Writing Your First CV

WHY YOU NEED A CV

Some people might think having a CV is no big deal, but it actually tells your employers pretty much everything about you. It summarizes who you are- including your skills, interests, and achievements in life thus far. They are handy in job fairs, and you can also upload them online to help you look for potential employers. A CV also shows employers if you’re fit for the job. It gets your foot in the door before you can even get an interview.

WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IN YOUR FIRST CV

Creating the perfect CV is not an easy task. You might want to include so many things about yourself for a better chance at getting the job, but you need to narrow it down. A long, over-the-top CV might just make employers think you’re trying too hard. In this blog about how to write a CV, we also listed down the most vital information to include in your first CV.

1.Contact Information

This part should include your full name and contact details, such as your cellphone number, email address, and professional website (if you built one). Through this, the employer can easily reach out to you to schedule a job interview or even get back to you if they think you are perfect for the vacant position they have.

2.Personal Statement

A personal statement sums up details about you as a professional in one to two sentences. It should also give your employer an idea about what you can offer, what your ambitions are, and any experience in the industry so far. If you don’t have any previous work experience, you can still include some skills you might have.

3.Key Skills

Never put too many skills on your CV. Only focus on the skills that are relevant to the job. Four to eight skills should be enough. You should also state the level of your competency with regards to those skills so that your employer knows whether you are beginning, advanced or proficient.

4.Education

It’s crucial to include your educational background, especially if this is your first CV. A school can say a lot about a person and their chances of success. You should also indicate how long you studied in a particular institution, the grades you got, and the honors that may have been awarded to you. All this information can boost your credibility with your employer.

5.Work Experience

Just because this is your first CV doesn’t mean you can’t include any work experience. You may think you don’t have anything to put in this section because you are still a fresh graduate. However, you are mistaken. A lot of things can be included under work experience, such as:

* Volunteer work
* Work placements
* Summer jobs
* Saturday jobs
* Charity work

As you can see, experience can take many forms. After putting in each work experience, don’t forget to mention where you worked, how long you were there and the main tasks involved with your job. Talking about your previous work can show employers what you would be good at in their business.

6.Reference

References are always excellent because they show people who can attest to your work ethics and personality. References can be anyone from previous employers to your teachers or professors.

Just remember not to overthink the information you need to put in your CV. The best tip for any CV guide for beginners is to keep things simple. Your CV should not be longer than two pages, and it should have a pretty minimal look or design. There’s no need to choose crazy fonts or put in fancy colors. The most important part of the CV is the content on it.