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How to write an e-mail friendly CV
It is well worth the time you spend to make your CV as
professional and impressive as possible.
It is important to realise that most of the employers scan
through your CV
without reading it in detail - that's not much time to sell
yourself.
Following are some basic guidelines that will help you prepare
a well-written CV avoiding some common mistakes:
There are some crucial factors which you should take into
consideration:
1. Appearance
The impression gained at first glance is the most important
- you should design your CV to look attractive, eye-catching
and easy to read.
Use fonts that are clear and legible.
Use spacing between each paragraph and/or bullet point form.
Make the headings stand out with bigger writing, bold letters
or underline.
2. Content
A good CV says who you are, what you are, what you have
done and what you are offering to a prospective employer.
It stops here.
Include your name at the top or bottom of every page to
avoid pages of your CV being mixed up with someone else's.
Use short succinct sentences.
Avoid repetition, espcially of the word "I".
A good CV does justice to your skills and experience.
Don't use negative words in your CV - your aim is to radiate
optimism.
If you don't have much experience in the field, emphasize
your good points and your willingness to learn and to make
an effort.
Try to turn any negative points into positives - i.e. a
long period of unemployment should be related as a time
where you gained experience in other ways.
Don't include jobs where you worked for a very short time.
Adapt your CV to suit the required position, emphasizing
your relevant work experience, education and traits.
Avoid boasting.
Be concise - keep to a maximum of two pages (it is recommended
to use only one page). Include an after-hours phone number
- you may be pleasantly surprised.
Use a large variety of vocabulary, with correct grammar
and punctuation.
3. Stucture
A CV should have a fixed structure, including these headings
in this order:
Personal details
Education (including courses)
Work experience
Other skills (including, languages, computer skills, relevant
character traits, achievements)
The CV should be ordered in descending chronological order
(most recent entry comes first)
Be precise on the starting and end dates of previous positions.
4. Cover letter
Your cover letter should include attractive information
that will make the employer want to go ahead and read your
CV.
This letter should briefly detail your relevant education,
your work experience and the position that you are applying
for.
If you want to keep your CV discreet, you should state
this in your cover letter
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