A CV is a short summary of your key skills, experience, and qualifications. Often, it’s the first chance you get to introduce yourself to a potential employer and show them why you’re a great candidate. Employers and recruiters can have tens or even hundreds of CVs to sort through for each vacancy, so it’s important to create a CV that stands out from the crowd. In this article, we explain the importance of a CV and share tips on how to create a CV that will land you an interview
Almost every time you apply for a job, you will have to submit a CV, usually along with a customized cover letter. But why is a CV important? A CV allows you to highlight all your relevant professional and academic experience and show an employer that you’re a great fit for the job.
Your CV should clearly show a potential employer your most relevant professional experience, skills, and qualifications. Since employers may have many CVs to look through, making this information stand out is vital to ensuring that your CV ends up on the ‘yes’ pile. A good CV might use formatting elements such as color and layout to make sure the employer sees the most important information.
Instead of simply listing your previous roles and the responsibilities you held, you should make sure you mention 2-3 concrete things you achieved for your former employer in each role. For example, you might mention targets you hit or new processes you implemented. This shows your potential employer the value you’ll bring to their company.
The importance of a CV should appear towards the top of the page. This might include your profession, any relevant qualifications, or a short personal statement that succinctly tells the employer why you’d be a great fit for the role. You may also choose to add a headshot or a professional logo or to use visual elements like colors or a creative layout to grab the employer’s attention.
You may think about the importance of a CV since you’re sending your CV along with a customized cover letter, you can get away with sending the same CV with every job application. However, to show the potential employer that you are the right person for the role, it’s a good idea to edit your CV each time you send it. Study the job posting carefully and consider what the company believes are the most important attributes for a candidate to have, then edit your CV so that it highlights the qualities they’re looking for.
Remember that the importance of a CV and your future employer may only have a few minutes—or even less—to look at each CV and decide if the candidate is worth pursuing. Make sure that every word you put on your CV positions you as the best person for the job.
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