Learnist.org

CV Tips

CV Writing for Beginners

Last updated : 27 January 2019

By

We were all once in the position of writing our first CV or resume, and here are some basics to get you started. If you’re applying for a job, most professional positions will require you to write out a personal CV. ‘CV’ stands for ‘Curriculum Vitae’ (Latin meaning ‘story of your life’) and is a brief description of your education and career so far. Using a CV will provide your prospective employer with all the basic information that an employer needs to know about you on a single, easy-to-read sheet.  Your CV should be ideally just one page, but certainly not longer than 2 pages, and all of the ‘impressive’ information should be easily visible on the front page.

cv writing for beginners

It is best to type your CV out on a computer as this will be easiest to scan-read for the employer. Once you have written and typed it, you can make as many copies of your CV as you like. This is particularly useful if you want to apply to several different companies at the same time. You should send your CV with a cover letter which can be tailored to highlight your personal skills and achievements and how these match what the employer is looking for.

You can send a copy of your CV when you’re applying for an advertised job vacancy or when you’re just writing on the ‘off-chance’ there is a vacancy.

So, what should be included on a CV?

Personal details – name, address, post code, telephone number, e-mail address (if you’ve got one)Education

  • Qualifications
  • Skills and personal qualities
  • Employment history and experience
  • Any special skills e.g. driving licence
  • Interests, hobbies and achievements
  • Referees

Are there different ‘styles’ of CV?

The ‘traditional’ CV is a comprehensive list of everything in reverse date order (with the most recent at the top) starting with education and qualifications, followed by your employment history, then finishing with interests and references etc.The more modern alternative is to create a ‘personal profile’ CV which starts with a description to offer the reader an idea of yourself which highlights your skills and experience relevant to the job.The latter ‘personal profile’ CV is considered more modern, but ‘traditional’ CVs may be easier for school leavers to write, and are the format still widely used. See more tips below about writing a CV for freshers from our members!

You can also consider these tips on creating a resume that will surely help you land on any job;

  • Focus on Your Positive Achievements
  • Highlight your best points
  • Build up your image
  • Be specific with your job objective
  • Keep it short
  • Use the first page for your Job Objective, Skills, Accomplishments and Most Recent Job Experiences
  • Last but not the least, proofread your resume before submitting it to the company

Why Should I Write A CV?

Last updated : 27 January 2019

By

If you’ve decided on a career in retail then, as with all careers, you should do some research into the role and company that you hope to work.  Not only will you get a better picture of what to expect, but this is a brilliant way to demonstrate to your prospective employer that you are taking your application seriously and are keen to work for their company.  If you have taken the time to research into the company then you should certainly make reference to it in your cover letter which should introduce your CV or application.  Your employer will be impressed that you have spent some time to learn about the business.

Why write a cv

Depending on what area of the retailing industry that you are looking to begin your career, you should make sure that you get your resume in order. The majority of large retailers have standard application forms or packages to complete, but it is always recommended to submit your personal CV along with the application form (unless specifically requested not to!) to provide the prospective employer with more opportunity to understand your experience, skills, and objectives, and not forgetting your cover letter.  If you are looking to move your way up the corporate ladder, a good resume is an essential item.

Things to do with your CV

If you have been searching for a new job for a long time, it is probably worth revising your CV resume. It is likely that you CV is not communicating your unique skills and experience to the employer.  Perhaps you have not identified all of the skills you have acquired, or perhaps you have put too many down and cluttered your CV with necessary information which doesn’t relate to the roles you are applying for.  You may also have some entries on your resume that are no longer current which should be removed.  Make your CV sleek and to the point by removing the clutter and ensuring all your relevant skills, education and personality are highlighted.

If your CV looks empty

If you think that your CV is a little empty, consider taking some business courses that will show your prospective employers that you are interested in improving yourself and capable of achieving tasks and goals. Employers love to see employees that are willing to learn new things that will benefit themselves and the business they work for. Show your employer that you are willing to do what it takes to be the very best at your job.  Take your career seriously and work toward your goals and you will reach them.  All it will take is some hard work and study and you will be on your way to a fabulous new career.

Expert opinion

CVs are an essential part of life and even if a company has an application form, you should submit a CV with it to make sure everything you have done is covered so they can make the best informed decision. It also shows you are serious about the job and took the time to take a copy of your CV.

I do agree that if your CV looks empty you should do some things to fill it up. For example, volunteer work, training courses, night classes etc show you are enthusiastic towards self improvement and dedicating your time to a worthy cause.

Try and keep your CV all on one page if possible, and keep all detail as concise as possible, but with enough detail to make them want more. If need be, do a CV detox and get rid of the old ‘rubbish’ that is no longer needed or relevant, and replace it with new things!

CV Writing Tips for Jobs 2019

Last updated : 27 January 2019

By

Things to know before you start writing your CV in 2019

New Year, New Start? For those seeking a new job or career in 2019, the first mistake they often make is to use an OLD CV! After all, this is all about wiping the slate clean and starting again! Here we will detail some tips on how to revamp your CV ready for the job hunting market 2019 has to offer.

cv writing tips

1. Out with the Old….

Companies can often change their name, branding or address. It is always wise to ensure that anything listed on your CV is relevant should a potential employer wish to contact that Ex Employer. Scan your CV and ensure that all the employers names are correct and up to date (in the case of takeovers or mergers), and if the company name has changed, change the name on your CV and add ‘Formerly XXX’ in brackets following the new name. Likewise, if a company has moved addresses since your employment, it is wise to ensure that you have updated that in case the new employer might wish to take up a reference from them.

2. Try something new!

SHAKE up that CV! There are a few new trends in the CV market these days, from pictorials, to Info graphics. One of the best examples of the info graphic CV can be found on our site at the CV templates category and they will show you how creative you can be with your CV. You are bound to stand out from the rest of the crowd with such an individual CV and also, if you are going for a statistical or graphical job, it’s a great way of showing off your skills on paper!

3. Tidy for the New Year.

At the very least, you should give your CV a ‘Spring Clean’. Scan it over for any errors, and then think about reshuffling the content around to give it a fresh look. Maybe change the font and formatting a little, or add a splash of colour.

4. Rethink your personal statement.

The personal statement on your CV is one of the things an employer will use to build a picture of you as a person, and so it should be just as important as your skills! Have a really good think about the kind of person you ARE NOW, and the kind of person you ASPIRE TO BE, and put this down. Make sure to put yourself across honestly, in a way that will entice potential bosses to want to meet you!

5. Use natural persuasion .

In your New Year covering letter, be sure to wish the potential employer a successful New Year and hint that you will be part of that, by ending the covering letter with “I wish your company success and prosperity in 2019, and hope I will be with you to celebrate the success.” This offhand greeting will instil in the prospective employer that you have their best interests at heart and would be a good team player.

So what are you waiting for? Go and freshen that CV and get job hunting!

And some more advice for writing a CV:

When applying for jobs, a CV will be a like a window to see through the applicant’s qualifications, qualities, skills and experience in very little time. That means that a well written CV can help one enhance chances of landing a job while a poorly written and structured will put off potential employers. Here are some writing tips to come up with a great resume for your job applications.

1- Structure

Structure it in a way to attract the attention of the reader. There are many structures that you can use to make the structure look neat, well detailed and yet attractive.  As you do this, be sure to include all relevant information including your skills, experience and qualifications in a clear and straightforward manner. It is very important to note that, the application may attract numerous applications and therefore, the employer will have little time to go through the resume. Unless otherwise stipulated, a standard resume should be about 2 pages.

2- CV Format

To make it more appealing, you can format with all the key points made clear to spot. The sentences should be short and you can use bullets or numbering to highlight the hot points. Be sure to include facts as in many cases you will be required to support the details in the resume with certificates and other testimonials.

3- Ordering

Use the right order of items in writing. Start with the most recent occupation, job, position or even achievements. Only include relevant details and leave out the not so important information. Be sure to include your duties and responsibilities in the job positions you will have mentioned in the resume and take note or any achievements in them line of your duty.

4- Personal Skills

Include other personal skills and qualities that may not necessarily be part of your job but which can help in enhancing your productivity like punctuality, your modifications and your moral values. Remember that your resume is meant to sell you and thus it should include more positive values about you.

5- Proof Reading

Once done, be sure to proof read it to check for any mistakes and correct the mistakes before sending. Sending a resume full of mistakes may deny you the opportunity to be selected for job interviews.  Depending on the job you will be applying for, you can tailor it a little to suit that specific post to enhance chances of getting selected for an interview. However, remember not to go too far in tailoring the CV to make it look unrealistic.