: Choosing the Right CV Format
The first step to writing a great CV is selecting the right format. There are three main types of CV formats, each suited for different situations:
1. Chronological CV
The chronological CV is the most common format and is best suited for candidates with a stable work history. It lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. This format works well if you have a consistent career progression with no major gaps.
2. Functional CV
A functional CV emphasises your skills and qualifications rather than focusing on your work history. This format is ideal for those who have gaps in their employment or are making a career change. It allows you to highlight transferable skills without drawing attention to a lack of specific job titles or experience.
3. Combination CV
As the name suggests, the combination CV combines elements of both chronological and functional formats. It focuses on your skills while still including a detailed work history. This format is useful for candidates with a strong work history who also want to emphasise specific skills that are relevant to the job.
Step 2: Structuring Your CV
Now that you’ve chosen the right format, it’s time to structure your CV. A well-organized CV should include the following sections:
1. Header
Your header should include your full name, contact information (phone number, email address), and optionally, links to your LinkedIn profile or personal website if relevant to the job.
Example:
John DoeEmail: john.doe@example.comPhone: +44 123 456 789LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe
2. Personal Profile
The personal profile (also called a CV summary or objective) is a brief paragraph at the top of your CV. This section is crucial because it sets the tone for the rest of your CV. It should include:
Who you are professionally.
Key skills and experience that make you a good fit for the role.
What you’re looking for in your next position.
Keep it concise (3-4 sentences) and tailored to the job you’re applying for.
Example:
Motivated and results-driven project manager with over 8 years of experience managing high-profile IT projects for Fortune 500 companies. Adept at leading cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget. Now seeking a challenging role where I can apply my expertise in project management and digital transformation.
3. Work Experience
Your work experience section should include relevant job titles, companies, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities inlcuding budget and achievements. Instead of just listing duties, focus on quantifiable accomplishments that demonstrate your value to previous employers.
Example:
Senior Marketing Manager ABC Corporation | June 2017 – Present
Developed and executed digital marketing strategies that increased website traffic by 40% within 6 months.
Managed a team of 5 marketing professionals and coordinated campaigns across social media, PPC, and SEO with ROMI of 200%.
Implemented a new content marketing plan that generated £500,000 in new business over 1 year.
4. Education
List your educational background in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree. Include:
Degree type and major.
Institution name.
Graduation date or expected graduation date.
If you have recently graduated, you can also include relevant coursework, honors, or projects that highlight your skills.
Example:
Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceUniversity of London | 2015 – 2019
Grade 2:1
Relevant coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
5. Skills
Your skills section should highlight both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personal attributes). Make sure to tailor this section to the job you’re applying for by focusing on the most relevant skills.
Hard Skills might include things like proficiency in certain software, coding languages, or certifications.
Soft Skills might include leadership, communication, teamwork, or time management.
Example:
Technical Skills:
Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
Google Analytics, Google Ads, HubSpot
Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint
Soft Skills:
Team Leadership
Strategic Thinking
Problem Solving
Time Management
6. Certifications & Training (Optional)
If you have certifications or additional training that are relevant to the job, include them in a separate section. This is especially important for technical roles or positions requiring specific qualifications.
Example:
Certifications:
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
Google Ads Certified – Google
7. Languages (Optional)
If you speak multiple languages and the job requires or values bilingualism, include a section for languages.
Example:
Languages:
English (Native)
French (Fluent)
Spanish (Conversational)
8. Volunteer Work or Extracurricular Activities (Optional)
If you have volunteer experience or have been involved in relevant extracurricular activities, include them. This is particularly useful for recent graduates or those with limited work experience, as it demonstrates initiative and skills beyond the workplace.
Step 3: Tailoring Your CV to the Job
One of the most important aspects of creating a great CV is tailoring it to the specific job you’re applying for. Generic CVs often fail to make an impact, so it’s essential to adjust the content to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences.
Use keywords: Carefully read the job description and identify key skills or qualifications. Include these keywords in your CV to increase the chances of passing through an ATS.
Emphasise relevant experience: Focus on the aspects of your work history that align most closely with the job requirements. If the job is in digital marketing, for example, emphasise your marketing-related skills and accomplishments.
Customise your personal profile: Adjust your personal profile to reflect the specific role and company you’re applying to. This shows the employer that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the position.
Step 4: Formatting Your CV for Readability
A well-structured CV is not only about what you include but also how it looks. Recruiters often skim CVs quickly, so it’s important to ensure your CV is easy to read and visually appealing.
Key formatting tips:
Use a professional font: Stick to fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
Font size: Use 10-12 points for the body text and slightly larger for headings.
Consistent formatting: Use consistent formatting for headings, dates, and bullet points to maintain a professional look.
White space: Use white space to create a clean, organised layout.
Bullet points: Use bullet points for lists to make the content easy to scan.
Length: Keep your CV concise. Ideally, a CV should be 1-2 pages long.
Step 5: Proofreading and Finalising Your CV
Before you submit your CV, it’s essential to proofread it carefully. Even minor errors can create a negative impression on recruiters, so take the time to review for spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes. Consider asking a friend or family member to review your CV as well for an extra set of eyes.
Additionally, ensure that your CV is saved in a format that maintains its formatting when opened on different devices. A PDF is often the best option.
Final Thoughts
Writing a great CV takes time, but it’s a worthwhile investment in your future. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to create a CV that not only showcases your skills and experience but also highlights your unique value to potential employers.
Remember, your CV is essentially the 'blurb' on the back of a book, to whet the appetite of the reader to want to find out more and interview you. It needs to be aligned with the job spec. Tailor it to each job, keep it well-organised and concise, and proofread it thoroughly to ensure it represents the best version of you.
If you need support visit www.jlcareerservcies.com for further information. We have a 100% success rate for clients landing interviews for their dream job.
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