When job hunting, writing a good CV can be very stressful. Very often, employers and recruitment agencies spend a mere few minutes, if not seconds, scanning through CVs and choosing which ones to consider and which to trash.

Here are some obvious, yet important, tips that you must follow when writing your CV. Keep in mind, your CV doesn't need to be a hundred pages long to impress, it's all about quality not quantity.

Summarise

One of the fundamental things that you need to keep in mind, is that employers and recruiters receive thousands upon thousands of CVs per application, and therefore don't really have the time to go through each and every one of them in detail. This is why an eye-catching summary is important, and it should be the first thing that one sees when looking at your CV.

Through your summary, you should be able to answer the following questions/include these points:

• Do you prefer working in a team or are you more efficient when working independently?
• Do you consider yourself a leader who delegates the work, or do you prefer executing?
• Do you speak different languages?
• Do you like analysing and reporting?
• Do you consider yourself to be a fast learner?
• Do you work well under pressure?

 

Ultimately, you want to mention any strengths that are relevant to the job. Remember to always be honest and say the truth - lying won't get you anywhere really, and sooner or later you will get caught red-handed. Besides, you don't want to raise expectations if you don't feel 100% confident about a job.

Mention your Education

Whatever level of education you have achieved, make sure to include it on your CV. For employers and recruiters, it's important to have a timeline of your achievements, and this is both in the educational and work field. Of course, certain jobs have specific requirements, so make sure to double check the job requirements before applying.
Under this section, you might also wish to take the opportunity to expand more upon what you did during your years of studying. Where you a student representative? Did you volunteer in any student organisation? Anything which shows that you were an active student will be a bonus for your application.

Expand on your work experience

When listing your previous work experience, don't limit yourself to the job title and year, but dig deeper. Explain what each role entitles, what your main tasks and responsibilities were, and what you believe you've gained from the occupation.

Pick the relevant hobbies

Having hobbies is great, especially if you are doing something you enjoy. What you need to keep in mind, though, is that not every hobby you have should be included in your CV. You need to filter what you should and shouldn't include in yourcurriculum, and pick the hobbies relevant to the job application.

Watch your structure and grammar

No one likes a messy CV, so make sure to keep the structure simple and straightforward. Many like to personalise their curriculum by adding fancy designs, and although creativity is encouraged; try to stick to a minimalistic look.
Once you're satisfied with the way your CV looks and what you've included, make sure to have someone checking it, so as to correct any possible grammar mistake. If you want to be on the safe side, get a second opinion too. Although making mistakes is human, it looks very unprofessional when a CV has typos and grammatical mistakes, since it should be a document that takes time and effort. Don't give your potential future employer a negative opinion about yourself, get that grammar checked!


Bonus: Compile a cover letter

Writing a cover letter is recommended when applying for a job, and often is demanded by the employer or recruiter. Your cover letter should be an extension of your summary section on your CV. It should include a little description about yourself, a paragraph about your past work experience, why you wish to apply for the job and why you believe you are a suitable candidate for it. Make sure to personalise your cover letter according to the position and company you are applying for.
Now that you have the basics to keep in mind when writing a CV, get yours ready and contact one of the recruitment companies listed on our website.