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Creating a Winning CV requires considerable attention to detail along with a specific focus on including keywords, action verbs, and industry-relevant experience.
Know tips to write a perfect CV. (Representational/File Photo)
By Kalpesh Banker
Creating a standout CV requires considerable effort. From selecting the right format to customising themes and incorporating keywords, numerous elements contribute to crafting an impactful CV. Experts recommend highlighting experience and achievements to ensure your CV stands out. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what transforms an ordinary CV into a winning one:
How To Write A Perfect CV?
Research the Company: Before drafting your CV, research the company, its key personnel, and its offerings. Understanding the company’s culture can help tailor your CV to align with their values and requirements, making you stand out. Prior research enables you to highlight relevant skills that resonate with the company’s needs.
Industry-Specific Format: Different industries have specific formats for applications. For instance, the IT sector values coding proficiency, consultancy focuses on analytical skills, and manufacturing emphasises efficiency. Adopting an industry-specific format for your CV is essential to meet these varied expectations.
Tailor Your CV: Customising your CV to align with the job description is crucial. It ensures that your experience is relevant and that the job title is accurately reflected in your CV, increasing the chances of catching a recruiter’s attention.
Quantify Your Experience: Showcasing your credentials with numbers can make a strong impression. Including phrases like “increased ROI by 30%”, “generated 25% more leads”, or “reduced costs by 15%” helps illustrate your achievements effectively. Quantifying your accomplishments provides recruiters with a clear understanding of your impact.
Use Keywords: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) often select CVs based on keywords. Strategically incorporating keywords from the job description into your CV can improve your chances of being shortlisted. Identifying and using the right keywords can highlight your experience and achievements effectively.
Action Verbs: Utilising action verbs such as “achieved,” “built,” “championed,” and “generated” enhances the impact of your CV. These verbs convey your capabilities and make your CV more compelling. Aligning these verbs with relevant keywords further increases your likelihood of selection.
Highlight Skills: Emphasising relevant skills prominently in your CV is advisable. Using bullet points to showcase these skills can improve clarity. For instance, cognitive and analytical skills are vital for research roles, while merchandise planning and inventory management are key for retail executives.
Visual Appeal: A clean, professional CV format with visual elements can capture attention. Incorporating bar charts to showcase achievements or graphics to depict relevant experience can positively impact recruiters. Research suggests that visual elements draw attention and enhance the overall appeal of a CV.
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Professional Proofreading: Proofreading is essential to eliminate errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax. Having your CV reviewed by an expert ensures consistency and coherence, increasing its overall quality and professionalism.
Focused Approach: Keeping your CV concise, ideally between 2-3 pages, is beneficial, especially for initial screening rounds. A shorter CV allows selectors to quickly assess relevant skills and experience. For senior positions, however, a more detailed CV may be appropriate.
Crafting a CV is both an art and a science, requiring a balance of action verbs, key phrases, and visual elements. It should coherently present your skills, experience, and achievements. Following these guidelines can help you create a winning CV that stands out in a competitive applicant pool.
(The Author is the Managing Partner at EduShine Search Partners. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.)
