How to Write a Good CV and Land Your Dream Job?

by Mila Kalajdzieva
Are you looking for a new job? An internship? If so, you need to make sure that you have a good CV that’s up to scratch. Sadly, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that their CV doesn’t matter and all they need to do is list all their job positions. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, your CV is one of the most important things when it comes to finding a job. In this blog post, we will discuss 5 steps on how to write the CV that will help you land your dream job!

Before we get into it, remember that creating a CV is an art, and you’re the artist. It goes without saying that you should try to make your overview visually appealing. You can do this by avoiding blocks of text and paying attention to grammar and spelling. If you fail to do so, your application might even be automatically discarded in the early stages of the process before a human eye has even landed on it. Therefore, by adopting these 5 tips below, you’ll ensure your CV stands out from the crowd.

Mind the length

Your CV shouldn’t be too long -around two pages is a good length. If you make it longer, there’s a good chance that employers won’t go through it all and will only skim it. Nobody wants to read five pages where you ramble about even the smallest volunteer jobs you’ve undertaken. However, don’t make it too short either. You need to give potential employers enough information about your experience and skills without going overboard.

Use active verbs

When describing your work experience and skills on your CV, it is essential to use active instead of passive verbs. For example, don’t say “I was responsible for managing a team of five people.” Say “I managed a team of five people.” This small change makes a big difference as it sounds much more impressive. Moreover, it leaves the impression that you took an active role and were the initiator instead of just being handed the task to manage.

Tailor it to fit the job

When applying for a job, you need to make sure that your CV is tailored to the specific role. Namely, this means including information about your experience and skills that are relevant to the job. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job, make sure to include information about your experience with social media and creating marketing campaigns. In addition, if you’re changing career fields, you should emphasize the transferable skills you can bring to your new job.

Avoid overused phrases

There are a few phrases on CVs which might make employers roll their eyes, such as “hard worker” and “team player”. If you’ve ever read a CV, you’ve most likely seen these phrases to show that the person is agreeable. However, they don’t actually tell employers anything about you and can make your CV sound generic. Instead, try to use specific examples of times when you have demonstrated these qualities. If possible, describe situations where you have exemplified leadership, teamwork, and conscientiousness.

Include a cover letter

Nowadays, most job ads require applicants to submit cover letters. However, even if they don’t explicitly state this, it is always a good idea to include one. In fact, this is your chance to explain why you are the perfect candidate for the role and give employers more information about yourself. Moreover, you can clear up any work gaps or clarify the change in career paths. However, you should also make sure to tailor your cover letter to each specific job that you are applying for and ascertain that what you’ve written is relevant.

Conclusion

If you’re not sure where to start when writing a CV, there are plenty of templates available online. Use one of these as a starting point, and then tailor it to fit your own experience and skillset. With a little effort, you’ll have a great CV in no time!