The competitive world fits in just one phrase that is 'Survival of the Fittest'. If you want to get the most of it, you have to give it the best of you. When it comes to getting a new job as a fresher, the recent graduate students suffer a lot in writing CVs as it seems complicated to the ones who have not written it before. There are many college students who struggle to get an internship because their CV does not highlight their best potential and therefore, they get rejected.
A CV is like an advertisement where you provide an overview of yourself in just one or two pages. Therefore, you'll find millions of people giving their opinions on how to write a good CV. There are a few things that you should keep in mind before you write a CV.
1. Research Is a Prerequisite
The very first thing you should do before writing a CV is research. The question is, what should we research? Well, the only thing you have to do is read as much job description as you can in the field of your interest. Reading job descriptions will help you know about all the hard skills and soft skills that are in demand. There are specific sets of skills required for a specific field. For example, if you're looking for a content writing job, they'll ask you to have proficiency in the English language, the expertise of word press, SEO, etc. Therefore, through your research, you'll know what all skills you need to mention directly and indirectly in your CV to get the job you want.
2. Make your First Impression Count
Most of the CV gets rejected or selected in the first 30 seconds of CV reading. Therefore, it is important to have a great first impression. A study says that the employer takes only 6 seconds for a fit or no fit decision. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind for making a good impression. You should use a globally recognized format. E.g. google docs to create your CV. You must keep the overall style of your CV consistent. Make it very precise and do not use vibrant color as it'll look unprofessional. Use black color and a simple font on a plain white background. It should be easy for an employer to skin through your CV therefore if you're an experienced graduate student looking for jobs, write everything in bullet points.
3. Avoid Typo and Grammatical Errors
Nothing hurts more than grammatical mistakes in your CV. It shows how ignorant you are towards getting this job. If there are typo errors or silly mistakes, then the employer will definitely be less likely to select you. You cannot afford to make silly mistakes in your CV as the professional world does not accept a person who makes silly mistakes.
You should always proofread your CV before exporting it to any company as an error-free CV will give the impression that you are dedicated to the job and you are also proficient in the language. There's one way you can check your grammar is by using Google docs as it has a tool called 'Grammarly' where it automatically checks all the typo errors or grammatical mistakes and suggests you the right word to fit there.
4. Quantify Your Achievements
If you are an experienced person, then it is important that you quantify your achievements in numbers, eg, If you're applying for a social media marketing post, you can mention that in your previous job the following of the account increased to 40%, total consumers were 40k, etc. The quantified data helps the employer to analyze your skills and it gives the impression that you have a professional experience that is growth-oriented.
If you are a fresher, then you can write your best grades in the education field and your GPA of college while quantifying your achievements. If you don't have any numbers to add to your CV, use words like 'promoted', 'developed', 'experienced' in the sentences. This action- verb format will help the employer to see a growth-oriented personality in you.
5. Never Lie
The most important skill that every employer wants in their employees is honesty. It is okay if you don't have any skill that is there in the job description. Most companies will be ready to train you with the skills. Have a learning attitude and do not fake anything in your CV. Be your own self as if anyhow the company finds out that you lied in your CV then most probably you won't be able to work with them in the future forever. To avoid any such circumstances, write all the skills that are genuinely possessed by you.
Make sure that your CV matches with the job description of the job profile you're aspiring for. It is completely optional to write about your hobbies and interests but you should write about your hobbies only if it is in the best interest of your targeted job. For example, if you're applying for a content writing job, you can mention if you have your own blog or any Instagram page where you showcase your writings.
Written by - Khushi Prajapati
Edited by - Vaibhav Sharma
Social