CV means curriculum vitae or course of life. It is a professional document that presents you before potential employers and shows them your qualifications. Many hiring firms use automated applicant tracking system software to find the most fitting applicants. They scan potential employees’ CVs and choose the best among them. ATS bots are resume-scanning software looking for key skills, accomplishments, and work experience.
Therefore, job seekers who want more interviews need a bot-beating resume. The best way to get one is to contact a career advice expert or get professional help from a curriculum vitae writing service to cover this question. In this article, you will learn practical tips on how to format your CV and land the job of your dreams.
CVs and Resumes
CVs and resumes are similar in most cases. These documents are identical in the US and Canada, and employers ask for CVs. The main distinction of a CV before a resume is its specification.
A resume presents information tailored for a particular job position, and a CV describes an entire career of a person. Therefore, before submitting an official document to an employer, read the job description carefully and what document it requires.
Curriculum Vitae Formatting
CVs have a standard template of blocks that should be there. In your CV, include the following information:
- Contact details.
- Work experience.
- Skills
- Qualifications
- Personal information.
When you start a CV, do not spend space naming it a CV. Provide your name and contact information instead.
The main aim of a good CV is to catch attention immediately and then show details about one’s professionalism. The reverse chronological order is the best option for your working experience section.
Start with the most recent occupation, and then continue with previous job entries. This approach will show your highest achievements and support them with the rest of the entries.
Your CV should not be too lengthy. The typical volume of the document is two total pages. Therefore, pick the most relevant information for the provided position. Do not describe the entirety of your personality in the closing section of the CV. You need to provide information that will be relevant for an appointment. For example, if you aim for a designer’s position, you can write that your hobby is art.
CV Layout
You should pay additional attention to the CV’s layout. First, ATS systems notice poor formatting and may miss your CV. Second, any hiring manager will appreciate a well-formatted CV and spend time looking through it. Make sure that you use professional, black fonts of a decent size. The best options for a CV are:
- Arial Calibri
- Garamount
- Georgia
- Veranda
The optimal font size for the regular text is 12, and 14-16 for headings. The actual numbers depend on the amount of information you have.
Try to avoid using Times New Roman. It is a professional-looking font, but it is a default option for any document. Your CV would not stand out, and it is one of the criteria of a successful CV. Do not use fonts like Comics Sans; your CV should be easy to pick up and read. Comic sans may look fancy, making your CV harder to read.
Do not forget to divide your CV into sections and paragraphs. You should leave enough space between essential blocks. This formatting works for automated and personal CV reading.
Be Truthful About Your Experience
It is tempting to exaggerate a bit about your experience or achievements to get the job you are looking for. However, a potential employer can quickly check this information and find out that you assign something that you do not have.
At the same time, you should highlight your accomplishments. The competition among job seekers is fierce, and you need to stand out. If you made something extra during your career or have a specific prize, you should mention it in your CV.
You may negotiate a bit extra during an interview. Yet, your CV is solid ground before these negotiations.
Use Active Verbs in Your Achievements and Skills
When you describe your skills, you should use active verbs. For example, if you were a team leader, you should write that you managed or led your subordinates. Words like “created” and “delivered” fit for products. You can use the words “provided” and “taught” for mentorship. The active words highlight your competence and show that you do not simply have a key skill but can achieve specific results.
Add a Cover Letter
A cover letter is a practical addition to your CV. In it, you should write why a job position interests you and why you fit it the most. In most cases, a job position requires a cover letter and a CV. Therefore, if you have one prepared, you will have more chances to land this job.
Final Words
A curriculum vitae is a document that represents you as a professional before a potential employer. You should mention your working experience, education, professional skills, achievements, and personal information.
While working on the CV, pay attention to the document’s layout and formatting. Be honest with your achievements, and use active verbs to describe your skills. CV is the first thing that an HR manager learns about you. So make sure that it is mistake-free, properly formatted, and ATS-optimized. Creating a well-made CV is an excellent way to invest in your career.
