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How To Write a Winning CV

• January 10, 2023

Having a top-notch CV is critical for any job applicant or career seeker. A well-crafted and polished CV can be the difference between getting an interview and missing out on an opportunity. But what does it take to craft a winning CV? Here are some tips that can help you stand out from your competition.

Why Creating a Well-Crafted CV Is Important

Creating an impressive CV can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting hired. A well-crafted CV showcases your unique skills, qualifications, and accomplishments that are related to the job you are applying for. It also serves as a starting point for employers to evaluate whether you will be a good fit for the role.

Steps to Crafting a Winning CV

Now that you know why a good CV is so important, let’s dive into how to create one that will stand out from the rest. Here are some things you should consider when making your winning CV:

Header & Contact Information

Make sure that all of these elements are clear and concise so employers can easily find them. Include your name at the top of the page as well as your email address and phone number where potential employers can reach you.

Write an engaging summary statement

An engaging summary is important when writing a CV. This is because it gives the reader a quick overview of your skills, experience, and achievements. It should highlight your unique value proposition and differentiate you from other candidates. A strong summary can also grab the reader's attention and encourage them to read the rest of your CV. Keep it short but powerful so employers feel compelled to learn more about you after reading it!

In short, an engaging summary helps you stand out and can increase the chances of your CV being read and considered by a potential employer.

Experience & relevant skills

Including experience and relevant skills in your CV is also important because it helps demonstrate your qualifications for the job you are applying for. Your experience should include past jobs, internships, and any other relevant work-related activities. Be sure to highlight specific accomplishments and responsibilities in each role.

Including relevant skills is also important because it shows the employer that you have the abilities and knowledge needed to succeed in the job. Be sure to tailor your skills to the specific job you are applying for, and consider including both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal abilities).

What are hard skills?

Hard skills refer to technical abilities or knowledge related to specific tasks that can be quantified, such as expertise with a particular software platform or an industry-specific certification These skills are acquired through education and/or experience on the job and demonstrate to potential employers that you have the necessary aptitude to succeed in the role.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to interpersonal abilities or qualities that can't necessarily be quantified, such as communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability. These skills are often acquired through experience in different contexts such as education, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Having a combination of strong hard and soft skills will help you stand out from other candidates and make you an attractive job candidate – so don't forget to include both in your CV!

By including both experience and relevant skills in your CV, you can effectively showcase your qualifications and make a strong case for why you are the best candidate for the job.

List past work experience & accomplishments

Adding past work experience and accomplishments to your CV is important because it helps to demonstrate your qualifications and track record of success. It is a good idea to include a detailed list of your past jobs, internships, and any other relevant work-related activities. For each role, be sure to highlight specific responsibilities and accomplishments. This can help to give the reader a sense of the type of work you have done in the past and the impact you have made.

Accomplishments are particularly important to include because they demonstrate your value and the specific ways in which you have contributed to your past organizations. Examples of accomplishments might include increasing sales, streamlining processes, or winning awards. Be sure to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible, as this can help to make them more concrete and impressive to the reader. For example, instead of saying “increased sales”, you might say “increased sales by 15% in 6 months.”

By including this information in your CV, you can effectively demonstrate your value and show potential employers what you have to offer. Overall, including past work experience and accomplishments in your CV is a key way to showcase your qualifications and value to a potential employer.

Employers want to see proof of success on previous jobs which means including those details here is important! Be sure also mention any awards or recognition earned throughout your career if applicable too!

Educational background

Including your educational background in your CV can be important, especially if you are applying for a job that requires a certain level of education or specific qualifications. In general, it is a good idea to include the following information about your education:

    •    The name and location of the institution where you received your education
    •    The degree you earned (e.g. Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate)
    •    The field of study or major
    •    The date you graduated or the expected graduation date (if you are currently enrolled in a program)

If you have completed coursework or have certifications that are relevant to the job you are applying for, you should also consider including this information in your CV.

It is generally not necessary to include information about your high school education in your CV unless you are a recent graduate or do not have much work experience. In these cases, including your high school education can help to fill out your CV and provide some context for your other qualifications.

Overall, including your educational background in your CV can help to demonstrate your qualifications and knowledge in a particular field and can be an important factor in getting hired for a job.

Additional/volunteer activities

Additional activities and volunteer activities on your CV can be a good way to showcase your interests, skills, and experiences outside of your work and educational background. These types of activities can help to round out your CV and give the reader a more well-rounded sense of who you are as a person.

Examples of additional activities and volunteer activities that you might consider including in your CV are:
    •    Participation in professional organisations or clubs
    •    Involvement in community service or volunteering
    •    Hobbies and interests (especially if they are relevant to the job or demonstrate valuable skills)
    •    Sports or other extracurricular activities

When including additional activities and volunteer activities in your CV, be sure to highlight any specific responsibilities or accomplishments you had in these roles. This can help to demonstrate your skills and make your involvement in these activities more meaningful to the reader.

Including additional activities and volunteer activities in your CV can help to round out your profile and show the reader that you are a well-rounded individual with a variety of interests and experiences.

Quality Over Quantity Rules

As mentioned earlier it is always important with CVs to keep it concise and only list pertinent information. This is the information which is most likely going show off direct relevancy towards the desired position rather than listing any details that do not add any extra value; quality over quantity always wins in these cases!

Conclusion

Ultimately, creating a great CV is an important step in achieving your professional goals. By including relevant work experience, educational background, and additional activities or volunteer opportunities you can create a comprehensive document that paints a positive picture of who you are and what you bring to the table. With this information in hand, potential employers will have a better understanding of your qualifications and skillset, helping to increase your chances of getting hired.

Good luck!