TIPS FOR CREATING AN IMPRESSIVE CV.

If there is one thing your CV can get you, it is a job interview. A great Curriculum Vitae can be a game changer for you in your job hunt. In the 15 seconds (if you're lucky) a recruiter will peruse it, you can jump to the top of the pile. Unfortunately, you can also be knocked from contention. The most important thing to note here is that every employer needs something that paints a very good picture of what your abilities are. If you can't draft your own CV well, then you definitely can't handle your employer's documents well. 

Creating your CV is very important in the first step of marketing yourself to potential employers. There are thousands of people out there who are looking for employment opportunities, so the worst thing you can do to yourself is blowing that shot you have at being employed only because you didn't make yourself employable.

 For some job employers can receive hundreds of applications, so it is vital that your CV has that "something else" that makes it special and attracts the reader. In the world of graduate recruitment, large organisations receive thousands of CVs, application forms and cover letters every time, so think about what is going to make what you write stand out from the crowd. A well written CV will be something that paints a picture of you; that will match your skills and achievements as well as your future ambitions. Tell an employer what you can do for THEM. Telling them that you're looking for a career to "build your editing skills and leverage your interest in journalism" has little to do with what's in it for THEM to hire you.

They will be paying you. They want performance, and your career objective should make them feel good about what you'll "offer," not gain. Conducting a background check on the place you are applying to does not hurt, it makes you know what is expected which in turn lets you know the direction at which your CV should be.

POINTS THAT CAN MAKE YOU SHINE.

1. Start your CV with general contact information that includes your name, address, telephone, fax, email and URL (if you have a web page about yourself as a professional). Include these sections in your CV: contact information; education and experience. Include these sections depending on your strengths and interests: honors and awards (from post-secondary school); teaching and research interests; publications; presentations; professional activities (committee memberships, intern experiences, relevant volunteer work); skills (second language and/or computer proficiencies); and references (you may include these or indicate they are available on request. Do not include information that may discriminate against you or make your employer see you in a negative light such failed exams, divorces, failed business ventures, reasons for leaving a job. Don’t lie, but just don’t include this kind of information. Don’t give the interviewer any reason to discard you at this stage.

2. Make the first page worthy of standing on its own. Do not bore your employer. While one-page isn’t plausible enough, one thing that is strongly recommended here is that the first page of any resume be worthy of standing on its own as a summary or overview; details can follow in successive pages. Just as you know the house you will rent once you enter the front door, your resume’s first page should make a strong first impression that will tell the interviewer whether or not you’re going to be on his or her short list of candidates.

3. Ensure that you write about your achievements. Don't write about things you are not so good at - it might be unwise to mention things that could count against you when the employer might not have considered them anyway! But as much as it is important to write about your achievements, it is equally important to know that you shouldn't let it slip into arrogance and pride. Lots of employers appreciate enthusiasm and confidence along with the best of them but at the same time, many a resume has been tossed aside when employers read about how a 22-year-old is going to change an entire organization overnight. Do not have any unreasonable expectations of what your CV can do. You will be guilty of a grave error in judgment if you expect someone to hire you because of your CV. It never happens! Your CV is simply a piece of paper. It comes with no guarantee of truthfulness, and it certainly can't close a deal. You may choose to believe that your record speaks for itself, but the truth is: Only you speak for yourself.

4. Always check and double-check your CV or application form for spelling errors, grammatical errors and punctuation. Is there even a need to mention this? Yes, people include many typos in CVs —even sometimes the name of the schools they attended and places they have worked with are full of errors. Typos are signs of sloppiness, and no one knowingly hires a sloppy employee. It is amazing how many have obviously not been spell-checked or grammar-checked properly before being sent off. Think about the employer's likely reaction if they feel you have not even considered it important enough to check your CV or application form properly. Check for common grammatical errors such as spelling "practice" (the noun) when you mean "practise" (the verb).

5. Do not worry too much about length. You have to keep in mind that it is for a job application, not an autobiography. And although there are no rules on length, avoid over-writing. The CV should be professional and should include your important data. It is also very advisable to make your CV direct and very straight to the point. There is no time for employers to read through unnecessary details of you; it is not a flowery prose. Include only the details that matter and leave out information that are not necessary: age, ethnic identity, political affiliation, religious preference, hobbies, marital status, sexual orientation, place of birth, photographs, height, weight and health conditions.

6. Do not include information that is humorous or funny. Work is work and a joke is a joke, unless you are applying to be a comedian, you do not have to try to be funny. The CV is not the place for humor or being cute.

7. Finally, remember that however perfect you may feel your CV is, it will be still down to the individuals who read it to judge what is valuable to them. There is no such thing as a 100% perfectly written CV. The reality is that, however professional they are, whoever reads it will have their own likes, dislikes, prejudices and preferences.