Venturing out into today’s job market, where there are fewer jobs and more competition, you want to make sure the odds are in your favour. To do this you need a top-notch updated CV that’s thorough and showcases your skills in under 30-60 seconds. In that time, you need to WOW them. Focus on these key areas:
This is the first part a Recruiter will see when they open your CV. Introduce yourself to the person who’s doing the hiring. Start off by giving a brief description of your expertise and career goals. This is probably the most important part of your CV and acts as a hook to keep the person reading your CV and looking more closely at your skills and work history.
Share with the person (that will be looking at your CV) your career objectives, preferred industries you would like to work in, preferred job titles and your willingness to relocate if the right position presents itself.
Did you know that if you are willing to relocate, recruiters and employers will consider you for a position if your CV blows them away and you’re willing to work in another city or province? Make sure you tell them on our CV.
Even if you do not have a tertiary qualification (just Matric) you are still required to complete this field. Start by listing recent qualifications:
If you are currently studying, include it. Just make sure that you mention the completion date. So, you don’t have a tertiary qualification, now what? A lot of people are unable to study after high school but there are other ways to get training and job skills through many institutions and online sources.
Your work experience will have a big influence on whether you make it to the next stage or not, depending on the type of job you are applying for. Start off by listing your most recent work experience:
If you have little to no work experience, bulk up your CV by giving more details about your studies. You can also highlight the skills you’ve learned and explain how they can help you in your next job.
Do you volunteer, participated in a job-shadowing programme, work part-time or freelance for a friend? Add that to your work experience too. Your CV is an opportunity to grab the attention of a Recruiter, so why not make the most of it the first time around.
It depends from person to person or the type of job you are applying for, but other information you can decide to add to your CV includes:
Your online CV is your passport to a better career. It’s also your chance to make a good and lasting first impression on recruiters and employers.
Download our easy-to-use CV template here (Word Doc format).
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