How to write an attractive Job CV in 2024?

Imagine if you have applied for a job profile and you have all the desired skills as per the job description. You have formed a CV that you think would be best as per you. But, you never got the job offer, even your CV was never even viewed. Do you know why? Because your CV is not up to the expectations. But, don’t worry. If you don’t want this horrible nightmare-like situation to happen again, read this comprehensive guide where we will guide you on how to write an attractive Job CV that no one can ignore and it will increase your chances of getting hired. 

What is a CV?

CV abbreviated to Curriculum Vitae is a Latin Word for “course of life”. It shows a person’s professional and academic background. It is essential for the recruiter as it helps them to identify the candidate who will be the best match for the job profile. It contains all of your industry-relevant and professional achievements like research, professional memberships, publications, and lectures or presentations you have presented during your career. 

Difference Between Resume and CV

A resume is a brief description of one or two pages showing the qualifications, work history, and any relevant skills of the applicant. The Curriculum Vitae shows important employment details. There is no length restriction in the CV. You can add as many sections and details on the CV, it just needs to be relevant and not anything stupid or irrelevant. In several countries, a resume is accepted at the time of recruitment while some other countries demand a proper CV for job recruitment. For example, in the US resume is enough to get a job but in most European countries, they demand a proper CV to evaluate the candidate’s capabilities. 

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How to Write an Attractive Job CV

Here's a thorough description of what should be on a CV and what shouldn't be.  To create an attractive CV, you need to make the context right. An attractive CV is simple and should be no over one page long unless it is a formal academic CV. It is essential that you adhere to the required CV writing guidelines and create a document that is neat and simple to read. Make sure you use regular resume fonts, use enough space, and set margins on both sides.

Below is an in-depth breakdown of everything you need to do.

The way you arrange all of the data on a page of your CV is termed as its layout. The trick is to organize all the information so that hiring managers can quickly scan it and find the details they want. This is the format that your CV should have: 

• Margin and Spacing

Make sure your word processor is configured appropriately. The recommended line spacing is 1.15 and the page margins are one inch on each side. Furthermore, ensure that the spaces between CV parts are increased. This allows white space generation, improving readability and outlining your data. 

• Font

To make your body text pop out, set the size of the font to 11–12 points, and you can choose to have your section heads stand out by 4–6 points. Larger font sizes are easier to read, and recruiters generally scan resumes to get the sections they have been looking for. In simple words, larger headings simplify their work. Another way to highlight essential information is to use bold and italics. A professional-looking, clearly readable typeface is perfect for a resume. Arial, Times New Roman, and Helvetica are timeless typefaces that will work effectively for you.

• Length of CV

Selecting a suitable CV length is also very important. If it's too lengthy, the recruiting manager will get quickly uninterested. Unless you're applying for a senior job and have a lot of experience, stick to a maximum of two pages. If not, you can include up to three. Some particular forms, such as an academic CV, could be lengthier, but for most applicants, it is preferable to comply with the criteria.

What You Should Not Include in the CV

• A CV should never include some elements because they quickly impair the way it looks. Personal information like date of birth, marital status, and a picture shouldn't be put on a resume.
• Spelling and grammatical faults should also not appear on a CV. A CV with poor writing skills is the one thing that can turn off a recruiter promptly.
• Use the spell check feature and programs such as Grammarly and Hemingway to make sure that your writing is flawless. According to a YouGov survey, 87 percent of managers feel spelling and punctuation faults are the worst CV blunders a candidate can make. 
• You should also delete any unnecessary information. For instance, although stamp collecting could be fun, it's not always a required talent to find a job. Therefore, be sure that any hobbies or interests you provide are relevant to the position that you're looking for.

How should a Chronological Curriculum Vitae look? 

If you ask most people what a CV should look like, they will visualize a chronological CV. Companies adore it, and it's the most effective way to highlight your job experience for a lot of applicants. Here is how you can make a Chronological CV, by dividing it into different parts. 

• CV Header

This is the first section of your CV, situated at the very top of the page, which contains personal data. When applying for a position, be sure to provide your full name, and contact details (phone, email, and social network accounts). It is not important to give your postal address. You can also make the font size of your name 6–8 points bigger than the body text to draw attention to an aspect.

• CV Synopsis

Your CV summary, also known as a CV personal profile, gives a brief introduction of yourself as a candidate. It should be between three and five lines long and should include your professional history, skills as an employee, and ambitions for the future. Add a bit of energy and enthusiasm, and you've got the ideal beginning.

• Professional Experience

The most important section of a chronological CV is this one. The job experience section needs to start with the present or recent employer and move on backward from here. Add your job title, employer's name, and dates of employment for every role. If you are currently working there, mark the start date as "present."

Create 4-6 short paragraphs describing each role's responsibility. However, don't just write down a list of tasks with the remark that you were "in authority over x." Begin the bullet points using a CV action term and arrange them using the PAR (problem, action, result) formula.

• Education

If you've attended a university, include the name of the institution, the degree you obtained, and the time period of your studies. If you're still in college, specify when you intend to graduate.

If you are a school leaver, please include your A-level results, a list of all the subjects you completed, the name of the institution or school, and the dates you studied there. If you are still in school, provide your estimated completion date. If you're not in school anymore or have just left, GCSEs are not essential.

For GCSEs, you just have to indicate the number of programs you studied. However, while passing scores in math and English can be considered as the absolute minimum, be certain to mention them clearly.

In addition, the education section on your CV could be placed before your job experience if you're presently in school or just completed college.

• Skills

The skills you have that are important for the position you are applying for should be mentioned in this area. It is recommended that the skills sections of your CV have a mix of soft and hard skills. Remember that certain abilities are useful for almost any career, with communication and knowledge of computers as among the most essential.

• More Sections

The talents section of your CV could possibly be at the end. However, while choosing the perfect CV design, make sure it differs from others. Here's where the addition of more sections helps. They are a great way to draw attention to additional abilities and achievements and provide an impression of uniqueness. Some appreciatable recommendations include awards and projects, interests and hobbies, and a language part. It's worth adding if it makes you seem like a more desirable applicant.

Conclusion

CV is the first step factor for assessing whether you will get the job or not. If you know how to make an attractive job CV, you will get one step closer to your dream job. The above-mentioned suggestions and format will help you create an appealing CV and give you an opportunity to get your dream job. 

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