Tips for developing a great CV

How can your CV set you apart from someone else that applies for the same job as you?

How can you make your cv stand out so as to get an interview?

Check out the tips!

Confirm that your CV represents your profile!

Your CV should depict your profile, thus ensure that the format is professional and that you cover all essential sections in it! Choose a professional cv design with discrete colours and make sure that the structure is clear and easy to read! Still, include essential information about you, your working experience, education, soft and hard skills as well as projects and accomplishments.

Be clear and concise!

It is a rule of thumb to keep your CV length at maximum 2 pages! Be specific, with precise information such as starting and ending date of employment, the name of company, your job title and main duties. Remember! Clarify your accomplishments and point out your contribution to the company you have been working for. Mention your education in similar way, skills, projects, and interests.

Be specific!

Note down figures and numbers to demonstrate your accomplishments and competencies! Set your major achievements, such as your Distinction of Honours GPA, or in numbers the increase of sales you may have achieved, or lower costs etc.

Create an attractive Profile

A summary or professional profile may be useful but ensure that you state your next professional goal in combination with your strenghts. This is how you can attract the recruiters or hiring managers.

Note your contact information!

Write your contact info such as telephone, LinkedIn URL and email. While your full address is not necessary, still a general location is useful in informing employers about your basic location of residence.

Utilize Social Media

You can post your CV online so as to get your profile noticed. You may also include it in your LinkedIn Profile and keep it updated!

Check spelling – grammar

Check the spelling and grammar before sending your CV to an employer. Review it!

A story!

Bruce Doddridge, head of the Chemistry and Dynamics Branch in the Science Directorate at the NASA Langley Research Center,  talked about these issues in his speech “Applying for Positions in the Professional  Workforce: Resumes and Resumix,” during the 16th Annual AMS Student Conference in Seattle in January. Doddridge stated that “putting together a CV is the easy part, how you make an impression is a challenge.” Find below his tips of a good CV, according to Doddridge:

• Is well organized, lucid, and coherent
• Has consistent formatting and follows the formatting requirements
• Is free of typing and grammar errors. “Errors can be an orange flag to selection officials”
• Is accurate and free of embellishment. “Embelishments will be checked. If you make it to an interview and you have embellished, you probably won’t get the job.”
• You may also want to have a one-page resume prepared,
• ll be the reflection of you. “Don’t be frightened to highlight your positive professional [strengths], but also your personal strengths.

1. KRISTY C. CARTER, JOSHUA J. ALLAND, ARYE H J. DRAGER, STACEY M. HITCHCOCK, AND ERIK R. NIELSEN (AMS STUDENT CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS)

1. (PDF) Preparing a Good CV (researchgate.net)

For any further assistance on how to create an attractive CV, you may contact the BCA Career Office!

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