Writing CV’s – don’t put yourself out of the running

Most of the time, a potential employer’s first encounter with you will be via your CV so it’s imperative that you spend some time on getting it right. CV’s are usually used to filter out candidates since an organisation will only actually interview a small percentage of the CV’s they receive. This topic has been covered by a million websites and books so we’ll just quickly recap some points:

• Make sure punctuation and spelling are PERFECT. Proofread. Have someone else proofread – preferably someone with strong English language skills.
• Likewise, be a perfectionist when it comes to formatting – check line spacing, use of bullets, table alignments etc. Stick to standard font types and be consistent with font sizing. It should be logically ordered, easy to read and not cramped.
• Keep it informative but concise. Using bullet points can be effective in minimising word usage.
• Start with basic personal details. Exclude superfluous information like religious affiliation, children’s names etc.
• Move on to education and qualifications. List the names of institutions and dates attended in reverse order (e.g. university before school). If you received any awards or distinctions for subjects related to the job you’re applying for then find a way to include this information.
• After that, list all certifications. There are arguments for both listing these in reverse chronological order or by relevance.
• Order your job history chronologically, with your latest/current job first. Make sure you succinctly mention what you did at each position (achievements, responsibilities, experience). Again, tailor your CV to the position you’re applying for by including details that are relevant to that position.
• In the world of development, a skills matrix can also be added. Tell the truth though, because listing technologies you haven’t actually been exposed to will be found out quickly in an interview situation.
• Some people have a short section on personal interests in their CV’s – this is fine, but keep this section short.
• If you list references, make sure you have asked the referee’s permission first!

As mentioned earlier, a quick Google search on how to write a CV will bring up a number of useful links. From personal experience of hiring, the first two points of our list give us the quickest excuse to hit the delete button when receiving a CV though – there’s just no reason to get these wrong.