Meaning it is important to ensure your CV is well written and shows that you are the person the employer is looking for.
So if you want to get interviews, there are things you need to include in your CV, no matter what position you are applying for.
Here’s what you should always include in your CV
1. Your Contact Details
This is an important part of your CV. You should never send your CV without including ways the employer can contact you in case they want to invite you for an interview.
But that’s not all; you need to ensure that the contact details you put on your CV actually work. You do not want to miss out on an interview opportunity because you gave the wrong contact details or none at all.
The details you need to put in the CV are your Name as they appear on your ID, Telephone Number (preferably 2) and your Email Address.
2. Profile Summary
According to Rebecca Nyawira, a CV Writing expert at Corporate Staffing Services, a leading HR firm, a profile summary is a brief overview of who you are as a professional and your experience that is, what you have done and what you are looking for in your career.
For example,
I am an accounting professional with a Degree in Commerce from ABC University; I have acquired strong leadership skills from my 1 year and 4 months experience working in the accounting department. I also possess comprehensive knowledge in various accounting software which is necessary in making daily operations more effective. Currently, I am seeking for a position in a competitive firm.
3. Your employment history
This is the most important part when it comes to your CV. Your work experience should include the job title, name of the organization, the specific duration you worked there and relevant duties.
When referring to your work experience, you need to start with the most recent job. Keep in mind that the jobs you list here need to be relevant to the position you are applying for now.
You can even go further and add your accomplishments in the said positions. You can list about 2-3 previous jobs.
4. Your education and qualifications
Just like your work history, always start with the most recent certificate you got. Your CV should not have your primary school education details as this is not relevant.
Your high school grade doesn’t really matter especially if you have a lot of work experience. However if you have very little experience, this might be helpful.
You should also note that the employer doesn’t want to know what units you studied in university or what grade you got in each.
This is not the place to put your certification if you have any extra ones, especially if they are not relevant to the position. You can create a small subsection where you briefly mention them.
5. Other skills, experience and achievements
When writing your CV, this is where you can put all your other training and experience that are not so relevant to the job but would make you look good to the employer.
For example, if you have a certificate from training you underwent like First Aid, Driving, languages etc.
You can also include things like leadership training if you have undergone any. Just ensure that your CV does not become too long.
In Conclusion,
A CV is very important to your job search success and as such it should be taken seriously. Poorly written CV’s rarely get any attention. No employer will invite you for an interview if your CV is not well written.
