Finding a work at home job is not easy. The field is very competitive, and it can take months to land a job. You can improve your chances by having a well-written resume.

The first thing to remember is that if you aren't qualified for a job, there is very little point in applying for it. Take a good look at your skills. Do you know what data entry involves? How fast can you type? Do you have a quiet room for taking telephone calls? These are questions you may need to consider, depending on the kind of work at home job you are applying for.

List your relevant skills first. If you are applying for a range of job types, you may need to rearrange these so that the most relevant skills come first for each kind of job. Remember, employers are often looking at hundreds of applicants, so you need to catch their eye right off the bat.

List your employment history starting from your most recent or current position and going back. Particularly if you have never held a work at home position, emphasize anything that shows your ability to work without supervision. Remember, this is a vital skill for work at home employees, no matter the job. Especially if you have had a work at home position before, tell why you left the position. List about 4 jobs at the most. More tend to indicate you either change jobs too often and have had a lot of jobs in only a few years, or go back too far in time to be considered relevant. If a job was short term by its nature, say so. Call it contract, seasonal or freelance, depending on which is most relevant.

If you have very little employment experience due to recent graduation from high school or college, emphasize your education history over your employment history. Take a look at the classes you took and how they might apply to the job you are interested in. If you have a college degree, do not bother listing your high school education. Include any achievements as well.

Do you volunteer? This is the time to let employers know, and how it is relevant to the job you are interested in. You can develop great skills from volunteering. Skip ones related to religion in general, as this could lead to discrimination.

If you have a relevant hobby, you can list it, but not otherwise.

For work at home positions, it is a very good idea to include your references. Three to six are sufficient. No family members or roommates, please. Former co-workers or people who work in management are good choices.

Keep your resume clean and straightforward. Do not change fonts all over the place.

If you are emailing your resume, put it in plain text at the end of your email. Do not send as an attachment unless requested. Many people will not read attachments for fear of viruses. Email your resume to yourself before sending it to an employer to ensure that the text version comes through cleanly. You may want to consider formatting it to a 65 character line to ensure that the lines wrap correctly. It's pretty much the only formatting you can do with plain text. Most people can receive HTML email now, so if you want to format, it is most likely okay, but there is always the chance that they will not be able to read it correctly, so decide if you want to format your resume that way.

Consider having a webpage with your resume on it. A free hosting service works well enough for this if you are looking for a job, but not if you are freelancing. Do not get fancy with this page. You want your online resume and portfolio if relevant to be as clean as it would be on paper.

You will want to consider having more than one version of your resume. Tailor to each job title you are considering, so that you can emphasize the skills most relevant to that job. It's not much extra work, but might just get you that job.

Finally, write a good cover letter. It should give more detail to your most important points on your resume. Do your best to give the impression of a hard worker who can work independently.

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Today's job market is competitive. Many companies receive hundreds of resumes a year, making it difficult for yours to stand out from the crowd. However, that should not keep you from getting interviews. The following 10 tips will help you learn how to get employers to read your resume and get your phone ringing.

1. Include a profile

Begin your resume with a profile, which contains a synopsis of your varied skills and educational qualifications. This profile should match the particular job you want to apply for. State your career objective clearly so that the reader gets an overall idea of your background and areas of expertise. Write this section in such a manner that it immediately catches the attention of a hiring manager, and he calls you instead of someone else.

2. Keep the resume short

No one has the time to go through elaborate detailing about your past jobs and experiences. Therefore, keep the resume short. Make a list of the most important jobs you have held and give a brief of your previous job-oriented experiences. However, in the case of technical people, resumes can extend to three pages in order to include relevant technical information.

3. Give more importance on content than on looks

One of the major mistakes people make while creating resumes is in the use of fancy fonts. Avoid using fancy fonts and do not change font regularly throughout the resume. Changing fonts regularly will distract and confuse a hiring manager. Do not use underlining or italics to add emphasis. Make your document eye appealing so that your reader can review it with ease. Use white paper and make the thoughts flow smoothly.

4. Clearly identify your skills

Do not be modest in mentioning your skills. Clearly identifying your skills will distinguish you from the other job seekers and eventually help your potential employers to select you from the rest. Remember, all you have to do is to stand out from the crowd.

5. List your educational and professional qualifications

Include any relevant education or training that might relate. Provide details of only those qualifications that match your current job search. This will help you to get short-listed more easily.

6. Focus on your job responsibilities

Starting with your present position or most recent job, mention the title of every job you have held, along with the name of the company, the city and state, and the years you have worked there. Under each position, make a list of your job responsibilities. Use descriptive verbs, such as created, increased, performed, initiated, developed, led, improved or reduced to begin each statement of your duties and accomplishments. Producing a document that is well presented, detailed and targeted will attract the attention of your hiring manager.

7. Add related qualifications and interests

Think about anything else that might qualify you for your job objective and place it at the bottom of your resume. It may include licenses, certifications, awards and achievements, and sometimes even your hobbies and interests if they truly relate. If you seek a job in a music company, for example, stating on your resume that you are a pianist will increase your chance to get that interview call.

8. Be honest with your resume

If you did not actually do what you said you did, it would be called a lie. Numerous surveys show that job applicants lie most frequently about education and employment, particularly about job responsibilities and dates of employment. Hiding gaps in employment and jobs where they were forced to leave by the respective employers is also common. There are many risks involved in lying, but many job applicants do not seem to get the message about the risks of lying. Once you are caught with a lie, you will be fired then and there. So, DON"T lie – be honest with your resume.

9. Always attach a covering letter

A cover letter is a letter of introduction that highlights your key achievements and skills and entitles you for a job opening. It reflects your communication skills and your personality. The main purpose of this document is to introduce yourself in such an interesting manner that the reader will not only continue reading your resume but also be willing to call you for an interview.

If you want to create cover letters for any career situation, position, and job level, I recommend a unique resume/ cover letter tool on the Internet today called Amazing Cover Letter Creator. I recommend this tool, because it solves the frustrating problem job seekers have when trying to write an effective resume cover letter. You can use it over and over again for all your cover letter needs.

10. Proofread your resume

After you have finalized your employment documents, check them repeatedly for errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Spelling and grammatical errors can automatically disqualify a resume from consideration. If you make mistakes on your employment documents, hiring managers might presume you will be equally careless on the job - no matter how important your qualifications and experiences are. Proofread your resume and cover letter carefully.

Make your resume positive and completely error-free. If you are seeking two or three different positions, prepare two or three separate resumes, each tailored to the job you are targeting. Make your resume exclusive and unique so that it stands out from the crowd. Good luck for your career!

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HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #1
NEVER USE THE WRONG PAPER!
What kind of paper should you choose when typing your resume? The color of paper you will want to use will be white or ivory. You will also want to type your resume on a heavier paper, such as a 20 lb. bond.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #2
DO NOT APPLY TO THE WRONG JOB!
Focus on targeting your resume to one specific job. If the job you are seeking is that of a receptionist, you want the person reading your resume to know this. The employer may have several openings and not know if you are applying for the receptionist job or the maintenance position. Always make sure you reference the position you desire.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #3
PLEASE, NO LIFE STORIES!
You want to keep your resume short; one page is optimal, more than two is disastrous. Keep your resume clear, concise and relative to the particular job market. Remember, the person reading your resume has no desire, nor intentions to read your life story.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #4
DON'T FORGET THE PITCH!
The most important thing to remember when typing your resume is your qualifications. Write a short opening paragraph to 'sell yourself.' You want to come across as capable and qualified, yet, you do not want to sound like a narcissist, so do not over do it. Show confidence and strength through your written words, but avoid boasting.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #5
NO MISSPELLINGS!
Always use your computer's spell checker! If you cannot spell the job position correctly, how will you perform the job? Misspellings are a big annoyance to the person reading your resume. You don't want to irritate him/her before you have even been granted an interview.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #6
NEVER SELL YOURSELF SHORT!
Emphasize your skills, talents and achievements. Especially if they relate to the position you are seeking. Elaborate most on the skills that apply to the exact job for which you are applying.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME-MISTAKE #7
DO NOT LEAVE OUT PERTINENT INFORMATION!
When writing about your past jobs, make sure to include their locations. Do not omit the cities and states where you have previously worked.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME MISTAKE #8
AVOID USING WEAK WORDS!
When telling of your past employment positions, try to use the word 'work' sparingly. It is a weak, passive verb, and applies to a broad spectrum of tasks. Everyone 'works', but maybe you've 'implemented', or 'collaborated'; these types of words sound much more impressive.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME MISTAKE #9
DO NOT CREATE A CENSUS!
It is most common now, as well as accepted, that you don't use 'profile' information. Information you should leave out are height, weight, age, date of birth, gender, marital status, race and personal health information. Also to be omitted are controversial issues such as, religious and political affiliations.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME MISTAKE #10
DO NOT OVERLOOK YOUR REPUTATION!
Who will vouch for you? If you are going to include personal and or professional references, make sure the people you list will give you a shining recommendation. The best reference would be a leader in the industry you are applying for, or another well-respected professional. Try to use only the people who will mention your best attributes. It is also recommended that you contact the person you will use as a reference to assure that the information they will supply about you is only top notch.

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How to apply for that Blooming Good job!

Never send a CV without a cover letter!! This will provide you with the ideal opportunity to introduce yourself in a few short paragraphs. The cover letter will be used to briefly outline your skills, qualifications, experience and availability aimed at enticing the employer to read your CV. A good start is to know about the company you're applying to. To be able to compile a targeted cover letter you will need to know about the company, including: their products, history and their culture. Personalising your covering letter in line with the company you're applying to will show your interest in the job.

As with a CV, accentuate on the positive aspects of your experience - do not make any negative comments with regards to past employers/jobs etc. Concentrate on highlighting your main selling points. By attracting the reader's attention in the cover letter you stand an increased chance of having your CV read. Ensure that your CV is up to date, is honest and correct and is informative but concise. If possible, why not rewrite it with the job application in mind?

How do you write a CV?

Your CV is a personal sales-pitch aimed towards securing you an interview. Did you know that the majority of candidates fail early on in the recruitment process because of their CV? It takes too long to read, lists non-essential information and does not reflect their main selling points.

Please find below a few useful pointers for writing a CV:

How many pages should a CV be? Generally, most CVs should be no more than 2-3 pages in length - this can vary within different levels of experience. How do I tackle gaps in employment? At some point, most people will face unemployment, redundancy and various other reasons for gaps in employment. The first (and most important) thing to remember is - DON'T PANIC! If you are going to compile your own CV and you have gaps of a few months in your CV - don't lie; consider listing just the years. You will, however, need to detail specific dates in your application form. Where do I include personal information? A common mistake to make with your CV is to list all your personal information: height, weight, place of birth etc. This information is irrelevant and will take up much-needed room for other, more relevant information. It is a good idea to include your date of birth, nationality, marital status and if you hold a driving licence at the bottom of the CV - not at the top! What makes a good CV? Keep it simple, uncluttered and in an easy-to-read font (on plain white A4 paper) Keep it free from unnecessary details (e.g.: don't write lines upon lines for your interests!) Keep it free from spelling/grammatical errors - maybe ask someone to proof read it Check your personal details - sound obvious but it does happen (wrong phone number etc) If you have a job spec - match your CV to this to ensure you have included relevant skills ...but what should my CV include? Education details - you don't need to include all your qualifications from 10 years ago. State your most recent qualification(s) and briefly cover older, less relevant ones Work experience: most recent first and go backwards Key skills/areas of expertise: such as IT skills or languages Extra-curricular activities if relevant to job being applied for!! It would be ideal to include your mobile telephone number. There is a good chance you could miss a call if not at home. Also, and again, this sounds obvious - make sure you have a professional message on your answer phone - you never know who could call! When emailing your CV, please take your email address into consideration. We regularly see CVs with email addresses along the lines of "lovedoctor@emailaddress.com" or "sexylady123@sillyemail.co.uk" - this will not help present a professional reflection of you. Consider obtaining a free email account from Hotmail or Yahoo and keep job application emails separate from personal email. If you are sending your CV by post, ensure you use an A4 envelope and do not fold your CV - by the time it gets to it's destination it could look a mess. Don't forget - having a CV designed professionally is far more beneficial than compiling your own so contact us today to discuss how we can help. CV writing mistakes: Spelling mistakes: It is a proven fact that around 50% of CVs contain spelling mistakes. This easy mistake will make you seem careless and could also distract the reader's attention from the content. It may be worth considering asking a family member or a friend to read your CV and check for mistakes.

Jargon: When writing your CV you may believe that using industry-specific jargon is a good idea and that the person reading your CV will understand it but using acronyms without explaining them can be confusing to the reader and may deter someone who is not familiar with them.

Qualifications: A common mistake in a CV is to detail all your academic history - even from 10-20 years ago whilst also listing all your grades! This is not necessary. On a graduate CV or someone with limited employment history it may be useful but for others, just briefly cover your qualifications - detail your most recent achievement and list older ones. If you have vast employment experience spanning many years, the chances are a recruiter will not even read your qualifications.

Employment: When compiling your employment history there is no need to provide the address of your employer - all you need is the company name, your job title and the date you started work and finished work with them. The you can talk about your duties and achievements in each position.

Hobbies: Your CV is a personal sales tool. Any available space on a CV is limited and you want to use it to sell your skills and experience effectively. Everyone likes reading, listening to music, keeping fit and socialising with friends, so unless you have done something special - and relevant to the job you are applying for - leave it out!

Too many pages: All too often, employers will receive CVs that are too long! A good CV should be no more than around 2-3 pages (for graduate or more executive positions this may vary). The more there is to read, the less likely it is that all your skills and qualities will be noticed. Try to decipher between what information is relevant to the job you're applying for and what is not.

Unnecessary information: As stressed in the facts above - when compiling your CV, try to keep all the information relevant to the job you are applying for. Unnecessary information will take up much needed space which can otherwise be utilised for other, more important reasons to help persuade the reader to continue with your application.

Another common mistake people make when writing their CV is including their reason behind leaving previous jobs. Examples of these can be, "I got bored" or "I didn't get on with the manager". Obviously, this is not necessary, will make you look negative and will decrease your chances of being included on the shortlist.

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INTRODUCTION

There are as many opinions on the subject of resumes as there are job seekers! Some of the more popular opinions are centered on the use of objectives, summaries, profiles, title headings, keywords, reference statements, personal interests, salary history, dates, graphics, fonts, and of course, the length of the resume.

Then there is the question of format. Should the style of a resume be chronological, functional or combination? One thing is certain - the resume should sell a candidate's strengths and qualifications, and answer a hiring manager's question, "How can you solve my problem?" It should also have full contact information, be organized, and provide specific information that a hiring manager needs to decide whether or not a candidate is well suited for a position. At the very least, it should list relevant experience and achievements.

PURPOSE of A Résumé

A resume is a personal marketing document that communicates your career objective and value to a hiring company. A strong resume is carefully planned and developed (not quickly typed up) in an appropriate format (style) designed to showcase your experience and accomplishments in direct relation to a specific position.

BASIC RESUME FORMATTING RULES

· Bold and enlarge your name at the top.
· Keep the sections lined up and consistent.
· Use an Arial or Times New Roman font (or similar).
· Font size shouldn't be smaller than 11pt or larger than 12pt, except for your Name and Headings.
· Do not include pronouns such as "I," company street addresses, salary, or reasons for leaving.
· Two-page resume: be sure to fill the second page at least halfway down the page.
· Place "Continued" at the bottom of page one, and your name and "Page 2" at the top of page two.
· Use graphics sparingly unless you are in a creative field. It is safe to use a border and shading.
· Leave out personal data, photos, and unrelated hobbies, unless you are an actor/actress or model.
· If you spell out the state in your address, such as New York, spell out the states for your jobs.
· Proof, proof, and proof again!

To help you understand the main differences between various resume styles, the following illustrates the same resume in chronological, functional, and combination formats. Also provided below is a comprehensive list of common mistakes to avoid and useful tips to help your resume to compete in today's competitive workplace:

CHRONOLOGICAL

This is the most commonly used resume format. It is straightforward, and easily traces a candidate's career path and progression in a given field. Experience and accomplishments are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job positioned first. Because it leaves little to the imagination and makes it difficult to hide employment gaps, the chronological resume is the most preferred format of employers and recruiters.

Chronological Format Example:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Wireless, Inc., Brooklyn, NY 1998 - Present
Sales Representative
· Prospected and sold communications services to business accounts spanning the Northeast and Midwest regions.
· Consulted clients on the cost-effective advantages of switching over from standing services, resulting in a 15% new market penetration with revenues at $1,850 at close of 2000.
Anderson Doors, Bronx, NY 1993 - 1998
Business Development Manager
· Conducted competitive analyses on European markets to formulate conceptual strategies that cemented key alliances with distributors throughout Italy and Germany.
· Aggressively marketed Anderson's company logo and message in print and television advertising campaigns, heightening brand awareness across U.S. and European consumer markets.

FUNCTIONAL

This is a skills-based, achievement-oriented format. Experience and accomplishments are listed in sections with specific headings that extract and showcase ONLY what is directly applicable to the targeted position. Because it is somewhat vague sometimes omits dates, it is the least preferred resume format of employers and recruiters.

Functional Format Example:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sales Management
· Prospected and sold communications services to business accounts spanning the Northeast and Midwest regions.
· Conducted competitive analyses on European markets to formulate conceptual strategies that cemented key alliances with distributors throughout Italy and Germany.
Market Penetration
· Consulted clients on the cost-effective advantages of switching over from standing services, resulting in a 15% new market penetration with revenues at $1,850 at close of 2000.
· Aggressively marketed Anderson's company logo and message in print and television advertising campaigns, heightening brand awareness across U.S. and European consumer markets.

COMBINATION

This format combines the chronological and functional formats into one! As with the functional format, it lists experience and accomplishments in sections with specific headings directly applicable to the targeted position. However, it lists employment information under a SEPARATE category (only title, company, location, and dates). Since it easily tells the reader how a candidate is qualified for a position while also providing an employment history, it has fast become a favorite resume format amongst many employers and recruiters.

Combination Format Example:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sales Management

· Prospected and sold communications services to business accounts spanning Northeast and Midwest regions.
· Conducted competitive analyses on European markets to formulate conceptual strategies that cemented key alliances with distributors throughout Italy and Germany.
Market Penetration
· Consulted clients on the cost-effective advantages of switching over from standing services, resulting in a 15% new market penetration with revenues at $1,850 at close of 2000.
· Aggressively marketed Anderson's company logo and message in print and television advertising campaigns, heightening brand awareness across U.S. and European consumer markets.

WORK HISTORY

Wireless, Inc., Bay Shore, NY 1998 - Present
Sales Representative

Anderson Doors, East Islip, NY 1993 - 1998
Business Development Manager

INTRODUCTION HEADINGS
PROFILE
STATEMENTS
KEYWORDS
TITLE HEADINGS
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Use any one or a combination of these headings to communicate the type of position you are applying for, and the value you will bring to the hiring company at a glance. Remember, a reader spends a brief moment on each resume. Your resume must grab their attention, and hold it!

SAMPLE PROFILE STATEMENT

Accomplished sales professional known for delivering strong revenue and profit gains in highly competitive markets, seeking a Regional Sales Manager position. Bring 15 years of solid experience and select strengths that encompasses sales territory management and key account development. Equally effective at relationship building, program development, and team leadership.
Notice that the actual title "Objective" was omitted, yet mentioned! If you prefer to use the actual "Objective" title, do not use the outdated colon after the category.

SAMPLE PROFILE STATEMENT/KEYWORDS

Accomplished sales professional known for delivering strong profit gains in highly competitive markets, seeking a Regional Sales Manager position. Strengths encompass:

Capital Sales & Marketing Team Building/Leadership
Key Account Development Client/Vendor Relations
Financial Analysis & Reporting Program Development

SAMPLE TITLE HEADING/PROFILE STATEMENT

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

Known for delivering strong and sustainable revenue and profit gains in highly competitive markets. Bring 15 years of solid experience and select strengths that encompasses sales territory management, key account development, staff training, team leadership, presentations, and closings.
(Bold, italicize, or underline the Title Heading so it stands out.)

SAMPLE SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Accomplished sales professional known for delivering strong and sustainable revenue and profit gains in highly competitive markets. Seeking a Regional Sales Manager position with a leading pharmaceutical company. Select strengths encompass:
· 15 years of cross-industry experience and accomplishments with leading start-up and high-growth bio-medical companies.
· Strategically build and maintain profitable business relationships.
· Strong communicator and team leader with a pulse on ever-changing industry trends.
· Effectively manage the sales cycle process from client consultation to closing.

COMMON MISTAKES, DO'S & DON'TS

· Name and/or address is too small / too big (headings and name should be at least font size 14 to 16; address 11 or 12)
· Font size for entire resume is too small / too big / all caps (not counting the headings, text should be no smaller than 11; no larger than 12)
· Needs an Objective or Title Heading (make it clear to the reader what position you are seeking. If you unsure, consider career counseling or purchase/rent a book on career choices)
· Could use a Summary or Profile statement (show your career overview)
· Objective is weak, cliché, unclear, or vague (State what you can do for the employer; not only what you want from them)
· Resume does not support Objective (be sure to make a connection)
· Lacks accomplishments / career achievements (sell it, don't tell it!)
· Lacks industry-specific terminology / Keywords ("speak" the reader's language)
· Jobs are not in the proper order-see below for more on resume tips and formats
· Sentences are too choppy-five words per bullet (expand; make it interesting)
· Wording is weak; statements are too simple (use action verbs and a thesaurus)
· Same information repeated too many times (use a functional/combination format)
· Too many typos and grammatical errors (read it backwards; have a friend proof-read it!)
· Unrelated jobs go back too far in years (keep it to 7-10 years in most cases)
· Includes too much unrelated information (stay on track; keep the position in mind)
· Does not include enough related information (show how well rounded you are)
· Uses pronouns - "I, He, She, His, Her" (not necessary or is understood)
· Style is outdated looking (headings are underlined and followed by colons ":", the word "duties" is used, and uses "responsibilities:" as subheadings)
· Second page is too short - only a third down or less (condense/combine)
· Second page does not include your name (what if the second page is misplaced?)
· Too much or not enough white space (looks empty, inexperienced)
· Uses the full address for employers (list only the town and state)
· Uses full employment dates such as 12/11/01 (list only the month and year)
· Lists reason for leaving or explains situation (if you must, save it for the letter)
· Includes a Professional References Available Upon Request statement at the bottom of the resume (not wrong, but not necessary. Remember, this is not an option. If the employer wants references, they will ask for them)
· Includes a cover letter / salary information on the resume (use separate sheets)
· Includes unrelated personal interests and hobbies such as "enjoy reading, long walks, music, travel, knitting, and puzzles" (include interests ONLY if it is related to your career Objective)
· Includes personal information such as married, homeowner, two children (Leave off. It is unrelated to the position, and risks possible discrimination)

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Important Points When Writing an English CV

The purpose of an English CV is to sell yourself: An English CV is seen as an opportunity to sell yourself and should emphasise your skills, experiences and achievements. You should include successes and wherever possible include facts and figures to support your claims. Do NOT include information that is negative.

Spelling and Grammar Check: Correct spelling and grammar are of absolute importance in an English CV. Employers will NOT tolerate any mistakes. It is very important that a native English speaker checks your CV before you send it to an English-speaking employer.

CVwriting.net can provide a full spelling and grammar check and suggest any changes to the content of your CV in line with what employers expect.

Do not include a photo: Most English employers do NOT like to see a photo on the CV and, in fact, including one could work against you. Only include a photo if it has been specifically requested for a particular job application.

English Language skills: This is a very important aspect of your CV and your professional career. You must explain your knowledge of the English language under the 'Skills' heading. Describe your level of knowledge as one of the following:

· Bilingual - You can speak English as well as your mother tongue

· Fluent - You have a complete working knowledge of the English language, both written and speaking.

· Working knowledge- you have a good practical knowledge of English for professional purposes.

· Conversational - You can converse adequately in English with good comprehension.

English CV Format:

Your name, address, telephone number and email address should appear at the top of your English CV. Always use a capital letter at the beginning of a name including the name of a street, town or country. Do NOT put CV or Curriculum Vitae as a heading.

Your CV should be produced on a word processor, not hand written, and be available softcopy as a Word or PDF file. If you are printing your CV you should use good quality paper.

An employer will scan your CV in thirty seconds looking for keywords that are relevant to the vacancy he is trying to fill. Keep your CV short and concise so that your positive attributes stand out. Your CV should be no more than two pages long.

Do NOT use initials for company names or qualifications, as these could be meaningless to an English employer. Always write the words in full.

Headings:

1. Profile: This is an opportunity to summarise the skills and experience you have described elsewhere in your CV. It is the first part of the CV that the employer will read. It should be only one or two paragraphs long otherwise the reader may not go on to read the rest of your CV. You should also include your career aspirations.

2. Achievements: list any special achievements from your career history or education that may make you stand out from other candidates. List no more than six.

3. Career History: This is a very important part of your CV. The most common CV format is written in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent employment and work backwards. List the dates between which you worked for each employer; the name of the employer, your position and the location at which you worked. Write a short description of the company and then describe your responsibilities including facts and figures as much as possible.

4. Skills: In an English CV it is necessary to list particular technical, professional or other skills separate from your career history. An English employer will not necessarily be familiar with non-English professional qualifications therefore you must explain each one.

5. Education: You must enter your highest qualification first, then where achieved, and then dates. Make sure you explain any non-English qualifications or try and put the English equivalent, e.g. Baccalaureate, French equivalent to the Higher Leaving Certificate and A levels. Do not include grades unless they are particularly impressive.

6. Personal details: It is not necessary to include all of your personal details on an English CV as your skills and experience are of paramount importance. However, you need to include your nationality and it is normal to include your Date of Birth such as: 11th November 1967. Do not put your age.

7. Interests. You do not have to include your interests on an English CV but they will help to give the employer a rounded picture of you as an individual.

Signature: It is not necessary to personally sign your English CV.

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Your CV is a gateway to getting an interview for that ideal job. It is your opportunity to provide a good first impression but you only have two sides of A4 paper in which to do it. It is not surprising then that most people have trouble getting started.

Firstly, you need to know what the employer is thinking.

The employer suddenly has a vacancy. Filling the vacancy is going to take up valuable time that he would rather spend doing his normal job.

He would love to find the perfect person immediately rather than plough through hundreds of CV's. It is often a dull, thankless task.

The employer has a job description in front of him. It includes experience or qualifications that are essential for the job and some attributes that are desirable but not absolutely necessary.

He starts going through the pile of CV's on his desk. He scans each one for about 30 seconds and makes a judgement.

He simply hasn't got time to read the CV that is more than two pages and all the relevant information is hidden in long paragraphs. - He files it in the bin.

Fancy formatting, coloured text or multiple fonts do not impress him. Is this person trying to hide their lack of experience for the job behind an artistic CV? - He files it in the bin.

He notices spelling mistakes and poor punctuation. This person is just sloppy! - He files the CV in the bin.

He breaths a sigh of relief, the pile on his desk is smaller already. He makes another coffee and then starts reading............................

This should tell you a few things about writing your CV.

Keep it concise and to the point. The employer needs to see your work experience, skills and achievements in the first 30 seconds of scanning your CV.

He knows what he is looking for. You have what he is looking for. Don't distract him from your relevant skills by adding in lots of unnecessary information.

Keep it simple. Plain formatting, simply laid out under headings. The employer wants to see exactly when, where and what you have done. Fancy formatting makes your CV difficult to read. It may make your CV stand out from the rest but for the wrong reasons.

Keep checking your english. Good spelling, punctuation and grammar are essential. It is the first step in your personal presentation to an employer. It says a lot about you. Also, poor english distracts the employer from reading the content of your CV.

Now the content:

Contact details should be displayed on the first page. When he decides to invite you to interview you want him to see immediately how to contact you before he changes his mind!

Personal details should be limited to those that are absolutely necessary. Most employers expect to see your nationality and date of birth but you can choose to leave these out if you think they may go against you.

Other personal details such as number of dependents, driving license and marital status can be included if it is not going to make your CV too long by including them. These can help employers to get a rounded picture of the person they are going to interview. Do not include names and ages of children or name of spouse. The employer is not interested at this stage.

Interests can be included but only in one or two lines. It may provide a starting point at interview for general conversation before getting down to serious questions about your work experience. It also gives a rounded picture of you without taking up too much space on the CV.

Profile is positioned prominently in your CV and should be used to sell yourself in one paragraph. It is an opportunity to sum up your skills, experience and general suitability for the job for which you are applying.

Career History or Work Experience. The heading you use depends on the length of time you have been in fulltime employment. If you have recently left school or university you should use the heading 'Work Experience' and include all placements, paid and unpaid work. If you have been in fulltime employment for the last two jobs this should be under the heading of 'Career History'. Do not use both headings in the CV. Whichever heading you use you must include dates, name and location of company and a brief description of what your job entailed including all the positive contributions you made to the company.

Education should be described in terms of selling yourself to the employer. Include all relevant courses, dates passed and name of school or college. But, leave out poor grades and failures. These will not help you get invited for interview.

If you have a university degree you can leave out all of your lower qualifications. Mature applicants may want to leave out 'Education' altogether, as your career history and skills are probably more important.

Skills can be described under three headings: Technical Skills, Professional Courses and Additional Skills. Technical skills are those related to a technical, mechanical or engineering job. You need to list your skills and how recently you have used them e.g. Java Programming used in the last 3 years. Professional Courses are those that you have attended specifically for a particular job e.g. sales courses, hairdressing. Additional skills are anything else that may be relevant e.g. languages, keyboard skills, health and safety courses.

Finally: Make it easy for him!

Remember, the employer has very little time. He doesn't know you yet and is only interested in what you can offer him and his company.

Make it easy for him to:

Scan your CV,

Identify that you have the skills he is looking for.

Pick up the phone to invite you in for an interview.

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A perfect CV layout has 2 objectives:
To illustrate your strengths and maximize your chances of getting through to interview and to put factual information, such as dates, places, names together in a presentable and readable form.

Focal Point
It is claimed that the human eyes are naturally drawn to a focal point one third down from the top of the page. Therefore, put your most useful information in this area. It might be your Profile, Key Skills, Professional Qualifications or details of your most recent employment. You can choose whichever you think is most important and relevant to your application. Always get a second opinion when you have put your CV together. It is difficult to be objective about oneself.

Presentation
It is often thought that a good CV should be fitted on to one side of A4 and a professional CV over two. This can be difficult if you are a mature applicant with a long employment history. If you need to go on to a second page make sure that the CV is spread out over 2 whole pages, not one and a half pages as this looks messy.
As a 'rule of thumb' there should be more white than black on a page to make it easier to read.
Always write a rough draft first. It can be as long as you like as you will edit it later. Always start with your Career History as this will highlight your Key Skills and help you write your Profile.

Once you have compiled your draft copy you must edit it
1. Take out anything that will not help you get where you want to be
2. Write in the 'third' person as much as possible keeping 'I' to a minimum
3. Never use the past tense e.g. use "supporting senior management" rather than "supported senior management"
4. Use short sharp sentences cutting out any waffle and jargon

Headings
Name
Print your name in bold type at the centre top of your CV. If there is any doubt as to which is your surname, e.g. James Martin, indicate by using capitals or underlining.
Address
Top left of CV. Full address including post code.
Telephone
Top Right of CV. Full dialing code and daytime and evening numbers if possible.
Date of birth
Put in full such as 13th December 1962. Do not put your age. Bearing in mind that you will be close to the Focal Point now, this might need to go at the end of the CV under 'Personal' along with other details such as marital status and children.
Marital status
You do not have to include this at all. If you choose to, make sure you use only "married" or "single". Do not use divorced or co-habiting. Put at the end of the CV under 'Personal'.
Children
Its up to you whether you include this information or not but if you include it put it at the end of the CV under
'Personal' Profile
This is an introductory statement about who you are and what you have to offer. You should complete this last although it is positioned prominently in the CV, possibly in the Focal Point. It should be no more than two sentences and include the most important facts about yourself. You can include skills, achievements, responsibility or personal qualities.

e.g. Highly motivated Account Manager with successful direct and telesales experience in hardware and software industries.
Key Skills
Several Key skills should be highlighted after you have analysed and edited your employment history.
Pick out no more than six.
Make sure they are relevant.
Do not include dates. A key skill can come from an earlier job or an outside interest.
If you are short on direct experience and qualifications you may have skills arising from your personality, i.e. Interpersonal skills, e.g. "the ability to relate and communicate with others". Some examples of descriptive words to use in key skills are:
Administering
Implementing
Budgeting
Leading
Reorganizing
Forecasting
Advising

Employment History
Always start with your most recent employment. Break down your job functions as much as possible. The job description on your contract might provide a starting point or, consider how your employer might advertise your job. You should have more to say about your most recent, and therefore most relevant, employment. Include successes and achievements especially if it saved the company money. Don't have any employment gaps. If these occur explain them briefly.

Qualifications
If you are a mature applicant you can leave these out as career history is more important. Put the highest qualification first with year achieved. If you have a degree you can leave out the lower qualifications altogether or include the basic information. Do not include poor grades or failures. Professional qualifications Only include those that are still current. Training Only include training that is relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Interests
Only include interests that are unusual or which indicate transferable skills, achievements or responsibilities. Reasons For Applying This finishes the CV off with a concluding statement and puts the application into context. Don't imply you are out to gain advantage to yourself such as "I would like to join the company to gain additional experience". Instead, concentrate on what you have to offer, "my experience at......would be useful to the company because............."

Finally
Your CV should be available soft copy or on good quality plain white A4 paper. Do not use double sides. Only fold once and enclose an SAE.

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Some employers actively look for reasons not to employ you. It is easier to find flaws in a person and decide which candidates have the least, rather than compare their skills and achievements. This is why it is important to show them only weaknesses you want them to see.

In CV writing it is important to understand what will be considered to be a weakness in the job you are applying for. One job's weakness is another job's strength. A weakness or a perceived weakness by a recruiter can have a huge impact on your chance to be called for an interview.

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It has never been easier to get free CV templates and samples that you can download or use from the Internet. Hundreds of websites offer free CV templates but many job seekers that have used them were disappointed with the lack of positive responses from the potential employers.

These samples or templates normally look alike, which makes it difficult for recruiters to distinguish between the candidates. The original CV stands out among the thousands of preformatted CVs.

Disadvantages

Considering the fact that your CV is your introduction or even distant answer to possible interview questions, then you should try to stand out. Most of the preformatted CVs don't offer you this opportunity.

You can use a sample if you only use the basic outline and advice, but you must be creative and changes fonts, colors and where needed, make changes to the lay-out to fit your application.

When can you use free CV templates?
Use the samples or templates when you have just graduated or don't have experience in job searching. You can even use the templates when you have written several resumes without success. The samples should be used to get an understanding of what recruiters look for, the type of information that should be includes and excluded, as well as proper style and format guidelines. Create your own CV after you have practiced with some of the free CV templates.

Advantages

• It provides you insight to what tools and writing styles the other work seekers will use; thus the standard. Always aim higher than the standard.
• It provides an outline of the format so that the recruiter can find the relevant information at a glance.
• It can be used as a guideline to what information is needed and what the current trend in job applications is.

The recruiter will judge you on the appearance of you CV. If it lacks signs of originality and creative thinking, you may not get the interview even when you are the best candidate for the job.

Most recruiters have piles of CVs to evaluate and have limited time for the assessment. They normally scan through the stack of résumés or CVs and throw out anything that is not interesting enough. Only the shortlist bunch gets a second look. The whole process is based on the content, format, lay-out and originality. It is thus worth the effort to be original.

The three stages of selection can be summarized in the following way:

The first glance

A recruiter will glance at the first page of each CV and if it seems worth keeping, he will also have a quick look at the second page. The longest CVs normally end up in the bin unless a full history of the candidate is required. The CV must be three or less pages. CVs without an introduction or quick summary of the candidate and the skills or relevant qualifications also get a place in the trash can. Long descriptive paragraphs and sentences earmark the CV for the bin. Poor formatting and grammar mistakes are also frowned upon. After the first glance there are usually only a third of the CVs left.

The second glance

If your CV made it to this point, you already have a 30% chance of getting to the interview. The recruiter has another look at each CV to establish whether the applicant's skills, qualifications, career history and motivation match the job requirements. The recruiter must be able to identify this from the first page of the resume or CV.

The in-depth look

The remaining CV's are scanned and then matched with all the criteria. The CV's are not thrown out any longer but the best possible candidates are picked.

The final examination

It is only at this stage that the recruiter examines the content from the rest of the CV in more detail and is looking for those skills, signs of innovative thinking, leadership, trustworthiness, and specific achievements that make the candidate right for the specific job.

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Normally the first mistake in writing a CV stems from the lack of experience in selling yourself on paper. Job seekers constantly focus on their previous duties and their future expectations. The recruiter has to sift through pages of non-relevant biographical data to find some indication of why the particular candidate is the ideal person for the job. The difference between getting an interview and an extremely long job search lies in the content, lay-out, and professionalism portrayed through the CV.

• Examples, templates, guidelines and advice on good CV writing and cover letters.
• Guidance on interviews
• Career advice
• International job resources
• Information on how to post a CV online
• Specific types of CVs such as the chronological, targeted, functional or combination types
• Assistance with weaknesses
  

Resume writing for different countries and business cultures

Most recruiters won't give a second glance at a CV with spelling mistakes, cluttered pages and irrelevant information. The team at CvTips.com teaches candidates the secrets of good CV writing, avoiding mistakes, and assists in customizing the CV to be relevant for the current global business environment.

The CV is by and large the only document a recruiter has to evaluate the job candidate before the interview. It should thus distinguish you from other candidates. A person may fail to get the interview because the CV said more about what the company can do for the worker, than what the candidate can contribute to the enterprise. The CV should reflect your biggest accomplishments and must be concise enough to glance through and get a good impression of your abilities. Too long CV's don't get read and vague and general descriptions will not suffice.

Employers and providers are looking for the following:

• Transferable skills and job proficiency that comes from experience
• Tactical and strategic planning capabilities
• Resourcefulness and analytical thinking skills
• Good verbal, and writing communication skills
• The ability to manage and delegate tasks
• Reliability and trustworthiness
• Originality and determination to succeed
• Leadership qualities

Companies are no longer desperate to find the right employees since the demand for jobs far outweigh the supply. Whereas job seekers could afford to provide general CVs in the past, they now have to write targeted CV's. The functional CV is more effective than a long formal job description. The American type resume is now more popular than a three or four page CV of a few years ago. Recruiters in the digital economy have limited time and thus only scan through the information. Bulleted lists of achievements and possible contributions to the company make it easier to select the right candidate.

The CV of today must have an introduction in the form of a summary of how the candidate can add value to the company. The document should also end in a sketch of the candidate's skills, achievements, assets, and experience.

The Internet has opened a new recruitment style and the possibility to hire people from around the globe; making the CV even more important as the first impression tool. We can expect an increase in Internet recruitment and as such more emphasis will be placed on shorter and e-mail or online friendly resumes.

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Many times organizations will ask for a one-page summary CV. This means that they need to know only the matter which is strictly relevant to the job they are offering and hence you need to keep this in mind when you write your CV. The one page summary CV is a perfect letter of introduction when large companies invite for recruitment. In this case a great number of CVs will be received and the person who will need to short-list the CVs will have very little time to peruse the resume - sometimes as little as 6 seconds only. In this case, a brief and to-the-point one page summary resume would be ideal.

Many times organizations will ask for a one-page summary CV. This means that they need to know only the matter which is strictly relevant to the job they are offering and hence you need to keep this in mind when you write your CV. The one page summary CV is a perfect letter of introduction when large companies invite for recruitment. In this case a great number of CVs will be received and the person who will need to short-list the CVs will have very little time to peruse the resume - sometimes as little as 6 seconds only. In this case, a brief and to-the-point one page summary resume would be ideal.

A one-page summary CV will also be a good idea when you are sending a speculative request for a job, i.e. when you apply to a company for any suitable opening. A brief cover letter explaining you plus points and preferences followed by a summary CV would gain you enough curiosity to be called for an interview, if vacancies exist.

What should be included in the one-page summary CV?

• 1. Educational qualification (with the highest degree mentioned first) - written in tabular form to take the least space without compromising on information
• 2. Experience (in reverse chronology) highlighting those aspects which are the best match for the job you are applying
• 3. Important and job-pertaining extra skills (technical or soft skills or both) - mention here only those skills which can add value to your CV and not everything you did from college till date
• 4. Personal details (remember to include only those particulars which are strictly necessary)

Keep in mind that when you are required to write a one-page summary resume - it should be just that, i.e. a summary. Not only it should be as brief as possible, it should also be as perfectly matched as possible to be effective. In order to write this successfully, first make a list of all the qualities and skills you possess on a piece of paper. Also draw up a list of what skills/ qualities the job for which you are applying would need. Identify those skills which are the closest matches and cut out the rest.

Concentrate to cover the best part of the paper with your educational qualifications, skills and experience, keeping the least space for the personal details which should be limited to the must-have-information level only.

Whether you need to submit a one-page resume or a two-page CV, always ensure that it has a cover letter which:

• 1. is addressed to the right person (by name and/or designation)
• 2. has a subject line where the post applied for is clearly mentioned (in case it is a speculative CV, then indicate your preference such as marketing department, or backend office, or R&D department, etc)
• 3. is types in the same type set as the CV
• 4. gives a brief introduction to self and explains the reasons why you are applying for the job
• 5. is friendly and invites attention to the CV
• 6. expresses clearly a sincere wish to join the company in a suitable capacity

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Your CV is the only thing that the employer has in hand that will give hime an impression about you. Hence, everything in a CV - the paper, the presentation, the language, and the overall looks - describes you.

• 1. The paper you use for the CV should be of a decent quality; while you should not really count your pennies when you purchase the paper, you should not go overboard either. Too shabby or too gaudy papers will have the same result - impression of bad taste
• 2. Use only blue or black ink for printing your CV; never use red to highlight and though there are no rules against using other colors, it does not leave a good impression if the CV is sent in green, violet or any other fancy colors; for highlighting, use bold face. However, if you are applying for an copy writer job, or a TV advertising job or anything creative, the more artistic you do your CV the better, because it will showcase your talent along with your qualifications
• 3. The cover letter should match the CV paper and letters type-set
• 4. Do not use typeset smaller than 11 pts because it makes it difficult to read; use Arial, Times New Roman as font. Do not use handwriting or any artistic fonts for the CV
• 5. The standard margins for the CV should be 1 in on all sides; in case you need you may reduce the side margins to maximum 0.5; ensure that the typed matter is in the center of the page
• 6. Check for typographical errors manually, as many times automatic spell checks create major howlers; if you want to use a new word use a dictionary, but avoid as much as possible to use words that you are not sure about; you may not get the right connotation as the reader will know that you are not familiar with the word
• 7. What the CV should include depends very much upon what the job entails. The following are some of the must-include contents:

• a. Start with a two-three sentence overview (your skills, your exceptional qualities, future plans and hopes) which will egg the employer read on
• b. Educational qualifications
• c. Additional training (technical training or soft skills)
• d. Work experience (in reverse chronology, with the last job you had, mentioned first)
• e. Additional responsibilities (outside your designation and/or job description - if pertaining to the job applied)
• f. Job specific skills which you possess (only if pertaining to the job)
• g. Personal details (name, sex, address, phone numbers, email id, date of birth, marital status, and so on)
• h. Interests (be brief here, unless it is something that will enhance the skills required by the job)
• i. References are most of the times a guarantee you offer that what you say stands true; provide two (and inform the people you name as references about it) or inform that you will provide if asked

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There are many ways to write a CV correctly and what is the information that should go in it. The following guidelines will give you a good idea of what you should do to create a winning CV.

• 1. Some times the region or the country or even the company has a prescribed order of presentation. Ensure you have the right style of presentation, because if they are used to see the CVs in some order and they get it in another, they will not have the patience or time to reorganize their thoughts to follow your style of presentation, and your CV will be summarily rejected.
• 2. Treat your CV as an advertisement for yourself. Why should the employer choose you? Put this question to yourself and write the CV in such a way that answer should be evident. (For example the employer wants a good PR Manager, what skills would be attractive, what qualifications would be attractive, what achievements would be most impressive for this profile, what traits would be best for this job, etc all these should be highlighted and clearly evident in your CV).
• 3. Be as much to-the-point as possible; the employer would have to go through some hundred CVs in one hour, or some times even less than that - hence the time for perusing one CV would be about 5-6 seconds. In 6 seconds the employer should get the relevant information from your CV so he/she can decide whether you are suitable or not. Your CV will have only 6 seconds to make an impression.
• 4. Before you send your application (CV) to the job, ask a senior person or colleague preferably in the same line in which you are applying, to go through your CV in 10 seconds and get their feedback; do they see you as a suitable candidate? If it is not obvious to them, your CV may not be written as efficiently as you would have wanted it to be. Redo it incorporating the critiques received.
• 5. To make your CV completely tailor-made for the job (and enhance your chance as the best match) you need to:
• a. Research about the job in general (what it involves as responsibility, qualifications, growth, and goals)
• b. Research about the company (its goals, its products, its financial get-up, its past success, its future plans)
• c. Research about the description of the job in the present company (from present employees, ex-employees, direct approach or the Internet)
• d. A good source for all the above are the company's own public report, news and website in the past 1-2 years
• 6. If you have publications, a long list of training programs attended, out-of-the-way job descriptions that would impress the employer for the present job, and the like annex the details to the CV.

You will know your CV is a winner, if it matches the requirements almost to the T or it gives it a little extra in terms of qualifications or experience or traits.

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The bottom line for you to write a CV is to get the job you are applying for, which makes this document a very important one. Hence, a good CV will never be generalized like an all-purpose application. It would be rather very target specific written specially with that organization in mind, matching your best talents and qualification with the particular job's requirement. In other words, the CV should make it obvious to the prospective employer that you are the right candidate for the job. Remember that your CV is actually a key to the interview. Unless the reader feels interested enough from reading your CV, your key will not work; and unless you reach the interview stage, you cannot hope to get the job.

Hence, the CV should be written from the point of view of the reader. Also be aware that the prospective employer may get hundreds of applications hence the ones which are best organized and brief will hold his/her attention. Keep the following guidelines in your mind when you write your CV:

• The CV should be accurate and correct
• Your contact information should be clearly visible on the first page of the CV
• Your CV should be typed in a easy-to-follow format, i.e. the headlines should be indented and highlighted so as to catch the attention of the reader easily (this is very helpful when a person wants to get a fast look at your CV)
• The best way to write about your experience, is to write is backwards, i.e. the last job you had first and then the rest backwards chronologically
• Though sometimes your achievements need to be elaborated to bring out the best fit, preferably they should be listed in a bullet point format. The bullet points should act as headlines in case you need expansion
• Have a 'why do I feel I am suitable right candidate for the job' headline on the very first page, where you can give summarize the relevant information for the benefit of the employer
• If you have had any skills development training, or additional hands-on experience be sure to include it in your CV
• Your qualification should be presented clearly and concisely starting with the highest degree and working backwards
• Give two unrelated references (when you do inform the person thus names so they would be prepared if the prospective employer contacts them) or mention that references would be provided if required
• Do not forget to write your areas of personal interest, such as hobbies
• In case you know other languages, and/or have additional skills which do not fall in the purview of the job your are applying for, write them under 'other information'; the more you knowledge you have the more valuable you will look - even if it does not have direct bearing on the present job

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The basic function of a CV is to present relevant information about yourself to the prospective employer. Though the definition sounds simple, there are a lot of angles to the presentation of a CV or curriculum vitae or biodata as is commonly known, which mostly depends upon what type of a job you are applying for. However, whatever be the type of the CV, the basics would remain constant. A good CV:

A good CV should :

• Be preceded by a neat cover letter which is addressed by name or authority (designation) to the person who is in charge of recruiting or the chief of the organization (be careful here that you have right name, it is spelled right, and has the right and exact designation); the cover letter should summarize in two-five lines why you think you would be fit for the job showcasing your best talents to match the requirements of the job (and add a little extra)
• Represent accurately all the relevant to the job information (personal and professional)
• Be crisp and highly informative (make sure you do not have any long winding sentences while describing experience and other traits)
• Be written well to make an interesting reading for the prospective employer, highlighting you best achievements (avoid tabulated form unless the information requires it, such as your education)
• Highlight your match to the job through relevant experience, qualification and personal traits (some examples are, good communication skills, friendliness, dependability, fast learning ability, etc)
• Be tailor made (or rather written) to match the exact requirements of the proposed job, to the best possibility
• Follow the standard format of the country or region, such as the order of the presentations of information (in some places the personal information precedes all other information, while in many places this is presented at the end)
• Written in impeccable language (which ever language the CV is written) grammatically
• Absolutely free of any spelling errors (as a matter of fact this is one of the highest quoted reasons for rejection of the CV)
• Preferably typed neatly on good quality paper; if typing is not possible, it should be written neatly in legible handwriting (there should be no cuts or additions on the handwritten page)
• Preferably give two good unrelated references or mention that references may be given on request

A good CV will not only be tailor made for the job you are applying for, will also match carefully all your talents and capabilities to the requirements of the job specifically and the goals of the company overall. Your CV should make your candidature for the job look like it is a win-win situation to the company to employ you, i.e. the company will profit from engaging you just as much as you would profit from being part of the company.

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If you are applying for various jobs but which are all in the same industry, you could write a profile that applies to all jobs in that particular industry. However it is preferable if you write your personal profile for each individual position.

If the profile is tailor-made to the job vacancy then the employer will read the rest of the CV whilst bearing in mind that you are a possible match. A personal profile on your CV is a teaser or hook so the employer will investigate you more by reading the rest of your CV.

Keywords are a powerful tool in your CV and should be used! Use keywords to summarize your experience. Keywords will also help ensure that your CV comes up when employers search in their CV databases.

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Successfully applying for a job means showing your employer that you are mores suitable than the other candidates. Job application numbers for a particular vacancy vary from tens to hundreds. You will usually need to be short-listed among the first twenty in order be offered an interview. Only CVs that have impressed the employer will make it to this stage.

When recruiting people, employers reduce the CV list to around forty to fifty candidates. The difference between the chosen candidates and the others is a well presented CV and cover letter.

What did they do differently?

The way they presented their achievements. In this tutorial we will explain how you can word your achievements in a more suitable manner. Employers are attracted to achievements because they want the applicant to repeat them in their own business.

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We all know what a CV should contain, and in general terms how it should be arranged on the page. Inspite of knowing all the technicalities, people still commit the mistake of writing a run-of-the-mill CV with the same headlines, the same order of ideas, and the same general matter in a dull business language. In this way the CV looks indeed as a poor copy of a standard template.

The formatting should be backed up by the right information of course, but in order to have a good flow of ideas, the CV should have a building-up style of presentation. You start at the personal details, or educational qualification and slowly build up to show how your talents are best suited for the job at hand.

Bullet points look perfect when listing job responsibilities, or personal traits, or overall achievements headings. However, if the bullet points do not have an anchor which explains what they are, it will be difficult for the CV to really hold the prospective employer's interest.

Do not state the obvious - depending upon the job achievements do not re-inforce certain traits which are self-evident such as good leadership, good communications skills, etc. Go ahead and use the paper for traits that are not visible from what you have presented so far. For example you are successful marketing manager - it is understood that you are a good strategist - but you could also add that you are a tough negotiator who saved a great deal of money to the company. This would be a trait that would add value to your CV and identify you as having good potential.

The impression of the paper presentation - the quality of the paper, the arrangements of the text, its font, typesetting will create an unwitting impact on the prospective employer. Be sure that you use this trait to your advantage. Use the skills of a good typist and/or word processor to make your CV a work of art.

Each and every aspect of your CV should work towards creating the right impression with the employer. This will be done with the help of a lot of research to know what he/she wants in the first place. Search the net and libraries for reports and news, ask around old and present employees and use the information to form a critical focus on your best talents and traits.

Writing a CV is hard work - do not kid yourself that it is any other way. It is not just the way you put together your personal data - but rather the way you arrange that personal and professional data to attract the attention and interest of the prospective employee. It is an art that has to be perfected with time, patience and practice. It is the most important tool in job searching since it gives the opening line to the employer and thus creates the first impression about you in his/her mind.

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There are five major CV styles:

• Targeted CV
• Inventory CV
• Chronological CV
• Functional CV
• Combination CV

Each CV style is suitable for different situations. Follow the links above to learn more about each CV style.

CV Writing Considerations

More important than your CV format is the actual content of your CV and how it is presented. You only have a limited time to show your skills and capture the reader's attention. Make sure the most important information is in the top third of the CV document. Your skills summary, objective or personal profile will achieve this objective.

A CV must have focus. When a recruiter reads your CV he should understand your career path. Always keep your objective in mind while writing your CV.

Avoid lengthy and boring job descriptions; whenever possible, write your job description in bullet point form. Make sure potential employers will understand how they will benefit from employing you. The employers need to see your achievements and understand how you are able to implement these achievements in your company.

Examples of accomplishments would be: save money, increase turn over or profits, improved productivity, better customer quality. Include actual figures where available.

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