Having a professional CV is an essential tool in your job seeking armoury. If you have faced rejection after rejection when applying for jobs it might just be because you lack a good quality CV, one that will get you noticed but also hits the right points.
Your CV is the key to opening the door to an interview, with it you are making a first impression to an employer therefore it needs to be good. According to the latest job search stats CareerBuilder say job seekers have less than 8 seconds to impress, with these 5 tips for writing a CV in 2023 we'll get your document singing the right notes in no time...
1. Don't forget the basic information on your CV.
There are many ways to write a CV but regardless of your approach there are some key bits of information that you must include...
Full Name
Personal Contact Details (phone number, general location and email address)
Subtitle
Education
Work History
Skills
URL / LinkedIn
The follow Professional CV Example provides a nice overview for inspiration.
It's important to focus on the skills and experience you have for the job you are applying to, your CV should be a demonstration to an employer that you have the neccessary abilities and experience to do the job. An employer wants to be able to visualise you in the role so make sure your work history and skills are relevant and highlight just how effective and efficient you've been in your previous jobs.
2. Experience and Employment History
Your Experience and Employment history is an essential part of your CV and is often the first thing recruiters and employers scroll to when they first open your document.
In this section outline previous jobs, internships and work experience. Take advantage of this section and make yourself marketable. Highlight your history in reverse chronological order, which means starting with your most recent job and working back.
Employers want to be able to see what you have been doing most recently, if you have to make them hunt around to find this they will disappear. So, just to reiterate employers want to see your most recent career history first.
Include key details from each of your previous positions including info such as job title, employer name, starting / end dates and a small summary of your duties and achievements. Use bullet points to organise your skills, achievements and responsibilities. If you have years’ worth of experience from different jobs make sure that you only include the skills and experience that are relevant for the role you are applying for (CV Mirroring is a useful technique as are these ChatGPT resume writing tips).
3. CV Presentation
Focus on a clean and professional look and feel for your resume. Consider one of these many professional CV templates for word which are proven to increase response rates and gain more interviews. These pre-made templates are designed by professionals and include gorgeous fonts, dividers and all the sections necessary for a professional CV. All you have to do is fill the sections in with your own information.
As mentioned you only have a matter of seconds to impress so you need to present your CV in a way that encourages your reader to scroll down and look further. The look and feel is just as important as the information you put into it. Though opinions vary from company to company, there are many common factors that all employers look for in a CV, they want to see information easily and quickly. A strong headline title is also a great way to grab attention and reinforce suitability. “Jack of all trades” isn’t going to cut it so be specific and tailor it to the position you are applying for.
4. Dare to be Different
Recruiters receive hundreds of CVs so it's essential that you make your CV stand-out. The best CVs are those that are clear and conscious but also look creative and professional. Recruiters simply do not have enough time in the day to comprehensively read every CV they get, they skim read, so choose an attractive layout and an eye-catching title that will encourage them to examine your document more closely.
Bright CV Example - Click to Download
It's OK to embrace the inner artist and go full creative, but only if this is in line with your profession, a super bright cartoon fun and quirky CV wouldn't sit well with a Financial Analyst role, but it might with a Junior Animator. Think carefully about the values and styles of your industry and try to translate this into a document that your target audience will relate to. If you get the balance right the results will work wonders.
If in doubt revert back to tried and tested CV Writing rules where “less is more”. Keep it simple, clear and straight to the point and no more than 2 pages. The longer you make your CV document the increased chance a recruiter will move onto the next application.
5. Include your Social Media URL (but make it Professional)
Social media can be a key tool in the pursuit of career greatness (if used correctly). If you spend time engaging in industry groups or commenting on forums and articles it shows that you have an active mind and work towards contributing and learning from your industry. 70% of employers check social media profiles of job applicants so if you are active in these industries on social media it can give you an advantage over others applying for the same role.
Social Media can make or break your job search so refrain from using personal accounts on your CV and stick to using only professional accounts. Make sure that you are 100% satisfied with your digital footprint before showcasing it to potential employers and recruiters. Social media can also be a super tool for finding opportunities too.
Check out our blog post on writing the perfect LinkedIn Profile for more advice.
So there we have it 5 top CV Writing tips. Thanks for reading and if you still need help be sure to check out our Resume Writing Services.
Article updated (03/07/2024)
