Writing a Winning CV

A winning CV buys you an interview. You must invest your energies in getting your resume noticeable and actually likeable. Market yourself as much as you can but keep it real.

Whilst your covering letter is one page, your Curriculum Vitae should be more detailed. Don’t leave out any important experience because the prospective employer requested a two page resume. Rather write creatively smaller yet clear sentences.

Include your outside-the-job qualities, like ability to learn new skills; being organized and interpersonal skills. This process will require you to think out of the box a little, instead of just focusing on the job description alone.

There is no one resume fits all jobs when it comes to job search. You may need to draw a new CV with almost every job application. A resume must be tailored to the nature of the job and the job description. If a job requires extensive traveling, you can’t have an explanation for the previous job that states reason for leaving as spending more time at home. Even if your consequences have changed. Some people prefer to explain such thing in the interview. However they may cost you an interview itself.

Neatness is extremely important when writing a winning CV. This is the reflection of the quality of your work. It should also be short and straight to the point. If not specified try to have up to four pages for a junior professional position and slightly more when you have gathered some experience. Please keep it as simple as you can, in black and white with no dramatic fonts and colors.

Your Curriculum Vitae should include:

  1. Your full name and contact details
  2. General skills eg computer, management, etc
  3. Personal details eg age, citizenship, etc
  4. Education background i.e. list of degrees and diplomas, any other certification, etc
  5. Employment history. Always have your last or current position appearing first. Don’t leave any of your positions. If there are gaps in your employment like when you took a break to raise your children, explain that. Otherwise it makes your resume look fishy. Be detailed only in the previous jobs that are related to the prospective job to save some space. Indicate your key accomplishments for key positions.
  6. List of references i.e. the people you have worked with previously and their roles in your career.



from winning CV to career change

covering letter

CV review for a specific job

Preparing for a job interview

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