Curriculum Vitae or commonly referred to as CV, is an overview of a person’s information including his contact details, personal qualities, qualifications, and work experience for a job opportunity. CV comprises all the vital data regarding a candidate and helps an organization select the most deserving applicant according to its requirements. Thus, it becomes necessary to design a resume which is in accordance with the organization needs. Writing company-specific resume ease the task and at the same time, increases the probability of being shortlisted in an enterprise.
Related: Difference between CV and Resume
Importance of a Job-Specific Resume:
An informative and job-related CV helps in winning half of the battle of getting placed in your desired job. Format your resume by keeping in mind the specifications of the job.
Don’t submit the same portfolio for every job openings, instead try to customize it.
Doing so will help you in the following ways-
- Grab the attention of the recruiter, as your expertise is something that they are looking forward in the right candidate for the job.
- Helps in properly utilizing your CV by including only the valid qualification and qualities.
Here are some of the basic principles that will surely help you compose an informative curriculum vitae-
Get Your Dream Job by Following 15 Simple Rules of Making an Impressive CV
- C– Creativity: Think out of the box. Recruiting companies receive a large number of resumes for a job opening, and you have to stand out among all the competitors. As per your job requirement, think of something that is very uncommon, and differentiates you from others. You should always maintain a decent layout, but if you are a contender for the post of Graphic Designer or a vacancy that demands your creative skills, then some changes in the layout might work in your favor. Using cover letters is again a good idea to showcase your innovation.
- U– Understand the job requirement: Be job-specific. Tailor your resume as per the needs of the company by showcasing only the relevant qualities and qualification required. Make sure that you touch the company’s benchmark. Many candidates fail to achieve their dream job just because either the organization considers them as over-qualified or under-qualified for the job.
- R– Relevant information: Cut the crap. You have to cover all your information on a standard A-4 size sheet. Therefore, provide only your essential information like your contact details, qualifications, skills, interests, work experience, etc. Providing other information like your Driving License number, date of birth are irrelevant. However, you can include your nationality if you are applying for international job openings.
- R– References: It is a good practice to include references. Provide 2-3 references from your previous organization (along with designation), and if you are a fresher, you might add details of your school or tuition teachers. In case you don’t want to include the references, simply mention – References are available on request.
- I– Include your contact information: Dispense all your personal details including your permanent address, e-mail id, and phone number so that the company can reach to you through any means of communication. Always ensure that you are available and active on your provided details.
- C– Co-curricular activities: A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Such activities demonstrate your leadership qualities and team spirit. Participating in seminars, workshops, and social cause-related camps creates a good impact on your resume. Teamwork is a necessary attribute required in an employee, so make sure that you demonstrate the same while writing about your achievements in your CV.
- U– Update your CV: Keep your resume updated. It is always a good approach to update your CV timely so that you do not miss out anything. Mention your latest achievements and certifications.
- L– Legible fonts: Use clear fonts that are easily readable. Provide numbering or bullet point to organize your resume. Times New Roman and Calibri font style are widely used for clear and organized writing.
- U– Use your work experience: Your work experience should always be reflected. Use of a proper set of keywords showcases your knowledge of your field. For example, if you are an applicant for a management-related post, then make sure to use marketing keywords like finance, statistics, planning, etc. Also, use proper salutations and correct designation of position to make it look more professional.
- M– Market yourself: For a job-specific resume, you have to think according to the company and market yourself accordingly. Goals and objects included in your resume should be in accordance with the organization’s desire and future goals.
- V– Validate your CV: Justify your resume. Don’t render any false information, and make sure that you have all the original documents and certificates available when asked by the company.
- I– Include your strengths and weaknesses: This information helps an enterprise know you better as an individual. The desired candidate should bear good personality traits. Punctuality, hard work, and quick learning are some of the qualities that you can cover under your strengths. For the weaknesses, come up with some points that are not essential for the job you are applying for; hence the selector will not consider them.
- T– Training: Always include this section. Training is an important period in which an individual grasp practical skills and knowledge. Mentioning the name of the organization from where you pursued your training is mandatory. If you have worked on any project during your training period, then do mention it. Also, write about some of the skills you gained during the process.
- A– Avoid graphics: Generally, you should avoid using graphics unless your job demands it. If you are applying for some creative job then using info-graphics might be a good option. But if you are an applicant for a white-collar job, then keep it simple and concise.
- E– Employment history: If you are an experienced candidate and not a fresher, don’t forget to incorporate your employment history. It should include your previous company name, your earlier job title along with the date of joining and leaving. Salary receipts and call letters are some of the primary documents that you should always have to justify your work experience.
Above listed tips will undoubtedly prove beneficial to you in making an attractive and detailed curriculum vitae. Make sure you follow all the above rules effectively, and your dream job might become reality soon.