Having the right CV can be the start of the best career journey or cause job seeking nightmares
A good CV should be clear and concise; it’s a reassurance to the potential employer that you are right for the job showcasing your most relevant skills and experiences which demonstrates that you are a fit for their organisation. But you know this already……..
1- Research
Before you apply for any job/role, you need to understand the type of person the prospective employer is looking for. Do your homework and use any information you can find on the prospective employer as a basis for your CV. You are much more likely to secure an interview if you can demonstrate a good match between what the employer is looking for and the skills you possess.
2- Honest & Accurate
When writing your CV, always be honest, as it will more than likely be used to structure the interview. Providing inaccurate information will lead to issues further down the line. Use your CV to accentuate your real skills and abilities, and always highlight any achievements and successes.
3- Content
There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some bases that need to be covered. You should always include: personal and contact information; education and qualifications; work history and/or experience; relevant skills to the job in question; own interests, achievements; links to sample code if available (or available on request), website/portfolio and some referees (or available on request).
3a- Profile
Introduce yourself with a strong statement that sums up your skills and career aims, always keeping in mind the role you are applying for. It should summarise what you have to offer, so keep it simple however it should grab the reader’s attention. General terms like “hardworking” , “reliable”, “ good team player” can make it difficult for an employer to really build a picture of you in their mind so try not to over use these terms.
3b - Education and Training
Use bullet points to include the school and University you went to, when your qualifications were awarded and any other extracurricular activities
3c - Employment
You should start with your present or most recent job and work backwards. You should include employer, relevant dates, job title and your main duties and tasks. You can provide more detail on the relevant jobs you've had and give examples of the value you brought to this position and what you achieved. Use bullet pointed lists. Try using positive active words to describe what you did in your job, like achieved, transformed, established, supervised, co-ordinated, developed or designed.
3d - Interests, hobbies & Achievements
3d - Interests, hobbies & Achievements
Include anything that shows how diverse and interesting you are! Use this section to include your favorite games, software, apps etc!
4 – Sample Code/Portfolio
Companies will technically test you and/or ask for you to provide sample code or a portfolio as part of the selection process. It’s important that your work is well polished and a good example of your recent work capability.