CVs Flashcards
Why is a CV important?
An attractive CV (curriculum vitae) is essential to landing a job and indeed is the basis on which any prospective employer will proceed with your job application or not.
A CV must achieve several goals. It must:
Grab the recruiter’s attention.
Show the employer quickly and clearly what skills and experience you have.
What is the general format of a CV?
In order to stand out, your CV must have a clear, simple layout that allows the reader to easily find the information they need. CVs should also be short, one page if possible or, if you have more experience, two pages. The key is to present the most relevant and important information, so if an item on your CV doesn’t seem relevant or especially strong, consider removing it. The general format of a CV comprises:
Name, address, contact details
Skills
Education
Experience
Achievements
Interests
What are the two main ways to organize information in a CV?
Chronological Format:
Lists education and work experience in order, typically starting with the most recent.
Includes dates, job titles, degrees, and responsibilities for each role.
Functional Format:
Focuses on skills and abilities rather than a timeline.
Groups related skills with examples of past experiences, projects, or responsibilities to show expertise.
How you lay out your CV is up to you, but consider laying it out to suit the particular requirements of the prospective job. If a job advertisement specifically identifies certain skills, it might be advantageous to construct your CV according to the skills of yours that match the job specification.
So, instead of simply listing and outlining your skills, describe what you have learnt or gained and how this could benefit your potential employer. In short, customise your CV to suit each application.
What are personal details in a CV?
Naturally, these should include surname; first names; date and country of birth; identity number; male/female; married/single; driver’s licence; address and contact numbers. Be wary of supplying odd email addresses, which look unprofessional. One’s physical address is less important in today’s digital world and inclusion of it is a matter of discretion. Some employers might request your ID number for a background check.
What is education in a CV?
The education section needn’t necessarily follow your personal details. If you feel your work experience is stronger, let that come next. In certain professions, companies may be more interested in your work experience than in your education. If your education has followed a standard path, list your degrees and/or certificates, and include other relevant qualifications you might have.
What is work experience in a CV?
Employment histories usually begin with one’s most recent experience followed by previous positions in reverse chronological order. For each position, list the employer, the dates of employment, and, most importantly, your duties, responsibilities, and achievements in that role. Try to quantify or specify your responsibilities and achievements. For example, instead of saying “ran a successful marketing campaign,” say “ran a marketing campaign that generated 10,000 leads and a R50,000 contract with Big Brand X.” Or instead of saying “was part of the design team,” say “worked with the design team in producing the pamphlets, website, and social media branding for Client Y.”
What are awards and recognition in a CV?
Any award or prize that shows you to be a top performer or achiever will make a good impression. But be judicious in what you select. High-school awards might not be so significant, though something like colours or honours for sports or academics may be. Most employers will be more interested in your post-school achievements. Membership to professional bodies is also valuable.
What are interests in a CV?
The purpose of including interests is to give your potential employer a broader sense of you as a person. Do you engage in charitable work or are you part of a community outreach program? Such involvement shows qualities such as kindness, social concern, and a familiarity with organisational structures. Are you a serious athlete or an accomplished musician? Such activities take discipline, dedication, and focus—and these are all qualities that a potential employer might value. But, again, use discretion and be specific. Try to quantify your achievements: perhaps you played soccer for your university team; perhaps you won an eisteddfod with your clarinet playing. These are concrete, objective measures of success.
What are references in a CV?
References are people who can vouch for your skills and proficiency and your personal qualities. These may be previous managers, teachers, or anyone who has known you in a professional or semi-professional capacity. References from friends or family are ill-advised, as they tend to be biased. Be sure to choose referees with whom you have or had a good relationship (naturally you do not want a bad reference), and be sure to ask your referees if they are willing to provide a reference. References may not be necessary on your CV or during the first screening stage, but the company might request them later if you are called for an interview, and a strong reference could mean the difference between you and another candidate.
Be sure that your CV is free of spelling and grammatical errors.
What is a portfolio in a CV?
Having an online portfolio of your work, such as a website, can be highly advantageous for jobs in fields like graphic design, photography, metalworking, and so on.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is an applicant’s motivation for his or her suitability for the job. The cover letter may overlap with the CV, as they cover much the same ground, but the cover letter’s distinct function is to provide a detailed, coherent account of why you believe you are a worthy candidate, what strengths you could bring to the role, and how well you understand the requirements of the job for which you are applying.
A crucial thing to avoid in a cover letter is merely rehashing the contents of your CV. If you find yourself repeating your CV, pause and consider how to better use your CV’s information to describe your strengths and abilities. Or if your CV is detailed, consider removing the details of your employment history, and working those into your cover letter.
It is also imperative to research the company you are applying to, its vision, mission, ethos, and so on, and to pitch your cover letter with those in mind.
