Today I would like to remind you of the skills you should know in cv writing.
You are warmly welcome!
What is a CV?
Technically a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a detailed document outlining all of your life achievements, qualifications, awards, and skills.
Curriculum Vitae means 'course of life' in latin.
In simple terms, your CV sets out your skills and experience.
Your CV should demonstrate to any potential employer why they should hire you above any of the other skilled candidates who have presented themselves for employment.
When writing a CV do the following
Include your contact details at the top.
Start with your name, address, phone number and email address if you have one. If your CV runs out to more than one page, then make sure an identifier is included on every page, probably as header or footer and page numbers.
Decide whether you want to start with a personal statement.
This is optional, although many CV-writing Companies recomend it. If you decide to include one, it needs to say something real about you, and not just be an anodyne statement that could apply to anyone. Try to avoid jargon such as "forward-thinking" and use this to showcase your strengths, if possible focused on action.
Include sections on key skills, knowledge and achievements, work experience and education.
Pricisely how much to include in each section depends on the sector to which you are applying. Try to get some advice from someone in the sector if you don't already work there. Start with the most recent achievement, experience or training and work backwards in each section.
When discussing achievements, focus on what you have actually done and the end result achieved.
Your statements should be in the form
"In situation X, I did this, and the end result was that".
For example,
As president of the climbing club at University, I sought out a commercial sponser from contacts made during work experience and successifully obtained funding for new equipment.
Concetrate on your personal actions, the precise outcome, and how you knew the action was a success.
Include everything relevant in 'work experience and Education".
Once you have got plenty of work experience, it's OK not to include the paper round you had when you were 16 and the summer jobs you had as a student, but you don't want any gaps once you have started work.
If you have taken career break for some reason, or had a period out of work after redudancy, say so.
Otherwise you will be asked about it, if they don't just assume you were in prison and bin you CV. Don't include every last course you've ever done, but do include everything that's relevant to the job.
If you were going for a job as a forkful driver, they won't want to know about your catering qualification, but your health and safety certificate might be relevant.
Check the essential requirements for the job, and make sure you have included anything that is mentioned.
Make sure your Spelling and Grammar are all correct.
Many employers bin any CVs with spelling or Grammar errors.
Work on Presentation
Use a standard and professional-looking font such as Arial or Calibri, which is easy to read, and generally no smaller than 10 point for body text, larger for headings. Do not, under any circumstances, be tempted to use comic sens serif.
Lay your CV out nicely on the page so that it is easy to read and looks professional. Remember that it will be printed in black and white.
Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not be tempted to lie.You will be found out sooner or later and, if a lie has got you a job, it will lose you one too.
Avoid Leaving gaps in your career history.
You may be ashamed that you had to spend time flipping burgers at McDonalds, and perhaps you don't think it fits with your planned career as an astrophysicist. But, especially if you don't have much work experience, every bit is useful and you should show what you learned from it.
Do not Start your CV with dull bits.
Many people make the mistake of starting with their education and qualifications. That is really dull
!
Start with your key skills, and what you have actually achieved in life. If potential employers like your key skills then they will read on to your qualifications.
Do not include your hobbies and Interests.
Unless of course they have developed skills that are relevant to the job.
No body really wants or needs to know that you do karate, or like going to the cinema. If you do include something that sounds impressive, but is not really.
Murphy's law says that, "the person reading your CV will be an expert in that subject".
Do not make your CV too long.
Two pages of A4 is plenty. No body wants to read more. By any means make the font smaller, widen the margins and shorten the gaps between paragraphs, but no more than two pages.
Do not use an Unprofessional email address.
Get a professional-looking email address, not a nickname. A jokey email address is fine for your friends, but it's not OK for potential employers, and may even cause your CV to be rejected.
If you are applying for a job in a computer or internet related field then having your own domain name is particularly important for your image.
Be careful if you use the email address that is linked to your facebook page or other social media accounts. It is very easy for potential employers to search social media sites for email addresses, which could mean they find out you than you would like. You may however want potential employers to find your linkedin account.
www.vipaumbelekwanza.blogspot.comSkills good Leaders need
NB:Put yourself in the recruiter's shoes and think about what they need to know about you. The job description should give you a reasonable idea.
Use your CV to tell them that they need to know upfront and clearly, in a way that looks professional and believable.
Your CV will not get you the job, if done well, should give you at least a foot in the door!
You may have a nice day.