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Valuable Tips on CV Writing

Curriculum vitae is a document every job seeker has to have in order to get the career going. Whether you are just starting your path or have already been on the job market for a while, you need to have an effective CV, and thus you surely need to learn to write it professionally.

The CV is, in most of the cases, the first form of contact you have with the potential employer, which means you need to make a good, lasting impression with your skills, experiences, and achievements, as well as the nice formatting and readability of the curriculum vitae.

You may not realize it, but there is a huge difference between a good CV and an excellent one. While good CVs leave employers doubting whether the candidate is what the company needs or not, excellent ones secure interviews without anyone questioning anything.

Here are a few sets of tips that will get your application to the next level.

• Do not make the CV more than two pages long; if you are an executive or have a great relevant list of experiences, you can make it 3-4 on top.

• Prioritize the skills and experience that match the ad and general requirements. This will help the HR manager see why he needs to hire you right away.

• Start with the short summary that briefly describes what kind of worker you are, and how many ambitions you have.

• Remember that the CV will be used during the interview.

• Explain the gaps in the employment history if there are any and if you have enough space to do it. If not – leave any explanations for the cover letter.

• The CV should also give a glance on the way you progress in the field. If you are pursuing certain qualification, let the employers know.

• Do not just list the responsibilities you had while working for the previous companies. Think what you have achieved in the positions. It is not just about the way you carried the work out, but rather more about the results both for you and for the company. Show that you have increased sales or income, and put down the exact numbers.

• Show the skills and qualities that are relevant for the position or just may be useful for it, even if not directly related to the job.

• Make your CV look interesting and readable.

• Stick to the chronological CV style. If you are not a greenie and are not going for the extremely creative job such as designer, photographer, etc., chronological CVs are the best. They let you present the most recent experiences first so that you do not begin the list with the very first, the most likely unimpressive job you had when you were just starting. 

• Leave more space for the descriptions of most recent job positions, as it is likely, you have shown yourself in the best way there.

• Do not forget to include the info on all educational and professional qualifications, as well as relevant training.

• Never mention things like marital status or religious beliefs. That is unnecessary in the CV and can only lead to bias from the manager’s side. The info like this should not also be asked at the interview, and it is your right not to answer related questions.

• Do not include any information about the previous salary and your current demands.