5 Essential Key Points to help you write a good CV
Writer: Mosa Zulu
While In-person interviews higher the chances of candidates being hired, a good CV can bring you a step closer to securing an interview. So, what is a CV, and what makes a good one? A curriculum Vitae abbreviated as CV is a summary of a job seeker’s academic and professional history. A good CV according to research is clear, concise, and straight to the point and not book long of unnecessary information on a CV.
1. Write a summary of skills and accomplishments
It is through writing down a summary of who you are, and what skills and accomplishments one has acquired that the right impression can be made to potential employees.
Here is an example:
“I am an enthusiastic, hardworking, and committed individual with a proven track record of writing and producing written content for my previous company’s websites. I have strong communication skills, as well as excellent interpersonal skills. I am eager to be challenged to grow and expand on the skillset I have gained.”
2. Leave out unnecessary information
Eliminating unnecessary information will not only make your CV easier to read and uncluttered but will in the process reduce the number of unnecessary pages in your CV.For details such as academic results, a candidate’s previous salary, health, hobbies, religion, or even marital status, candidates should exclude such information as it can potentially be negatively looked upon.
3. Include important information
Mentioning key and relevant information may be a deciding factor in whether a candidate’s CV makes it in the trash can or on the potential recruiter’s desk.Academic and professional background, work experience, key skills, and hobbies that are relevant to the job being applied for are a few of the information that candidates can include on their CVs.
4. Citing references
In line with the POPI Act, candidates should not include their references’ names and contact details unless requested by the potential employees.The Act sets that it is therefore the responsibility of candidates to ensure that any and all personal information such as a reference’s identity, cell phone numbers, and email addresses are not only stored safely but also prohibited from being easily accessed in the prevention of mishandling of the information.
5. Keep CV neat and easy on the eye
While a lack of skills and experience may result in a CV with lots of gaps, a CV flooded with unnecessary information to compensate for the gaps may potentially have a negative impact.Potential recruiters spend a short amount of time looking at individual CVs, so make your CV worth the look.
Writing a summary of skills and accomplishments, leaving out unnecessary information, including important information, not citing references, and keeping a neat but enlightening CV could be just the ticket to securing an interview.
