You’ve ever heard the phrase “first impression matters?” It is also applicable to your CV. Whatever job sector you are targeting; as an intern, or the regular professional jobs, or even as a teacher with a local school, your CV should speak volumes for you. This means that the look of your CV would determine if an employer would dial your number or not – in most cases though.

There is no perfect way to write a CV, but there are methods to make it stand out as attractive. I have interviewed countless job seekers, and I have seen mistakes peculiar to them all.

If you don’t have reliable connections or networks to help you get a job with ease, you should focus on this article – to optimize your CV. Here are the 10 ways below.

Employ a Professional Format while Writing Your CV

The only mental idea every prospective employer creates about you is what your CV says about you. This means that you are being judged by what potential employers see on paper. If you want them to see you as a hirable professional, then your CV should look professional.

Here are some few ways to go about that;

- Stick to Arial or the New Time Romans Format.
- Don’t highlight any part of your resume with colours and other fonts
- Use only font sizes of 11 or a maximum of 12.

Your Objective should answer the “What do I have to Offer Question”

Always have this at the back of your mind. Using a copy and pasted objective that was drafted from a sample on a CV writing website is a CV killer. Hiring managers have seen such a couple of time, and they know exactly where you got it from. To create a wonderful objective, you should know the company needs and how you can be able to solve them – when you write it down. The moment you can attract the hiring officer’s attention, you are just a step closer from getting the job.

Give Attention to Your Educational Qualifications

Since it has been proven that the average maximum time to hold the attention of any hiring officer is 7 seconds, you should make the most out of it.

No one would want to swim in an ocean of information, just to see your educational qualification. It is one of the most important things in your CV. What you studied, any educational qualification that gives you an edge, and achievements you recorded should be paid attention to.

For those without work experience, you should focus more on optimizing this section, this section should be placed either at the top or centre of your CV – since it is where catches the recruiters’ attention the most.

List out valuable work experiences

Aside from your educational qualification, work experience can also be said to be the most important aspect of your CV. You should include any previous job you’ve handled in the past, your accomplishments on the job, and how it affected your previous firm positively.

Hint: This should be written in number and percentage form.

E.g. I succeeded in setting up 2 control panels that helped reduce the downtime in production by 90%.

You are free to use bold fonts to highlight your achievements, but it should be done with caution.

Highlight your Skills

There should be a specific section designed to list out the skills you have in your possession. The fact is that recruiters don’t always need the regular skills being listed out by almost every job-seeker.

Skills like;

- Attention to detail
- Analytic Reasoning, etc. should be minimally used.

Just be sure to include skills that make you stand out, and also relevant to the job you are applying for.

Include Testimonials

I know a whole lot of job seekers won’t swallow this without a fight. The truth is who will believe all the numbers and percentages that you have outlined, without any form of proof? The best way to solidify your claim is to provide evidence from either a former boss or someone you have worked with before. If you can’t provide a testimonial, your CV might still look good all the same.

Create a Proper Sequence on Your CV

Since you have finally listed out the qualities that portray you as the best candidate, it is now important to make sure that your details follow a standard sequence.

After the Skill set summary (Objectives), you should follow it up with your educational qualifications, your work experience, core competencies, Seminars attended and Research works done.

Recheck for Grammatical Errors

Nothing kills a CV more than grammatical errors. How can you have good eyes for details, and you can’t detect simple grammatical errors? Be careful not to forget that your CV is an extension of you. Any rushed work without proofreading will not tell a good story about you. Endeavor to read out your write-up aloud and correct necessary errors.

Maintain a Great Online Profile

Most employers do a background check on several employees to be hired – in most cases, top level jobs. It is necessary you maintain an online profile that is in line with your career objectives. Nothing incriminating should be seen of your online profiles – most especially LinkedIn.

Keep Your CV updated

Every new skilled acquired; every knowledge got, should be recorded properly and updated on your CV. This would help make your CV more attractive and up to date.

Aside from making your CV more attractive, you should also make sure that you tailor your CV specifically for the intended job role. Your CV is your professional personality on paper. It should be able to speak volumes for you.

If you can’t brand yourself on paper, make sure you hand it over to professionals to help you. As long as you get the job, who will care about how much was paid for the help in branding you?

Till we meet next time, happy job hunting and wish you the best.

SOURCE: Patrick Okunima CV Writing Services (www.patrickokunima.com)

cc:

Lalasticlala

Mynd44

OK good info

Thanks.

kunle86:
OK good info

good

Employees and employers

Lovely

the simple truth: No industries, no jobs and no companies in Nigeria compared with other western countries in the world.


Revive Ajaokuta steel company and with Dangote Petrol Chemical Refinery, graduates would be out of street..

Any employer ready to employ you woundnt be looking for all these things u wrote joor

So after all the cvs then no job?

Hmmmmmm

A good CV is only an invite for an interview. There is still a lot more involved in getting the job..

cv this cv that


na waoooo

Well done sir

sam4:
Hmmmmmm

hmmmm too

Need a Résumé that resonates? PM me or check signature. Price: Very very very affordable!

GreatMahmud:
A good CV is only an invite for an interview. There is still a lot more involved in getting the job..

I agree! A CV only gets you noticed and helps you put your foot in the door.

...
My malo friend wey no sabi write CV self don get work for CBN. He no apply self. Dem mix shortlist a for interview. Interview wey dem cover up for am.

Nigeria is bleeped already!

Person wey go get work, go get work.

Can I add web design to my skills.... Somebody should answer plsssdd

dakeskese:
...
My malo friend wey no sabi write CV self don get work for CBN. He no apply self. Dem mix shortlist a for interview. Interview wey dem cover up for am.

Nigeria is bleeped already!

Person wey go get work, go get work.

They shoud keep on deceiving themselves about this CV thrash.

Even the op is looking for job. He is hungry too.

dakeskese:
...

Nigeria is bleeped already!

Person wey go get work, go get work.

true

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this mentality will not take you far. I suggest you read the post again and make amends if need be. thanks

clems88:
Any employer ready to employ you woundnt be looking for all these things u wrote joor

Resumé has never been my problem. l have been invited for interviews all the times l applied. The real deal is getting the job.

lawak:
this mentality will not take you far. I suggest you read the post again and make amends if need be. thanks

kilo de

GreatMahmud:
A good CV is only an invite for an interview. There is still a lot more involved in getting the job..

True that

EdoBoy90:


They shoud keep on deceiving themselves about this CV thrash.

Even the op is looking for job. He is hungry too.

that doesn't negate the fact that you need to know how to write an appealing CV!

Aside from going around looking for companies to submit CV's and application letters, why don't you avail yourself the opportunity of checking out Tech Skills Employers are on the lookout for? if you are that Tech-driven

naturefellow:
that doesn't negate the fact that you need to know how to write an appealing CV!

.


Appealing CV my foot!!!!. Stop using vocabulary here OK. You think am a small boy right.

Keep that thrash to yourself. If you need a job I can help you out OK.

Who CV help?? Those with unattractive CV are getting jobs