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You want to make your CV the best document but at times you may commit mistakes
which can cost you the opportunity. Here are some pointers to keep in mind as
you start working on your CV. They will help you in making your CV friendly for
the recruiters to read and a better chance to get it shortlisted for an
interview.
Note that what we are going to discuss here are just the suggestions, not the
principles carved in stone. If you want to do things against them knowingly, we
advise you to do that.
Dos of CV writing
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Make your contact details i.e. the phone no. and e-mail address available at
the very beginning of your CV.
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Use a formal e-mail address (preferably a combination of your first and last
name) rather than using an e-mail address like
funnymonkey@xyz.com -
Write an appealing career summary/executive summary at the beginning. You have
got 30 seconds to impress the recruiter. Your career summary should attract
them to read the CV.
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If you have got work experience, keep a focus of your CV on your experience,
responsibilities and achievements.
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If you have just passed out from college, write about your education
qualifications, projects and other qualities in you which put you apart from
other people in your batch.
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Use impactful words which demonstrate you in control of things.
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Rank the achievements in order of priority.
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Write about your interests out of work. They demonstrate your personal
qualities.
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CV is a formal document. Use white or light coloured A4 size paper and formal
fonts.
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Put un-important things on the second page, towards right side.
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Include some numbers to quantify your achievements. They make your CV more
powerful.
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Write short and crisp sentences using punctuation marks properly.
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Maintain the same tense through out your CV
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Provide enough breathing space in your CV. This makes it legible.
Don’ts of CV writing
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Resume or CV on top. The reader knows that it’s a CV. You don’t need to
mention it.
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Lies about your candidature in CV are highly unadvisable. They may get you the
entry but are not difficult to find out. When found they will lead you to
embarrassment. If you manage to get yourself hired based on these lies, they
may cost you the job when found.
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Flashy fonts and colourful or glossy paper. CV is a formal document, keep it
simple.
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Photographs until asked or compulsorily required for the position.
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Usage of ‘I’, ‘my’. They make you sound egomaniac.
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Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. They convey your lazy and not
serious attitude.
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Your age, number of kids, age of kids, father’s name, mother’s name, passport
number.
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Abbreviations or jargons which HR people might not understand.
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Mentioning health problems.
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References until asked
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Current or expected salary until asked
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Mention of reasons for leaving the last jobs
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Right alignment of the CV content
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