Seven Important CV Parts That Needs More Attention

Seven Important CV Parts That Needs More Attention 

A CV is an outline of a person’s educational and professional history. It summarizes how your skills and abilities can contribute to an organisation. It helps get you a Job Interview. It is employers’ screening tool.

Below are Seven Parts of CV you need to consider when designing a CV.

1. Headings

Don’t write CV, curriculum vitae or résumé at the top. The employer/recruiter can see what it is.

Write your name in a bold format so they can find you quickly in a stack of CVs

Do not use italic format

Use a serious and professional email address. E.g adakoleutaji@gmail.com, adakole.utaji@gmail.com, adakoleutaji@yahoo.com,

Do not use email like samcares4you@yahoo.com, sam4real@gmail.com,

Do not include your photo on your CV

2.Objectives

Also called ‘career objective’ or ‘job objective’

An Objective can be helpful if you are applying to a company that interests you, but not in response to a particular job opening.

It isn’t necessary to write a full sentence

Make it short and specific. A vague, general objective wastes space and the reader’s time.

3. Key Skills and Experience

A very brief summary of your most relevant skills and experience. Employers/recruiters scan CVs for 30 seconds or less before deciding if they want to read further. Let them know what you want them to know about you in seconds

Customize! For example, use ‘Key Marketing Skills & Experience’ for a marketing position

Use phrases instead of full sentences

Capitalize the first letter in each new bullet point

Many companies and recruiters use internet to search for skills and experience that match their requirements. This is a good opportunity to include key words and phrases that would help them locate the required skills on your CV

4. Education

As fresh and young graduate, you will probably want to put the education section next. But applicants who have lots of work experience place that section before education in their CVs.

Starting with your most recent education list:

Your HND/BSc. Or Masters Degree etc

The full name of the Institution of learning should be written in English, location - city and country

The period of time you have been there – month and year or year of graduation

Do not include grades unless they are above average

If you have received any academic honors, include them in this section

Do not write 2,1, or Two One instead write 2:1 as Second Class Upper

At the end of the education section, you can list any additional training or course(s) relevant to the job you are applying for

5. Experience

Using ‘Experience’ instead of ‘Work Experience’ enables you to include paid, and non-paid work, internships, volunteer work, and other experience that has helped develop your skill set. Employers care more that you have the experience rather than where you got it.

Indicate your employer, the dates of employment (month/year), your position and your key responsibilities and accomplishments

Use reverse chronological order: Start with your most recent experience and work backwards.

Use the present tense for current positions and the past tense for work you are no longer doing.

Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments.

Include any work-related recognition you have received at the end of this section

6. Additional Skills

Computer skills

Any other relevant skills including language proficiency

Note: Skills that are particularly relevant for a job application should also be listed under Key Skills and Experience

7. References

References Available upon request’ is optional. It is understood that you will provide them when asked to do so.

You can include about three references in your CV

Try to avoid family relatives in your CV

Make it professional: Your reference may include your colleagues at work, your head of department, your lecturer, a friend etc

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Considering these seven parts of CV will help you design a winning CV that may earn you a call for test/interview

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