Some Handy Tips For Anyone Wanting To Get Better At Resume Creation

By Michelle Howe


All of us at some stage will have to go through the process of resume creation, when we create a 'curriculum vitae', or CV, of our accomplishments and qualifications. Job hunting is a challenging enough experience without you being handicapped by having a sub-quality CV, so it is important that you get it right. A resume is not simply a list though, it needs to be properly formatted, proofread for spelling and punctuation mistakes, and be in a legible font.

The main purpose of a CV is not actually to get you a job, it is to secure you an interview which can lead to a job. Many people fail to grasp this fundamental point, and as a result their CVS are long-winded, verbose and bloated, and therefore not fit for purpose. Never make a huge list of everything at work that you have ever done, as this simply shows a lack of ability to see what is important and to be organised.

Using bullet points is therefore a very good idea indeed. Very few employers will have the time or the urge to sift through pages and pages of detail. So use bullet points for each of your sections, breaking down your skills and experience into more easily digestible chunks. This will help your positive qualities to stand out more and be more easily grasped by an employer.

Handing over a document which is pages and pages long is also unlikely to impress any potential employers. A good CV should aim at being two pages long, as anything longer can lead to pages becoming detached and important sections being lost. Put personal details like your date of birth and address on the front page of the document, so that it is easy to see who it relates to.

Proofreading the completed document is also very important, especially looking for spelling mistakes. Punctuation is also important, as no one wants to employ someone who cannot tell the difference between its and it's, or spell basic words. Even if your punctuation and spelling is usually excellent, mistakes on a CV make it look like it is not.

The CV also needs to be formatted in such a way that it is straightforward for the potential employer to read. Use bold text and headings to help clearly delineate which sections of the CV refer to which events and skills in your career. Avoid fancy fonts; the aim of a CV is to get you a job interview, not look nice.

Pictures are also something which you should never include in a CV. You should not have to include images of what you have achieved, unless they are specifically requested as proof of some technical ability. Pictures of yourself are simply irrelevant, and make a CV look childish.

The secret of good resume creation is to write with clarity, dividing the text up into clearly legible sections. Never use pictures or fancy fonts, as these will not help with gaining the chance of an interview. Proofread carefully, and brush up on your grammar and punctuation before you write a CV.




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