CV Writing Tips and Guidelines

Effective format of curriculum vitae (CV), it will give you an edge over your competitors

The main purpose of a writing a curriculum vitae (CV) is to secure a place in the interview. But for that we have to follow the CV writing tips and guidelines. Your resume should highlight your achievements, specially related to the position you are applying for .You'll generate a better response with your curriculum vitae if it is well organized and is packed with relevant information to match and support your professional & academic objective. Writing an effective CV is essential to differentiate one from his/her competitors.

As a result, prioritizing your top skills and experience to be presented in the first or uppermost section of your CV makes sense. It also makes sure that the academic or hiring committees do not overlook anything that you want them to see. When you submit a printed resume to a recruiter or a potential employer, it is likely to be the first thing they get to see or read of yours. Therefore, you need to write your CV well and make it user friendly and present an effective format of curriculum vitae.

• Guidelines for CV writing :
  • A well-presented, selling document.
  • A source of interesting, relevant information.
  • A script for talking about yourself.
• There are two types of Curriculum Vitae :
  • Chronological.
  • Functional.

Format for writing effective Curriculum Vitae

• Tips for your Curriculum Vitae :
  • Ensure your curriculum vitae is easy to read and is presented in a logical order
  • PROOFREAD your curriculum vitae!!!
  • Print your curriculum vitae on quality white, ivory, or light grey paper on a laser printer.
  • Use a consistent font (such as Times New Roman) in a font size of 10-14.
  • Avoid the use of graphics while writing your CV.
  • Maintain a one-inch margin at the top and bottom of each page of your curriculum vitae.
  • Use consistent header treatments throughout your CV.
• Curriculum Vitae Turnoffs :
  • Typographical Errors.
  • Unusual Font- type is difficult to read .
  • Unorganized or inconsistent formatting.
  • Information is difficult to locate.
  • Long descriptions used to delineate rotational responsibilities or position functions.
  • Unusual and/or inconsistent paper colors or styles.

The decision to recruit is like a buying decision on the part of an employer. This creates a very clear picture of what a CV must include :

• It must meet the needs of the target organisation where possible. This means a single generalist CV is unlikely to be sufficient.
• It must highlight your achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for. It must give the reader a clear indication of why you should be considered for this role.

To decide what to include in your CV and where, follow these principles and guidelines :

• Generally, the document should contain no more than 2 pages.
• Your CV should be honest and factual.
• The first page should contain enough personal details for a recruitment consultant or potential employer to contact you easily.
• Choose a presentation format that allows you to headline key skills, key achievements or key attributes.
• Your employment history should commence with your current or most recent job and work backwards.
• Achievements should be short, bullet-pointed statements and include your role, the action you took and a comment on the result of your action.
• Where information clearly demonstrates your suitability for the vacancy you're applying for, and enhances your chances of being short-listed, include this information near the beginning of the CV.
• Leave out information that is irrelevant or negative.
• Include details of recent training or skills development events you have attended which could be relevant.
• List all your professional memberships and relevant qualifications, it will give you an edge over your competitors.

The most common contents of a CV include :

• Personal Details.
• Skills and Career Summary.
• Key Achievements.
• Qualifications.
• Career History.

Key Skills/Competencies/Attributes :

Summarise the things about you that are relevant to this role. You can present the information as a list of achievements, a summary of skills, or a list of key competencies (this choice should be made in consultation with your career consultant). Give as much evidence as you can to suggest that you are suited to the career that you are pursuing. You can get a very good CV if you will follow the CV writing tips and guidelines.