Writing a professional CV is the key to taking another step in your career. Yet you might ask yourself, what needs to go into your final template to get employers to give you a shot at an interview?
Knowing what to include and where to put everything on the page can feel a challenge at times. However, this can be made a lot easier by using a CV builder and following the right tips.
To help you create the best professional CV possible we’re going to explain what should go into your final template. We’ll also tell you how using a CV builder can make the whole process a lot simpler.
What’s In an Effective Professional CV?
When you choose or design a professional template using a CV builder you need to take a few different features into consideration. These include the following 3 points:
1. Design
The design of your template counts. However, you have to remember that you’re applying for a job not entering an art contest. Keep any styling to a minimum and just focus on embellishing a clear and easy to read layout. Simplicity is often the key for the majority of jobs.
2. Sections
The sections of your CV will vary a little depending on your profile. However, you will always need to list your skills, experience and qualifications at the very least. Use additional sections to make a strong case for your candidacy to highlight any special awards, publications or other achievements you have.
3. Format
Last but not least there’s the format of your CV. This will decide where the sections go and in what order. This will be important so that your most hirable features get noticed. We’ll talk about this in a little more detail below.
How To Organize a Professional CV
There are a few different ways to organise your CV for success. The great thing about using a CV builder is that you can play around with different options to see what works best for you in practice.
However, before experimenting, it’s important to know which CV formats might work best for your situation. Generally, candidates use the following 3 key layouts.
Reverse Chronological Format: Best For Established Professionals
If you’ve got a few years of experience under your belt a reverse chronological CV is best for you. This places the most emphasis on career expertise and hands-on work.
These templates will give recruiters the crucial information they need first: your most recent work experience. Readers will sometimes give your CV as little as 7 seconds to skim over before deciding to keep you in the process so this can count for a lot.
Skills Based Format: Best for Inexperienced Candidates
If you’re newer to your chosen sector or you’re more inexperienced all around in the working world, a skills-based format CV can prove useful. Sometimes this is the best approach to get your foot in the door with no experience.
This kind of CV will place your skills in the most prominent position on the page allowing you to focus on expertise over hands-on participation. This will show the employer why you’re worth the opportunity, even if you haven’t worked much in their specific sector before.
Combination Format: The Best of Both Worlds
Finally, there is the combination format CV, which balances your skills and experience evenly. This can be greatly useful when you have a specialised skill set and a great career history.
This usually makes use of columns to allow skills and experience to sit as high as possible on the page together. This type of professional CV may give you an edge in your field especially if your specific abilities are highly prized by the company or sector in general.
How CV Builders Can Enhance Your Professional CV
CV builders are a great tool to have available if you’re applying for lots of jobs.
Using software to help plan and create a smart-looking CV is a great way to save time whilst enhancing the first impression you give to an employer. Not only that but they also allow you to easily edit information and the design without having to start over from scratch if changes are needed.
In summary, CV builders help you enhance your professional CV in the following ways:
- CVs can be easily edited for specific jobs
- You can use pre-tested professional designs
- Receive step-by-step instructions on what to include
- You can put together your CV in just a few minutes
There are only a few important features to making your professional CV as effective as possible. However, it is crucial to understand these before getting started to make sure you take your final doc in the right direction.
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