Regardless of how impressive your skills, qualifications and level of work experience may be, if your CV has not been properly laid out, you may struggle to land an interview. Ultimately, the presentation of your CV is just as important as its contents. Below, we define the points of a professional CV, focusing on specific aspects that will help you to stand out and make a lasting impression on your potential future employer before even meeting him / her face to face.
Cover Letter
Sending out countless copies of your CV to a variety of different recruiters will not do you any favours. The secret to landing an interview and, ultimately, a job, is to ensure that you make the effort to personalise your cover letter to suit the position being advertised, taking the time to explain to the recruiter why you believe you would be the right fit. A brief summary of your skills, experience and career goals – in accordance with what the recruiter is looking for – will increase your chances of getting noticed and being considered for the job.
Personal Details
It is essential that you include all of your personal details in your CV – your full name, telephone number and email address. It might also be wise to list your ID number, physical address and anything else that you may deem appropriate.
Details about your Educational Background and Qualifications
List all of these details in reverse chronological order – starting with your tertiary education and qualifications, followed by any smaller courses completed and, finally, a few details regarding the high school which you attended and any other relevant achievements.
Work Experience
Once again, state your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the company at which you are currently working or, if you are currently unemployed, the most recent company at which you were employed. List the names of the companies, the date that you were hired and that you left, as well as a brief summary of your responsibilities and skills gained whilst working in each role.
Special Skills
Any special skills, such as experience with Microsoft Office, should be listed here. However, be sure to only list skills that may be relevant to the position for which you are applying.
References
It would be wise to include a list of three different references, including each person’s full name, his / her relationship to you, as well as his / her phone number and / or email address.