Are you struggling with how to write a CV for your job application? Look no further because, in this article, we’ll talk about how to write a CV and how to ensure it sells and makes you stand out. Before I go further, I would like to point out that your CV needs to be updated periodically to reflect new values, new skills gained, new qualifications, and achievements.
Furthermore, your CV is not a one-for-all document; it cannot serve all job openings, so always ensure to tailor each CV according to the job role and company you are applying to. As we go further in this article, you will learn how to write a CV that will not only be attractive, but it will also get you your desired job. So without much delay, let’s get to it!
Note: If you need any form of assistance with your CV/Resume, you can contact us today. An expert will review or revamp your resume and help you improve it to better capture the key things that will help you stand out.
What Is A CV?
Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a Latin expression; it is the expression used to define a professional document of an individual which especially outlines the qualifications and strengths he/she represents. The CV is a very important tool that an individual will need to explore any career openings and it is a sales document.
While a CV is a necessary tool for job seekers, there usually arises a lot of conflict about; what to write in a CV, the length of the CV, what should be included, and what should not be included in a CV.
Sections To Include In Your CV/Resume
Usually, a CV should contain but is not restricted to;
- Name and Contact Details (Phone, Address, Email, LinkedIn URL/Website)
- Personal Profile
- Skills/Area of Specialty
- Professional/Career Experience
- Educational Background
- Certifications/Awards/Recognition
- Interest
- Referees
1. Contact Information
Including your contact information on your resume gives the employer a chance to reach you in case of further inquiries. Also, note that not all personal information is necessary to add to your resume, especially marital status, religion, age, height, etc. Here are the most important contact information every employer is concerned about in any CV
- Full Name: Your name as it appears on all your credentials should be written boldly on your resume. Moreover, using the same name on your professional social media platforms will do you good because nowadays, employers or recruiters verify prospective employees’ social persona before hiring them. So, having a good social media presence can enhance your chances of getting hired.
- Phone Number: Use an active phone number.
- Professional Email Address: Ensure your full names appear on your email address and not pet names. Use a working email address.
- Official URL: Add the link to any official website of your own or from any professional platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, GitHub, etc.
2. Profile Summary
A profile summary is an overview of the entire resume; it gives a good summary of all the sections contained in the resume. Moreso, it is important to write a compelling profile summary or personal statement so that it catches your employer’s attention faster and makes him convinced to hire you immediately or read further into your resume. As you read further, you will find a guide on how to write a befitting profile summary.
3. Professional Skills
Skills are important for an entry-level resume. It is the basis of your assessment. Here’s is an expert tip on how to make the most out of this skills section; instead of listing just soft skills or putting both soft and hard skills together, you can do your research on the most relevant skills required for the job and add it in separate sections instead of just one.
4. Work Experience
For your work experience, there is a better way to write it if you don’t have any work experience at all. You can write it as career experience where you include things such as volunteer experience, internships, and so on.
5. Education
The employer is also interested to know your academic background; what you have spent time doing in school and all that. Now if you have acquired a Bachelor’s degree, and nothing else after that, leave out all others before the B.Sc. That is the standard practice.
6. Certificates/Awards
Add certificates, awards, and any other memberships you are part of. This goes on to demonstrate to the recruiter that you have passion or enthusiasm for the job role.
7. Internships & Training
Don’t forget to mention the internship or training programs you have taken because this will add more spice to your resume, especially if you don’t have enough work experience.
8. Referees (If Requested)
When necessary, you can include two or more referees who can attest to your character and qualities. They must not necessarily be your family members. A former boss or colleague is just fine; or a prominent person in your community.
As we go on you will see how to write these sections in your CV template.
How To Choose A Good Template
The first thing to consider when writing your CV is what kind of template matches your profession. Don’t use an overly creative template for a profession that appreciates simple and progressive CV templates.
A lot of times you see some ads that show you something about a one-page CV being the right CV format and that a progressive template is outdated, that’s not true. Your potential employer cares little about how fashionable your CV is; he is more interested in “how much quality you have and what strengths you can bring to the company”. So for entry-level applicants, use a one-page template however, there’s a limit to one-page templates, so a progressive template is still your best bet if your have adequate professional work experience.
Relevant: Tips On How To Use Different Types Of CV Format (Free Templates)
How To Write A CV: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write a compelling CV/Resume. I’m certain that by the end of this section, you should know what to write and how to write your resume.
1. Write Contact Details
Make sure you don’t give unnecessary contact information about yourself so that you don’t end up turning the attention of your employer to someone else’s CV just because of a little mistake out of ignorance. So here is an example of how to write down your contact details in a resume.
WRONG
MR. FRANK JOHNSON
Date Of Birth: 17th – July – 2000
Age: 24 years
Marital Status: Married
Religion: Free Worshipper
The above details don’t show any iota of professionalism, and it isn’t going to make a good impression on your employers. Hence here’s the right way to go about this.
RIGHT
FRANK JOHNSON
Phone Number: +234 8XX XXXX
Email Address: fullname@gmail.com
Location: (City, Country)
Official URL: (link to an official platform)
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2. Mention Professional Skills
Highlight your professional skills. Ensure to only include the skills that are relevant to the job.
Soft Skills
- Communication
- Teamwork
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- Excellent Customer Service
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Note: When applying for a job, it’s pertinent that you use the language that is used in the job ad. Doing this will ensure that you don’t miss out on some reasonable points if the organization you applied to uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to check CVs.
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3. Describe Previous Work Experiences
It’s not enough to list the duties in your last workplace; find a way to include the achievements and contributions you made while working there. Those are the things that will indicate to your employer what he stands to gain by employing you. So, think about it, what contributions did you make, what new things did you bring on board? You may think there was nothing but if you give it a thought you contributed in one way or the other towards the growth of the organization so pick out those special achievements and include it. Did your organization celebrate any achievements? You were part of the success so don’t be shy to include it. For your work experience, these are the details employers need from you. They are
- Title of the position
- Name of the organization
- Location of the organization
- Duration
- Activities you were involved in (3-6 bullet points)
Here is an example of how to write the work experience:
(Title of the position), (Name of the organization) || (Location of the organization) || (Duration)
Note: Indicating your achievements and contributions makes you stand out as an achiever and not just a doer.4. Write Academic Journey
The education section is for you to demonstrate your academic prowess. This is what you ought to mention here
- The degree you acquired
- Course of study
- Name of the institution
- Location of the institution
- Entry year – Graduation year
Additionally, these too are important to enhance your resume
- Grades
- Research Project
- Majors
- Minors
- Notable Achievements
Here is an example of how to write it
Education
(Insert The degree you acquired/Course of study), Name of the institution || Location of the institution || Entry year – Graduation year
- Grades: 4.0 Magna Cum Laude
- Undergraduate Research Project: (insert title here)
- Achievements: (insert title here)
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5. List Your Certifications & Awards
Talk about the certificates and awards you have acquired, and see how that plays out for you. Going the extra mile to get these demonstrates enthusiasm and passion for the field and industry. This is what is required
6. Other Sections To Include
You can also include other sections like the following which will help give more weight to your resume.
- Hobbies or Interests: In this section, you will list the things you can be involved in outside work or what you always invest your time in. To tailor a good resume, ensure all your hobbies or interests are in line with the job role and the company values.
- Language: If you applied for a job in a multinational company and you are bilingual or multilingual, it is advised you mention it to help you get a chance with your employer.
- Special Talents: Do you have any special talent that relates to the job? If you answered yes, then why not mention it here also?
- Referees (if requested by employer or admission committee).
7. Write A Compelling Profile Summary
A well-structured profile summary or executive profile gives a detailed summary statement of every other section written on the resume. Despite being passionate about the job, ensure all the information written down is representative of you – no lies.
With that being said, let’s look at the example below.
CV Sample (Text Format) Using Data Scientist As A Case Study
FRANK JOHNSON
|| [Phone Number] || [Email Address] || [Address: City, Country] || [Official URL] ||
Profile Summary
An enthusiastic data scientist with a good academic knowledge of programming, data science, and computer security from the University of Nigeria. Has developed a dashboard that provided real-time insights into customer behavior, resulting in a 25% increase in customer engagement. Also, has conducted data cleaning and manipulation which resulted in a 20% reduction in data processing time. Adept at using Microsoft Office Suite. An excellent communicator both in written and spoken, coupled with other languages such as French and Spanish.
Professional Skills
- Statistical Analysis and Computing
- Machine Learning
- Deep Learning
- Programming
- Processing Large Data Sets
- Data Visualization
- Data Wrangling
- Mathematics
Work Experience
Junior Data Scientist || Name of Company || (City- Country) | Start Year – End Year
- Analyzed and interpreted complex data sets to provide insights and recommendations to stakeholders.
- Improved data accuracy by 20% by implementing data validation processes
- Developed and implemented machine learning models to predict outcomes and optimize business processes.
- Conducted data cleaning and manipulation, resulting in a 20% reduction in data processing time.
- Cleaned and pre-processed data to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Created and maintained data pipelines to ensure data consistency and availability
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for data-driven decision-making.
Data Science Intern, Name of Company || (City- Country) | Start Year – End Year
- Assisted in the analysis and interpretation of data sets to provide insights and recommendations to stakeholders.
- Cleaned and pre-processed data to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Developed and implemented machine learning models to predict outcomes and optimize business processes.
- Created and maintained data pipelines to ensure data consistency and availability
- Developed a dashboard that provided real-time insights into customer behavior, resulting in a 25% increase in customer engagement.
Education
(Insert The degree you acquired/Course of study), Name of the institution || Location of the institution || Entry year – Graduation year
- Grades: 4.0 Magna Cum Laude
- Undergraduate Research Project: (insert title here)
- Achievements:
Data Scientist CV
Conclusion:
In conclusion, remember the following
- Use the same font and spacing throughout your CV.
- Always centralize/justify your work.
- Use templates that are simple, clean, and straightforward.
- Spacing and fonts should be the same throughout your CV.
- Use bold/italics or bullets to highlight or emphasize some points but for the love of professionalism, please don’t overdo it.
- Proofread your work over and over to ensure nothing is missing or misplaced. Have 2-5 people help you proof your CV. Crosscheck dates, names, and figures.
How We Can Help You With Your Resume
We are a career brand that renders career services such as CV/Resume writing, personal statement/statement of purpose writing, LinkedIn Optimisation, Interview Guide, and Career coaching. We want to ensure we help you to navigate the tides of the academics, and corporate world. Contact us today to get an outstanding resume!
Cheers!
