Writing an interview-landing CV is a hard task for many. How do you write one that stands out from the many CVs human resource managers and recruiters receive when recruiting? An ultimate rule for CV writing is – be different and show your selling-point.

Personal Details

This section consists of your name, address, age (not compulsory), phone number, email. Put these in a strategic location and in legible fonts so that they can be easily seen by the HR manager or recruiter. Ensure the information provided is current.

Pro Tip: Never use an email that is not yours. Avoid stating your state of origin, religion (except if specified in the job advertorial) and unprofessional email addresses. Examples of this would be obiswag10@xyz.com or sexyprincess2015@xyz.com. Keep it professional.

Work Experience

Start with your most recent job role. For each job role, it’s important to state your role and achievements. An example would be:

Iceberg Communications Limited 2016 – (Present)

Job Title: Marketing Executive

Iceberg Limited is Nigeria’s number one marketplace for electrical home appliances.

Achievement

Individually increased the monthly revenue from N15 million to N25 million in 6 months.

Worked with the marketing team to spread our products from Lagos to all the 6 states of the Western Nigeria within a year.

Won the ‘Salesman of the Year” award consecutively for November and December 2016.

Pro Tip: Always remember to tweak your job experience in line with what you are applying for. It will increase the employer’s preference for you.

Educational Background

Always start with the most recent educational qualification. Professional certification that is relevant to the job should also be added to this section.

E.g. University of Port Harcourt – 2013

 

Qualification:

B.A. History and International Relations.

Excellent diplomatic skills and versed in three foreign languages – French, Portuguese and Chinese

Graduated with a first class grade of 4.56 and won the ‘Best Graduating Student’ award.

Pro Tip: If you have a qualification from a tertiary institution, it’s unimportant to include your primary school first leaving certificate unless you’re a fresh graduate with no work experience. This section includes professional certifications, affiliations/membership, training and seminars; they can appear as a sub-section under education.

Interests and Abilities 

This section should be kept short and simple. Key things to note here are:

Avoid clichés such as “creative” “motivated”, “team player”, “problem solve”, “self-starter.” Instead, be specific about your hobbies – Replace ‘running’ with ‘I jog about 300 km every weekend’. This shows you are disciplined and committed.

Pro Tip: Add interests that align with the prospective employer’s corporate social responsibility.

References

The standard number of referees is three, although some organizations request for two. The fewer the pages of a CV, the greater attention it receives. As an employer, you would not want to be bothered by CVs that look like handouts. A 2-page CV is excellent. Therefore, be direct, clear and convincing.

Use Simple Language

Use relevant keywords related to your field and the job you’re applying for – CV keywords and phrases are specific abilities, skills, expertise and traits recruiters and hiring managers look for in a candidate.

Technical Skills

List your proficiency in specific software, programming languages, tools, and technologies relevant to your desired field.

Soft Skills 

Highlight personal qualities like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and initiative. Tailor this section to the specific requirements of the job you’re applying for..

Formatting and Design

Use a clear and professional format that is easy to read. Opt for classic fonts like Arial or Times New Roman in 11-12pt size. Maintain consistent margins and spacing.