In today's competitive job market, it is more important than ever to have a professional CV that highlight's your best qualities and gets your personality across. A well-written CV can help you stand out from the crowd and land your dream job. In this blog post, we will discuss the 6 things you should include in your CV followed by our top tips that will help you get noticed by employers. We'll also provide 5 free CV templates that you can download and use as a starting point for creating your own CV.
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What information should I include on my CV? 


​​​​​​​Here are 6 sections we recommend all CV's have: 


1 . Personal Information

Make sure you list your name, email address, phone number, and home address on your CV. It's surprising how many people forget to include their name, email address, contact phone number, and home address. To prevent any awkward situations, make sure they are clearly stated at the top of your CV.  


​​​​​​​2. Personal statement 

​​​​​​​A personal statement is an essential element of distinguishing yourself from the competition. It describes who you are, what you have to offer, and what you're searching for. Make a case for why you're suitable in and try to keep it down to just one paragraph. 


​​​​​​​3. Work experience

​​​​​​​This section should include all your relevant work experience, beginning with the most recent. Mention your job title, company name, position duration and key responsibilities. 


4 . Achievements

​​​​​​​This is your opportunity to show how your previous experiences have equipped you with the skills required for the position. Make a list of all your relevant talents and accomplishments (back them up with examples). Describe how you would utilize these abilities in the new position. 


​​​​​​​5. Education

​​​​​​​This section should list your educational history and accomplishments, as well as dates and the type of certificate or grade you obtained. - However, the specifics of education that you include in your CV will be based on your specific circumstances. If you have more educational achievements than working experience, emphasizing this area is a smart idea. 


​​​​​​​6. Hobbies and interests

​​​​​​​You don’t always need to include a section on hobbies and interests, but if you have some that are relevant to the job, go ahead and list them. This can show that you are a well-rounded person and could even lead to interesting conversation topics in an interview. 


​​​​​​​So now you know the 6 main sections to include, here are our 8 best tips to make your CV as professional as possible. 


​​​​​​​8 Tips for Writing a Professional CV 


​​​​​​​Tip #01: Grab the reader's attention 

​​​​Your personal statement should start with a strong introduction that grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read more. Did you know, on average, recruiters will spend no more than 5-10 seconds looking at your CV? 


​​​​​​​Tip #02: Tailor Your CV to the Job Description 

Pick out keywords from the job description and use similar words and phrases within your CV. This will show that you are a good fit for the job and that you took the time to read the description. 


Tip #03: Use a Professional Format

Use a professional format that is easy to read and looks clean and organized. Bulleted lists and numbered lists are a good way to organize your information, and make sure to use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial. It's also important to use appropriate font size and spacing when it comes to formatting your resume. You want to use a font size that is easy to read, and make sure there is enough space between each section so that it does not look overcrowded. 


​​​​​​​Tip #04: Use numbers & statistics 

Make your achievements known and relate them to the job you are applying for. When possible, use numbers and statistics to back up your claims and be more precise. For instance, if the company’s sales increased after you joined you could try to provide the actual percentage, for example “In my first year of joining the company, our sales increased by 15%.” 


​​​​​​​Tip #05: Use Professional Language 

Use professional language that is clear and concise. Do not use too much jargon or slang terms, as the employer may not understand what you are trying to say. Don't include too much information or irrelevant details. Stick to the facts that are relevant to the role. 


​​​​​​​Tip #06: Use action Verbs 

Use action verbs to describe your previous job duties. This will help the employer visualize what you did in past roles. For example, instead of saying "I worked on a team", say "I led a team". Employers like to see leadership qualities.
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Tip #07: Proofread Your CV 

 
 

Proofread your CV to check for any mistakes as these can make you look unprofessional. Typos and grammar errors can be easily missed, so make sure to take the time to fix them. Even better, have someone else proofread it for you as well to get a different perspective.  


Tip #08: Keep Your CV Updated 

Last but not least, keep your CV updated and make changes when needed. As your experience and skills change and develop, be sure to update your CV to reflect these changes. You'll be able to see how far you've come and so will the employer. 


​​​​​​​If you follow everything in this guide, we're certain you'll find success in your job search! If you're looking for more help, be sure to click here download our free PDF that includes five professional CV templates to get you started. Good luck! 


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