How to Make a Great CV - How to Write Your CV
If you’d like to read the first blog in this series, How to Make a Great CV - Design, just click here
Hello everyone! In my last post we tackled CV Design. In this blog, we’ll look at CV writing. Let’s get started (pulls up sleeves).
1) CONTACTS UP FRONT
Make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to contact you easily by placing your mobile, email and your LinkedIn profile up top. Make sure your email is sensible, you’ll be surprised at how many CVs include very strange words you would hope not to find in a professional work application - it doesn’t show the best you! I’d put this right below your name.
2) UP NEXT, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Definitelydon’twriteahugeparagraphthatgoesonforeverasthistendstoruntogetherforwhoeverisshortlisting. No joke, your eyes fade out. One way to break up text is to write a short summary beneath your header which contains the Company, Role and previous dates worked. Then follow this brief paragraph (3-4 sentences) with bullet points. These can be your Key Achievements, Key Projects or Additional/Other Duties. Change key words or highlight certain aspects for your Hiring Manager by re-writing this for every application.
3) VARY IT UP - ACTIVE VERBS
I managed, In this role…, While at the XXX, CVs can get repetitive. Make your CV punchier and more lively to read by using active verbs. Here’s a great list of 185 Active Verbs you could use from the Muse which also help in terms of demonstrating what you personally did to contribute to your previous or last workplace. Avoid the use of ‘we’, employers want to see how you impact each role you take - what did you do that made a difference?
4) EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION
Feel free to remove your GCSEs and A-Levels if you have further degrees or more relevant qualifications, especially if you need to save space. If you aren’t keen on or don’t have the qualifications you feel you need for the role, don’t worry, you can always add training in here. Re-write the header to say Education & Training and then take courses from online providers such as Udemy, FutureLearn, Open2Study, Alison or Open University (most are free or relatively cheap) and add them in.
5) TRY TO SHOW PROGRESSION
Last but not least, try to show how you have evolved over your work history. Show that you’ve built on your previous experience and that you have learnt key lessons which make you even better for the current role than ever before. If you’ve been promoted, kept on or asked to handle other duties or projects, do tell this. It shows you’ve been trusted with even more complex tasks and responsibilities and make you even more hire-able.
Good luck with the wave of job applications! If you need a helping hand, feel free to get in touch if you need support to: info@sarahfoxlee.uk