If you’ve just graduated from university or are finally getting down to finishing that CV you started last year, you may benefit from a few valuable tips and tricks to get you going.

How do I structure my CV?

A hiring manager’s average time looking at a candidate’s CV before moving to the next is under ten seconds. Companies are constantly being inundated with a never-ending stream of applications, meaning that only the strongest CVs survive. You better make sure it is clear, organized, and easy to navigate at first glance. The basic format of your document should go as follows:

  • Contact Details
  • Personal Statement: CV Summary or CV Objective
  • Past Work Experience
  • Education History
  • Relevant Skills

Tip: If you have recently graduated and have a limited amount of work experience, list your education first.

What is the difference between an Objective and a Summary?

After you have listed the relevant contact details (Name, title, email, phone number, LinkedIn link, and address), it is time to deliver your statement. The objective of the personal statement is to explain why you are suitable for the job you are applying to. Decide to allocate a reasonable amount of time for this because it can allow you to stand out from applicants with similar qualifications. You can either choose to include an objective or a summary. If you have little relevant experience, you will want to write an objective, which focuses on the applicant’s intentions. In contrast, summaries center around years of past relevant job experience. Your statement should be short, to the point, and around 100 words.

Tip: Need help to determine which point of view to write your personal statement with? Go with first or third-person.

What should I include for Education and Work Experience?

The rule of thumb is to not list more than 10 to 15 years of past work experience. The jobs listed should be ordered by what is most recent. Include bulleted lists for each with plenty of action words (Example: directed, headed, oversaw). Include your title, the company’s name, and the dates you were employed. For your education, you can include any completed degrees and any in progress. You will want to list the name of the school you attended, the type of degree you earned, and your graduation year. You may also include your GPA and any relevant achievements.

Tip: Listing any internships you have completed is a suitable replacement for work experience if you’ve recently graduated.

Which skills do I list?

If you lack experience for a particular position but know that you have the necessary skills to do it, then what skills you choose to include will really matter. Keep this area of your document streamlined. Use bullet points and focus on using one or two words for each skill rather than whole sentences. Some examples: Project management, self-motivation, communication, and search engine optimization.

Tip: Change the skills on your CV to better match each position you are applying to.

CV Studio

If you still feel lost or don’t want to spend time writing your CV when you could be networking or searching for job opportunities, hire one of CV Studio’s professional CV writers. Your CV is an overview of your professional brand, so let CV Studio craft your career story to help you land the job of your dreams. Head over to Cvstudio.ie today.

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