Applying for new job openings in Nigeria or getting a job at your dream company both require a solid Curriculum Vitae(CV). Your resume genuinely represents job searchers to a company who has a position open. Essentially, it is the applicant’s first opportunity to advertise himself or herself. Consequently, having a bad CV can hurt your chances of finding work.
Many people struggle to create a resume that will get them an interview. How can you make your CV stand out from the plethora of others that recruiters and human resource managers receive?
It’s critical to keep in mind that there is no one perfect format for drafting a CV. The ability of your CV to highlight your qualifications for the employment you’re applying for is one rule to keep in mind.
The HR manager or recruiter will use this information to decide whether to set up an interview with you. Every day, the world is changing swiftly, especially the labour market. As professionals gain new skills and the job market becomes more competitive, hiring managers are paying more attention to even the slightest details when considering remote hires.
Many graduates find it difficult to create a CV that stands out from the competition. This post will help to break it down so that it is simpler to understand.
One of the most pervasive misconceptions is the belief that a curriculum vitae and a resume may be used interchangeably. It’s unfortunate that this would inspire more people to lie on their resumes.
However, being aware of the distinctions can help you market yourself more persuasively in your resume.
Also read: 14 Things to have in mind when preparing for job interview and be successful, 20 New small business ideas that would make you money.
What is a CV?
A curriculum vitae, also referred to as a CV, is a succinct summary of your educational background, work history, and skill set and is most frequently used in job applications.
A CV, short for curriculum vitae (Latin for “course of life”), is a thorough record of your professional and academic background.
A CV normally contains information about your job history, accomplishments and honours, scholarships and grants you have received, as well as details about your schooling, research projects, and publications of your work.
A CV is usually two to three pages long, but it’s not uncommon for it to be considerably longer for mid-level or senior job applicants since it acts as a comprehensive description of one’s professional achievements.
The educational CV and the experience-focused CV are the two different types of CV. While the latter emphasizes professional experience, abilities, and achievements, the former is typically for applicants without prior work experience and concentrates on educational/professional qualification and academic work.
CV vs resume
Both a resume and a CV serve to highlight your professional experience, educational background, and accomplishments. Additionally, you might submit either or both of these documents to an employer for consideration for a vacant position.
A resume normally has just one page of information, including a brief summary of your prior positions, talents, and educational background.
The English equivalent of the French word résumé is “abstract” or “summary.” An academic curriculum vitae, on the other hand, is often a longer, more in-depth document that focuses mostly on coursework and research.
In fields like science and research as well as education and academia, CVs are frequently necessary. You could be tempted to condense your CV to fit on one page if you’re experienced at producing resumes. But because a CV must have so much information, they are frequently several pages long.
CV writing format
There are a few measures you can take to guarantee you produce an effective CV, even though it should be tailored to the position you’re going for and specific to your background.
The sections below are typically found on CVs:
- Contact details
- Academic background
- Professional experience
- Qualifications and skills
- Recognition and honours
- Publications
- Professional associations
- Grants and fellowships
- Licenses and certificates
- Volunteer work
- Personal information (optional)
- Hobbies and interests (optional)
How to write a good CV
1. Contact details
Your name, address, age (which is optional), phone number, and email are included in this area. Put these in a prominent place with readable fonts so that the HR manager or recruiter may quickly notice them. Make sure the details supplied are up to date. Never use someone else’s email address. Stay away from listing your place of birth, your religion (unless otherwise noted in the job advertisement), and unprofessional email addresses.
2. Professional experience
Take up your most recent position to begin. It’s crucial to list your responsibilities and accomplishments for each employment role. Adapt your work history to the position you are applying for at all times. It will make the employer more likely to choose you.
3. Educational qualification
The most current educational certification is typically shown first. There should be a section here for any professional certifications pertinent to the position. If you hold a degree from a tertiary institution, it is not necessary to present your elementary school first-graduation certificate unless you are a recent graduate with no work experience. Professional accreditations, education, and training are all included in this area.
4. Hobbies and interests
Keep this category brief and straightforward. It’s important to remember to steer clear of platitudes like “original” and “innovative.” Be more precise when describing your hobbies. This demonstrates your commitment and discipline. Include hobbies and interests that support the corporate social responsibility of the potential employer.
5. Reference
Although three referees are recommended, some organizations just want two. A CV is given more consideration the fewer pages it has. You wouldn’t want to be disturbed by resumes that appear to be freebies as an employer. A two-page CV is ideal.
Be direct, understandable, and persuasive. Never use a referee you don’t know and who knows you’ve used them as reference.
Best tips on how to write a good CV
- Be sure to carefully adapt your CV to the role and the business. Create a unique CV for each position you apply for by making sure it explicitly addresses the job description and amply illustrates your familiarity with the business.
- To find specific skills and credentials on CVs, many recruiters use keywords. Make a list of the search terms that will help your CV show up. Find ways to incorporate them into your past experience, skills, and personal statement, for example.
- Aim to make your CV simple to read. Employers will be able to tell right away if you have the necessary qualifications, experience, and motivation for the job if your CV is designed with information presented in an understandable manner.
- Don’t ramble. If you have little to no experience, keep your CV to one page, and if you have more years of relevant experience, keep it to two pages. If you go on for much longer than this, you risk rambling, but if you go on for much less, you risk not giving enough details.
- Your CV should not be sent as a PDF unless otherwise required by the company.
- Avoid being unfavourable. Don’t be critical of your current or former employers, and stay away from mentioning any challenging times in your professional experience. Positive imagery on your resume is ideal.
- Key points are the most efficient way to describe your previous positions.
- . Give supporting data. In order to demonstrate why you are a strong candidate, give specific examples of your accomplishments, such as advancements you have made at work or issues you have resolved. To further demonstrate your skill set, you can also submit certificates.
- If you want to show that you are professional and pay attention to details, your resume must be flawless. Examine three times for problems in grammar, spelling, and layout. In order to eliminate errors in grammar, spelling, or formatting, you should also get it proofread by someone else.
Some advice on how to write a professional CV
- When feasible, use active verbs to convey that you are a person who takes initiative.
- Your resume shouldn’t contain any grammatical or spelling errors. Use a grammar checker, and ask someone else to read it over.
- Steer clear of generalizations Instead, give instances from everyday life to illustrate each of these abilities.
- Make sure your CV is tailored to the position and employer by looking at the company website, the local newspaper, and the job advertisement.
- Choose the type of CV that is best for you.
- Give a credible-sounding email address.
- Never inflate or lie on your resume or in a job application.
- You could face harsh repercussions in addition to exposing your dishonesty to a prospective employer.
- Changing your degree grade from is considered degree fraud and is punishable by imprisonment.
- Avoid including your home address on your CV when putting it online since fraudsters can target you.
- Unless the company specifies otherwise, you should always provide a cover letter. It will provide you the chance to customize your job application. You might call emphasis to a specific section of your resume, admit to a disability, or explain any gaps in your employment history.