What is an Ideal CV?

Who wouldn’t wish to have a CV that will rank at the top of recruiter searches?

A good CV is a crucial asset for your job search as it gives a brief and compelling sketch of your capabilities and experience. Here, as a few elements that need to be considered while making or amending, and/or enhancing your CV.

• Clear formatting: Resumes should be well-structured, easy to read, and organized in a consistent, and professional format with clearly marked sections, headings, bullet points, and subheadings. Tailor/customize your CV according to the job position. Make sure that you emphasize qualifications and experiences that align with the specific job description.
• Contact information: Include your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn account URL (if available) and location. It is always better to avoid the mention of Date of Birth, gender, marital status, and family details.
• Professional summary and title: A brief, targeted statement with a title/heading stating your field of expertise explicitly at the beginning of your CV will highlight your career goals and help your CV stand out. It should be exceeding 3 lines and your tagline should be intended to grab attention.
• Work experience: Always ensure to list your work history in reverse chronological order (most recent job first). For each position, include the job title, company name, location, and dates of employment. Use bullet points to describe your key responsibilities and achievements in each role.
• Education: It is important to provide essential details about your educational background in your CV. This includes names of institutions, courses/degrees, graduation dates, and any relevant honors or awards. It is not advisable to mention the details of school graduation unless that is the highest qualification that you possess.
• Skills: Highlight both technical and soft skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. This portion is very crucial as it will tell the hiring officer about the possible contribution you can make and what makes you different from other candidates.
• Achievements and Accomplishments, Or Awards and Honours:  You need to showcase specific achievements, quantifiable results, and contributions you have in diffearent genres.
• Certifications and training: This section is often combined with the work experience section, which is not recommended. Try to keep this section separate in your CV and let it stand out to enhance your qualifications for the position.
• Publications, presentations, and projects (if applicable): If you have contributed to publications, given presentations, or worked on notable projects, mention them in a separate section to catch the attention of the recruiter. It is advisable to follow the international format to mention your publications. If a clickable link can be provided for the publication, it is more apt.
• Languages: Many candidates forget to add this section. If you're proficient in any language other than your native language, you need to include this information. If you possess typing skills in more than 1 language, it is always advisable to mention the same.
• Professional affiliations: Mention memberships in relevant professional organizations, associations, or industry groups.
• Volunteer work or community involvement (optional): Include any volunteer experience or community service in your CV. This will show your inclination towards CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
• Keywords: Always make sure to incorporate relevant keywords from the job posting to increase the chances of your CV getting noticed by the recruiters and the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
• Length: Generally, a CV should be no longer than two pages, but this can vary depending on your level of experience and the industry.
• Proofreading: Typos can create a negative impression. Always double-check your CV for grammar and spelling errors.
• References: References need not be included in your CV. Instead, you can write "References available upon request" and be prepared to provide references when requested.
• Colour: Try to avoid flashy colors and images. Keep it subtle and professional.

Your CV is a dynamic document, and it should be updated as your career progresses. Honesty and transparency are the key factors to be kept in mind while drafting your CV, as any inaccuracies can be problematic during the hiring process.

Always remember that your CV is not an outline of your life story. It is the key to success and tip-off to grab the attention of the recruiter in 10 seconds. A CV crafted in a concise, elevated, clear, consistent, and authentic style will stimulate the mind of the reader and help you get picked up from the stack.