The CV is a critical tool for getting you the interview for the job you want.
There has been a paradigm shift from focus on qualifications to a focus on experience and competencies. An employer wants to know what difference you will make to his bottom line and he only gets this information from the information you provide him in the CV.

Nowadays there are several types of CVs. You don’t strictly have to stick to a chronological one. It simply depends on your particular circumstances, employment history and what you feel comfortable with.

If you don’t have a lot of work experience or you are changing careers, then you can write a functional CV. This type of resume focuses on skills, responsibilities and accomplishments with little emphasis on dates and specific work experiences. It is organised by functional titles that explain general areas of expertise.

It is important to note that the employer will catch on to your avoidance to put down specific periods of employment and naturally they will be suspicious and raise an eyebrow.

A combination of the chronological and functional formats is probably the best. Chronological work dates and competencies / skills are highlighted. Always make sure you provide all the information the employer is looking for.

A CV should include the following information:-
Personal particulars including starting date, reasonable salary expectations and contact details.
Educational Background – school subjects and qualifications
Work Experience
Other relevant information – special memberships, hobbies, extracurricular activities and miscellaneous skills.

Unless otherwise specified keep a CV brief. Depending on your level of experience, it should be no more than 3-6 pages. You will therefore have to leave out irrelevant work experience such as your holiday job at Edgars in April 2001 when you are applying for the Marketing Manager position.

In your CV, be sure to use keywords. Keywords describe the skills required for each job. These words can easily be picked up from the advertisement or job description. However don’t simply repeat the words in the advert elaborate on them to show that you truly are proficient in that particular field and you understand what the employer is looking for. Know your limitations and don’t exaggerate your achievements.

Don’t leave out any information about yourself. This includes references. People like to say “referees available on request”. This is giving work to the employer. Put references that the employer can contact without you priming them first. It gives the employer confidence that he will receive a reliable reference.

Make sure you present your resume well. Employers will give it a brief initial glance and depending on how it catches their attention they may or may not give it another look. So it needs to be striking and attention grabbing.

It should be neatly typed on good quality paper and it should match the paper used for the resume. As I mentioned last week, the spelling and grammar needs to be perfect. Also make use of standard fonts and avoid any complex formatting especially when sending your resume via email or submitting it online.

Through implementation of these tips, you will be one step closer to the job interview for your dream job.

Thembani C is a Recruitment Consultant with CVPeople Africa. They specialise in recruitment and related consultancy in Africa.

Visit their website : www.cvpeopleafrica.com