CV writing

The first thing to keep in mind is that a good CV is a marketing tool and not simply a collection of facts. Its purpose is to get you a job interview not the job. It’s important to be concise, accurate, and honest while drawing the employer’s attention to your strengths and qualifications, but more important is to demonstrate how these skills are relevant to the position you are applying for. Thus, it’s necessary to modify your CV for each position you apply for, highlighting essential information.

Personal Information – Make certain that the information is accurate and updated, especially your contact data.

Introduction – This is a chance for you to act like a salesperson and sell yourself in a few lines. You want your CV to stand out in a crowd so avoid irrelevant facts or things that can be found in the main body of the CV. This info won’t get you the job. Use powerful action verbs to describe what you can offer rather than what you have done.

Education – Restrict achievements to your highest education levels. If you have a university degree, it’s not important to mention courses learned in high school. If you have been working for less than a couple of years you should place equal emphasis on university courses relevant to the position and extracurricular roles. For example if you were on the student union, or part of a student volunteer program these show your initiative and desire to be a self-starter.

Language Skills – I’ve known more than one person who has exaggerated on this section and subsequently been asked interview questions in that language. Just in case, one friend always committed one sentence to memory for each language he had minor ability in: “Although I could comment on that, I think we would both benefit from conducting this interview in English.” If you get busted, you’ll lose the job opportunity, so its better be honest.

Work Experience – List your jobs, starting with the most recent. List the starting and end dates (month/year) for your jobs, which should also include relevant research or volunteer and part-time work. Do not leave out jobs if they fall in the middle of your work career, otherwise it appears like you were not working and this will put off some employers. If you have a gap in your work history, you should briefly explain why. When listing your assignments and tasks, briefly sum up your main responsibilities, and pay particular attention to those that are directly relevant to the position you are applying for. Highlight in bold or by underlining key skills or tasks so that someone skimming your CV will be drawn to them.

Desired Salary Level – Unless you know specifically how much the position is worth, you are advised to simply enter “negotiable”. Read our section on salary negotiations to learn valuable tips for discussing salary at job interviews.

Hobbies – HR managers are mixed on the value of including hobbies and activities on your CV. You are best to list such things that have some relevance to the position you are applying for. Avoid listing hobbies that might be viewed as taking up a considerable amount of your time e.g. theatre performances, competitive swimming, etc.

References – You should prepare your reference list but do not include it on your CV. Insert “available upon request” in this section. When they ask, make sure you have it!

Summary of CV hints

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Next topic: Cover letters – Most HR managers won’t even review your CV unless you have a good cover letter. Let us show you the right way.