If you are job-hunting, sending out a good CV is important. After all, this is the first interaction that potential employers will have with you. Your CV might be one among hundreds. How can you make sure your CV stands out from the crowd? Here are a few tips.
1. Make it look great
The visual impact is vital here. Do not to underestimate the importance of presentation. The Huffington Post lists Garamond, Ariel, Helvetica, Georgia, and Calibri as the five most appropriate fonts for CVs. You should stick to the same font size (preferably 11 or 12) and avoid using multiple font colours. Make sure your text is consistently spaced. Take pains to format your CV so that it does not get misaligned.
2. A good CV is tailored
A CV that is perfect for one role might be inadequate for another. Study the job requirements, and make sure your CV highlights the specific skills and experiences that are relevant to the position for which you are applying.
3. Make your interests sound interesting
Interests are given at the very end of a CV, but they often provide the starting point of conversation in a subsequent interview. Avoid mentioning passive interests like watching TV or listening to music. Instead, show that you are an active participant. For instance, you might like collecting film trivia or learning about jazz history.
4. A trim CV is a good CV
Potential employers want to know as much about you as possible, but they do not want to wade through six pages of information. Restrict your CV to two pages. Highlight your recent and most relevant roles and responsibilities, while mentioning the earlier or less relevant ones in brief. A concise CV reflects your own clarity of thought and confidence in yourself.
5. Keep it error-free
A typo, even a small one, can mar an otherwise perfect CV. It tells potential employers that you did not put enough effort into it. They may even conclude that you are careless or rash. Proofread your CV word by word to weed out any grammatical, logical, and spelling errors. It is a good idea to get it checked by a friend or even a professional editor.