Cues on Designing an Enticing Curriculum Vitae

• You may not necessarily state ‘CV or Curriculum Vitae’ in the header or footer of your document template.
• Make the background of your document template a white background, no watermark.
• Avoid stylish or cursive font characters.
• Use clear headings. Ensure sections are clearly differentiated.
• Ensure to use bullet points and spacing to emphasise key points.
• Use a legible and visible font character and size but ensure they do not occupy too much space. Ensure to create a lot of white space to avoid clutter.
• Your name should be written in clear larger bold font than other texts.
• Use a permanent/up-to-date address that can receive mail in your CV.
• Use your personal and functioning email in your CV.
• State your work ethic and the specific professional goals and objectives you would like to attain within a specific period of time.
• If you are experienced, present your work life and other professional experiences before your academic qualifications.
• While you are writing your professional summary, avoid using ‘I’ or your name. Use instead a third-person pronoun. In this regard, describe the scope of your previous or current job title, the scope of roles, responsibilities, achievements and career highlights.
• Be clear about your individual contributions and team accomplishments and be ready to defend them anytime if the need arises. Try to quantify growth, achievement and accomplishment with facts and figures.
• Endeavour to present your work-life experience in reverse chronological order with your most recent job first.
• Make sure all dates are aligned in a straight line.
• If you have gaps in your work history, have held a lot of jobs in a short time or are young without extensive experience, you may tactically omit exact dates worked but divide employers into present and past.
• If you feel you are a fresh applicant, past internships, voluntary/unpaid jobs, part-time jobs, and informal but relevant entrepreneurial activities can also count as experience. Do not underestimate your experiences. If you can demonstrate the skills you acquired and apply them to the role you are applying for, then any experience can suffice.
• Everyday life experiences that you don’t value may also count for you. These may be habitual practices that form your hobbies. State things that interest you and that are impactful in your CV.
• Your CV will form the framework of the interview invitation. Make sure only things you can defend and elaborate enthusiastically are what is captured within.
• Avoid obscure slang, jargon, buzz words and unnecessary abbreviation in your CV.
• Ensure you provide solid referees that are well acquainted with your growth and development and who are in turn aware that they are your referee.
• CV could be updated from time to time in line with specific role requirements if you feel you meet the requirements.
• Always save your CV with your name.

Caveat