Okay, lets talk about arranging a CV for optimal readability. A lot of applicant end up frustrated because they did not take time to prepare their CV well. Kindly note that in Job hunting, your CV is your greatest asset, your weapon, your ambassador and it determines the impression you create with the recruiter you cannot see. A shabby, disorganized or poorly tailored CV would always give you a back foot (assuming it doesn't get rejected on sight). Below are a number of tips to improving the readability of your CV and gaining a better chance of your CV passing the 10 seconds scan test used by a lot of recruiters.
8 USEFUL TIPS
1. Your Name should be at the top no matter what!
2. Your Name should be used to save the CV: On the average, it makes it easier for referencing your CV should need arise
3. Make sure your address is in sync with the location of the job: Many employers are not ready to pay relocation fees so you would be at a loss and have your CV struck out at a glance!
4. Your age, sex, state of origin and marital status are somewhat compulsory, others are nearly irrelevant
PS: YOUR EDUCATIONAL RECORD SHOULD COME AFTER YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE (BECAUSE WORK EXPERIENCE IS THE GOLD IN YOUR CV) EXCEPT IF YOUR EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/RECORDS ARE MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE e.g if you graduated with a 2nd class lower or 3rd class, keep your educational record section after your work experience section else you create a bad impression once the recruiter sees that.
*NEVER FORGET THE AIM IS TO IMPRESS THE RECRUITER YOU CANNOT SEE SO BETWEEN YOUR EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE, THE MORE IMPRESSIVE ONE SHOULD COME FIRST.
5. When in the education category, don't include your secondary school education as its not necessary! Obviously for you to have gotten to any of the tertiary levels, you must have gone through the secondary education so don't add unnecessary length to your CV
6. IN THE WORK EXPERIENCE SECTION, YOUR CONTENT MUST BE IN THE 'RECENT-LATEST' ORDER NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND! DON'T PUT WHAT YOU DID IN 2010 FIRST THEN PUT THAT OF 2015 LAST...2015 MUST COME FIRST!
Why? Because in screening, only the most recent of your work experience is considered! e.g if you were a sales man in 2010 and moved to banking in 2012 till 2014 then moved to aviation in 2014, if you apply for a sales job in 2015 you most probably won't be considered. In the same vein, if you then applied for a higher aviation job in 2015 but arranged your work experience such that your sales experience of 2010 appears first, your CV would most likely be overlooked quickly!
PS: THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF CANDIDATES CV GET DELETED OR REJECTED OR THRASHED
*NOTE THAT THE RECRUITER HAS HUNDREDS OF CVs LIKE YOURS TO SCREEN IN A DEFINED PERIODOF TIME SO HE/SHE HAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DIGEST THE FULL CONTENT OF YOUR CV. ON THE AVERAGE YOUR CV IS CONSIDERED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS SO THE QUESTION IS....IS YOUR CV TAILORED WELL ENOUGH TO SELL YOU AS A CANDIDATE IN 10 SECONDS? THAT SHOULD BE YOUR AIM WHEN WRITING A CV
7. Your volunteer experience may come in hand depending on the personal traits the recruiter is looking for in his/her ideal candidate.
PS: ALWAYS GIVE DETAILED/VIVID DESCRIPTION OF YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE, IT IS INDEED THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR CV MOST OF THE TIME.
8. References are quite optional
Hope you find this a bit enlightening!
Azode Charles
Recruitment Researcher
c.azode@erecnigeria.com
azodecharles@gmail.com
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