A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is an initial ticket for an individual to enter the recruitment process in a company. Through a CV, a company can get a picture of you even though they have not met you yet. Often, job seekers have sent dozens of applications to a company but have not received a call, even though their qualifications are suitable for the job. It may be that your CV did not reach the company's recruiter because it does not comply with the required format.
According to research conducted by Ladders in 2018, an HRD only needs 7.4 seconds to look at a job applicant's CV. In those 7.4 seconds, a recruiter will determine whether you are suitable for the required job qualifications. Therefore, you must have the ability to write an attractive CV that catches the attention of HRD. Before sending an application, pay attention to the following CV writing tips that we have summarized from various sources:
ATS Friendly
Most companies nowadays use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter job applications before conducting the selection process. ATS detects keywords according to the job vacancies offered, making it easier for recruiters to screen candidates according to the required qualifications. To make your CV ATS-friendly, make sure to include keywords that match the required qualifications. Then, use a professional font or typeface that is easy to detect. Choosing a good font also makes it easier for recruiters to read your CV.
Personal Information
The personal information written should only include important points such as full name, age, domicile, contact, and email. Include a contact number and email that you often use and make sure your email looks professional. This serves to ensure that job seekers can respond quickly if the recruiter contacts you. Don't disappoint recruiters by responding to their invitations late.
After that, you can write a brief and clear self-description. Generally, this section is called a professional summary. A professional summary is a brief story about the job seeker that contains a summary of skills, work experience, and achievements. Then, write down the value that you can offer to the company. You can also convey your uniqueness or advantages compared to other candidates. When writing a professional summary, choose words that can attract a recruiter's attention.
Work Experience
List relevant work experience according to the job qualifications. Start with the most recent work experience. To make it easier to understand, write it in bullet points, and then describe how you performed the job. Mention the achievements and awards you obtained in that position. If you are still a fresh graduate, you can write about the internships or projects you have done. Remember, a recruiter will only call candidates whose experience is in line with the company's needs. If it is not suitable, your CV will clearly be ignored.
Educational Background
Only include the latest education in your CV, unless you have a master's or doctoral degree.
Skills and Certifications
Write down the skills or abilities, especially in the field of work required by the company. In this section, you can detail technical skills and knowledge that you have according to the job vacancy description. You can also mention other skills such as foreign language proficiency. If available, attach a certificate as proof of competence. It should be noted that not all skills need to be written in the CV.
References
If necessary, add contacts who can be a reference for the company to validate your skills and work experience. References are people who can explain the candidate's abilities and experience. Usually, the reference contact is the job seeker's direct superior. For fresh graduates, you can write the contact information of your academic advisor. Make sure to ask for permission from that person before including their contact number.
Organizational Experience
Organizational experience is essential to demonstrate your involvement in community and non-formal education activities. Having organizational experience can be an added value to recruiters as they consider how your soft skills support the required job position. You can also detail your soft skills in bullet points.
Limit to One Page
When creating a CV, it is important to keep it concise and limit it to one or two pages. HR departments have a short amount of time to sift through hundreds of resumes, so a clear and brief CV is better. Lastly, don't forget to proofread your CV to ensure that there are no mistakes in the writing.
Source:
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/basic-resume-examples-tips