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Top 5 CV Writing Tips You Need to Know
Friday 15th July 2022
Have you been looking for a new way to optimise your CV writing efforts? There’s so much to consider when it comes to writing a great CV, which can often leave us confused and unsure. However, with today’s top five CV writing tips, you should be able to find the most effective solutions to optimize your CV and ensure your job applications are the best they can possibly be.
Top 5 CV Writing Tips You Need to Know
If you’re planning on writing a new CV, you need to be sure it shows off your skills perfectly. After all, while it’s easy to overlook the importance of a great CV, this is one of the things a potential employer will first see about you. And, after all, first impressions count for a lot – so, don’t let this opportunity go to waste.
#1 Don’t Make it Too Long
The most vital CV writing tip we can give here is to not make it too long. In many cases, it’s naturally tempting to write as much as possible to show just what we can do.
However, it’s important to remember that you’re not the only applicant for this role. There will likely be many other CVs for a potential employer to read, and a CV that’s trying to disguise itself as a short novel is going to be highly offputting. Instead, a moderate-length CV is often far more effective – short, to the point, and making a huge impact!
#2 List Your Most Relevant Skills First
Once again, it’s important to focus on first impressions with your CV – which is why you should always highlight your most relevant skills and experience first. This simple step is a great way to reduce the chances of a potential employer getting bored before they get to what you have to offer. If you can open your CV immediately highlighting your skills instead, it’ll be much more likely to catch – and hold – the employer’s attention.
#3 Always List Your Most Recent Position
Many people don’t go into a lot of detail about their most recent position, assuming that this will be discussed during job interviews and the like. However, this represents your most current knowledge and expertise, and as such, it’s massively important to outline what you have learned and how you have grown during this job role.
#4 Choose Good Formatting
Nothing is more frustrating than looking at a blank and dull CV. To an employer, it can show a lack of care and creativity – immediately putting your application on the back burner. That’s not to say you can’t get a great job role with a plain CV, of course. Still, carefully formatting your CV and writing is a great way to ensure that you make a good impression and that your potential employer sees that you are dedicated and enthusiastic.
#5 Update it Regularly
Once we land a dream job, it’s easy to forget about our CV. However, if the time comes that you eventually want a career change or a promotion, this can leave your CV out of date and a pain to update. However, a regularly updated CV is much more valuable to an employer; it shows how much knowledge you have currently and, critically, shows that you are responsible enough to keep on top of this!
Final Thoughts
CV writing is hard, there’s no doubt about that. However, it doesn’t have to be impossible, and with the right approach, you can ensure your CV shows off your skills as well as possible. After all, creating a CV doesn’t have to be a major headache. And while it’s a thought that often fills many of us with dread, it really doesn’t have to be this way after all.
