A CV is often the only document you have to promote yourself to a potential employer. It is your chance to make a good impression. Even if you have all the credentials in the world, a poorly written CV will not make the cut. A well-constructed CV, on the other hand, could ultimately land you that dream job or help you move up the career ladder. Here are four tips to rewrite your CV if you want to move to a higher position:
Job seekers tend to focus on want they want from a company without considering the value they could give back to the employer. When an employer is skimming through your CV, they are usually concerned about one thing: “Will this person create value for my company?” You can start by tailoring your career objective so it matches what the company is looking for. Use the keywords that employers have put in the job description. Depending on the role, you must state how many years of experience you have accumulated, and that you’re not only a specialist in your particular field, but a leader. In fact, 25% of employers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region say that experience is the most important part in a CV, as stated in the Bayt.com ’Modern Job Search in the MENA‘ poll, November 2013.
Now that you’re applying for a higher position in the career ladder, your achievements are much more important than your day-to-day activities. The employer wants to know if you’re a leader, and if hiring you will help them solve problems. As such, always have a “Key Achievements” section in your CV, highlighting how you have solved a specific company problem, motivated the rest of your colleagues, and so forth. Remember to use examples from your career to demonstrate your prowess.
There is no better way to describe your achievements than using concrete examples. Instead of writing “I exceeded my monthly sales target,” you could say “I exceeded my monthly sales target of $5,000 by 20% every month.” Employers want to know that investing their resources in you will be worth their money, and being extremely specific about what you have done will win you some brownie points.
Your CV might have the best content, but if it isn’t designed in a professional manner, it won’t grab the attention of the person reading it. Use formatting, especially the bold tool, to your advantage. Highlight keywords as well as numbers. Make sure to proofread your CV at least twice before sending it out to employers in order to check for any grammatical errors. Additionally, 45% of employers in the region want job seekers to include a picture in their CV, according to the Bayt.com “Modern Job Search in the MENA” poll, so make sure to insert a professional photo. Don’t forget to use a readable font size and color. Apply these tips to your CV, and employers will soon be knocking at your door! Also learn how to write a great cover letter. Check out this infographic for more information on what employers are looking for in a CV. You can also benefit from a personalized CV makeover whereby a professional Bayt.com CV Writer will rewrite your CV! To kick start your job search with a new, professionally written CV, get in touch with our CV Writing consultants. Photo credit: Nicola Albertini on Flickr
