How to write a good CV or Resume
Employers rarely spend more than a few minutes reviewing a CV.
So, a successful CV must be short.
It should have critical information so a recruiter or employer can scan it.
It can be challenging to write an attention-grabbing CV, especially when competing against many other job seekers.
You must create a well-written introduction and a personal profile at the beginning of your CV.
Although it should be a few lines, it must summarise the value you could bring to an employer or organization. Meanwhile, how to write a resume like a pro.
Like this post?
Sign up for our blog updates and never miss a post. We’ll send you A FREE job interview eBook as a thank-you.
There must be clear information about your:
- qualifications
- skills
- abilities
- employment history
Get one step closer to achieving your career goals with a free CV using our online CV builder and the free online resume builder.
You can use these 13 best career tests to assess your career path.
And you must tailor your CV to each job application you submit.
Your CV, personal statement, or profile is the first thing potential employers and recruiters will read.
Understanding the job requirements before creating a custom CV for your desired job
Your name and contact details are the first things employers will see on your CV.
Thus, you must create a format highlighting your name, address, phone number, email address, and other personal information.
All these details should be in the header of your CV to save valuable time and not be obscured by other information.
Your CV format should allow employers or recruiters to identify critical information quickly.
They need to scan and extract information about who you are and your qualifications for the job.
Relevant work experience and specific skills are other information they need to scan.
Also, include any other relevant information the recruiter requested in the job description.
Or those that are relevant to the job title and key responsibilities.
Use a CV template
Writing a good CV is hard work.
But professionally designed and developed templates can help you create a robust and striking CV.
One that sets you apart from the competition.
One that helps get your foot in the door.
Remember that your CV is the first chance to impress a recruiter.
You can save time and research by using a professional template from CVJURY.
Marketing Yourself to Employers
Your CV is your marketing document to sell yourself to potential employers and recruiters.
Remember, it must be clear and concise so potential employers can quickly find the necessary information.
Remember, your CV should summarise your career background, experience, qualifications, and skills.
It should also include relevant information to support your candidacy for the position.
The positioning of contact and address data is a matter of personal choice.
For maximum impact, place them at the top of your CV.
This is best when you undergo a vacancy screening process involving many applications.
In such cases, basic skills and personal circumstances are the priority criteria for examining and selecting potential interim or permanent candidates.
Let’s examine what you can do in situations of CV interim positions, for example.
CV Interim Positions | Example of an Interim Sales Executive Role
Whether you apply for an interim or permanent role, your CV is essential to your job search.
You must ensure your CV stands out to impress prospective employers.
There are various CV formats, ranging from conventional to functional ones.
A convention or traditional CV will summarize your academic qualifications and briefly introduce you.
You should also have your contact details and address. It’s not uncommon for CVs to be up to two pages long or more.
Choosing a format that reflects the specific role you are applying for is essential.
The most crucial thing to remember when writing an interim CV for a sales executive role is to ensure you demonstrate your skills in action.
Unlike a permanent job, interim roles are often short-lived and require you to start work immediately.
It’s vital to prove that you can hit the ground running and deliver within agreed timescales.
It’s also crucial to show your business impact through case studies and real-world results.
Examples
Include quantified achievements from your current position, such as:
– Increased sales in the product portfolio by 20% year-on-year
– Generated more than $500,000 in additional revenue through new key accounts
– Developed and implemented successful marketing campaigns that increased sales by 25% in 2021
– Built and maintained relationships with high-profile clients resulting in repeat business
A traditional CV will include a short introduction and a summary of your educational background and roles.
Your CV is an important document that you should update regularly.
Doing so will increase your chances of being considered for an interim position.
Our career professionals at CVJury can advise you on the best way to present your CV.
The most important thing to remember when creating an interim CV is to focus on the main selling points.
Demonstrating that you are a top performer in your field and can provide value to the organization is essential.
Your CV has to be brief yet enlightening. It’s also essential to use keywords in the right places.
The right keywords can make your CV sound more dynamic. Identifying where to include these keywords can be a challenge.
Read more about how to write a resume: identifying keywords from the job description and adding them naturally to your CV.
Keywords help make your CV scannable and easy to read.
One way to do this is to include relevant keywords in a profile statement at the top of your CV.
This should consist of the critical skills you’ve gained over your career, achievements and the sectors you have worked in.
Alternatively, include these vital details in a bullet-pointed list.
The best CVs will be at most two or three pages. List each role on a separate page if you’re applying for multiple interim assignments.
You can also list relevant academic qualifications, but make sure they reflect your current experience level.
Your Cover Letter
Never send an empty email with just your CV to a recruiter. Always add a cover letter or e-note.
Cover letter example:
A Cover Letter to Go With Your CV.
Discover how to write a good cover letter.
And create your best cover letter yet on our cover letter builder.
Our online resume builder is free as well.
Land the career you’ve always wanted.
Examples e-note ─
An e-Note that can be sent along with your CV:
Example 1
Email Subject: RE: Communications Consultant Vacancy
Dear Daniella Cox
I am writing in response to the opening for Communications Consultant, which I believe may report to you.
I can offer you six years of experience managing communications for top-tier PR & Communications firms, excellent project-management skills, and an excellent eye for detail.
All of which should make me an ideal candidate for this opening.
I have attached my CV for your review and would welcome the chance to speak with you sometime.
Best regards
Lorrie Harris
Example 2
Email Subject: EVP ─ Corporate Strategy and Development (LinkedIn Job Posting)
Hello Mr Bailey,
- As an Investment Banker with a top Wall Street firm, I led the design and execution of mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions that delivered billions of dollars in shareholder value
I can produce the same solid and sustainable results for your client.
I’m interested in working at a great company with talented people tackling complex issues ─ perfecting company strategy or designing and implementing external growth initiatives to realize that strategy.
The EVP position seems to fit that description, and I welcome your call to discuss the opportunity.
Kella Michella
401-961-8710
Email.
LinkedIn Profile.
Check out our Cover Letter Templates.
Now let’s progress to talking about lackluster CVs.
Your CV is an advert for yourself to the recruiter or potential employer.
And a key feature that makes you stand out from the crowd is presenting a CV that is result-oriented.
Most fresh graduates struggle because they believe they can’t create a result-oriented CV.
This is unlike a candidate already having a job or more than one.
But anyone can create a CV that is result-oriented.
Even if you have never been employed, this will be your first job.
How to Achieve It
How to write a good CV isn’t that difficult!
If you graduated with an excellent academic result, say a first-class or second-class upper, highlight it in your CV.
Achieving such an excellent academic result takes work. How did you achieve it?
Of course, you needed to work hard.
You were dedicated and focused and put in the effort required.
So, you can say that you can achieve the best results.
That you are someone who does not relent and is goal-oriented.
Examples of results achieved
- Did you belong to any associations or clubs in school? If you did, you could use these experiences to show you are a team player.
Show how you were the go-to person among the association or club members when they wanted to get things done!
- Do you hold a leadership or mentoring role in your church or mosque? Then, include some details about it in your CV.
Show how you have used your leadership role or your responsibilities to achieve positive results.
You can also show how such roles taught you to become good at multitasking.
- Have you done any volunteer work? If so, use the experience in your CV. Highlight how you were an asset to the host organization/community. Highlight the difference you made while volunteering.
Give details of the project, your role, and the positive outcome.
If you volunteered in a customer service role, show how you satisfied customers.
Reducing customer complaints and increasing customer retention is what you need to highlight.
Sell yourself
Selling yourself is an essential job-hunting skill in any industry.
But many fresh graduates and job seekers need to learn this critical skill.
Sending out CVs that don’t impress is a total waste of time.
When a recruiter looks at your CV, they should be propelled to act and want to see you.
You can find examples of results in almost everything you do daily.
It could be solving a problem at home and improving athletic performance.
It can be anything else where you have achieved a positive or improved outcome.
Focus on such experiences and highlight them in your job application.
Show that you are a results-oriented person.
Use our free resume builder and cover letter tools to help create outstanding documents.
Make a job application that will get you that interview.
That’s where your success in any job search begins.
Need help?
Check out these professional tools to help you write a good CV.
Related Reading: How to write a good CV─
- LinkedIn summary templates
- LinkedIn profile builder
- Don’t forget to use our free resume scanner
- Online resume builder
- How to find a job
Request A Resume Review
CV and Resume Examples
Our Story
