Every CV or resume has one objective, which is to get you an interview with someone who can offer you a job.
It is your primary marketing tool when it comes to securing job interviews, thus, needs to stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of your desired employers.

Getting it right takes time and effort but it is worth it!

If you’re unsure about what to include in your CV, please follow these simple steps to develop a stand out CV.

1. Know the Organisation:
Recruitment serves to address specific human resource needs within an organization. So before you start writing, research the organization to understand its needs, then craft your CV to address those needs.

2. Use Keywords:
Most recruiters now employ Applicants Tracking Systems for screening CVs. The system simply searches for CVs based on any set criteria, selects those CVs and contacts the candidates. These criteria are usually keywords used in the vacancy advert, so stick with them in your CV.

For instance, you can have a criteria like: “First 20 candidates who are Certified Project Management Professionals.”

3. Simple formatting
<br >A simple and concise CV allows recruiters to easily navigate your CV and pick out the necessary information they need. Applicants tracking systems (ATS) can only handle very simple formatting.

4. Make good use of your personal summary
Your “Profile or Personal Summary” is a very critical aspect of your CV as it is the first section that a recruiter will read before making a decision whether to continue reading or not.

Use it to communicate the strategic values you intend to bring to the organization. Keep it within 200 words. Be sure to reflect your suitability for the job in your “Profile or Personal Summary” Section.

5. Adapt your previous jobs roles properly
Remember you want to convince the recruiter that you are the preferred candidate for the job, so use your previous employments skilfully to drive home this point.

You can start with the job title, the summary of the job and responsibilities and then achievements. The achievements give me them an impression that you are result oriented.

6. Be authentic - Do not copy other peoples’ CV.
Avoid the temptation to copy from People’s CVs or sample CVs on the Internet.
Recruiters can tell when you have copied from other documents because the language structure will not match with your own. Remember even if you are able to fool them and get the job, you still have to pass through the probationary period. Honesty is the best policy.

7. Know what to include and exclude
Do not include reasons for leaving a job, marital status, whether you are willing to move, your photo or any other detail that might raise a question mark in the eyes of your potential employer. If in doubt leave it out.

8. Referees
You should never provide your referee details in an initial job application. Instead a sentence that notes that referees will be supplied upon request is all that is required here.

9. Cross check your CV
Mistakes in your CV can seriously damage your job hunting chances, so make sure you thoroughly proof read your CV before sending it out to employers.

10. Apply early
Late applications are most times rejected.


Good luck with your job search.

http://www.vipcgng.com/2018/03/08/writing-winning-cvs-10-basic-steps-to-follow/