What is the most important thing you must do to get a good job?
Do you know the right answer? Many of us will think of a few answers like proper education or training or something of that sort, but truly, in order to get your dream job – you must apply!
The only thing that represents you during a job application is a document – the Curriculum Vitae or more popularly known as just CV.
CV is a powerful document which is the representation of yourself on a piece of paper. Many of us neglect the importance of a good CV. It is the only thing that is noticed during the pre-interview screening process by recruiters. Only those with a convincing CV will even get a shot with an interview!
Today, we will offer a complete guide on how to write a good CV. This will guide you write CV for job applications for Bangladesh and even worldwide. It is very helpful to create multiple CV templates for yourself to be used based on the type of job.
What is a CV?
We have briefly discussed the importance of a CV, but what is it exactly?
A CV (or curriculum vitae) is an extremely powerful piece of document which is a summary of the education, skills, experience and overall value of a job candidate for an employer.
While many will say that CV is like a flyer which is targeted at selling yourself.
I strongly disagree!
The CV is the professional opportunity to talk about the value you create for a business and how your skills and expertise will allow a particular employer to benefit from your service.
So, while it is important to focus on your strengths where you excel in performance, it is also crucial to mention your weaknesses to show how you can cope in situations which are not within your comfort zone.
How long is too long? And how short is too short for a CV?
In most developed countries such as in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, the standard length of a CV is no longer than 2 pages. However, this depends on the job role and the experience of the applicant. There is no right answer depending on how well a CV is written and formatted.
In Bangladesh, a typical CV is much longer in size. When you write CVs for jobs in Bangladesh, it must start from at least a minimum of 2 pages and then some more. This is because, most companies in Bangladesh like to get a detailed, thorough look at their applicants from their educational backgrounds to every work experience, with detailed job responsibilities.
It is crucial to format your CV in a way where you bring most attention to the highlights of your education or career. As such that recruiters will not skip over the most relevant information for the particular job.
What information to include in a CV?
Many people tend to overlook simple and basic things which should be included when you write CVs.
- Contact Details:
It is absolutely essential to include all your personal contact details such as your full name, home address, mobile number, and email address, etc. However, it is not necessary to include your date of birth or photograph unless otherwise required.
- Profile / Objective:
This is often one of the first things that grab attention of readers – your profile summary or objective statement. This is usually a sentence or even a short few sentences which includes some of your key strengths in education, skills or experience and a career aim. This should be made as job specific as possible for every application. It should not be boring, but be short, snappy and smart!
- Education:
A complete list of your educational background including certifications and others qualifications. Always place the most recent completion first and then continue in that sequence.
- Work Experience:
A complete list of your work experience similar to your education in reverse chronological order with the most recent one first. You should include trainings, volunteer services and internships here as well. Make sure to list out job roles and responsibilities including achievement of your past jobs.
- Skills & Achievements:
An additional section to highlight others skills and achievements you possess such as communication in multiple languages, etc. which may come in handy at the workplace.
- Interests:
Talking about some of your interests is a chance for you to incorporate some everyday things such as reading, etc. to re-emphasize how it will come in handy in your career aims and objectives is also helpful. Avoid writing simple things likes hanging out at shopping malls and watching movies.
- References:
A solid reference is a great addition to any CV. It is important to give out professional references instead of personal references which will be valued more by recruiters.
Format & Structure of Your CV
Now that you are fully aware of all the information that must be available in your CV, you must lay it out in an effective format. The structure of your CV is important as it will do the following:
- Portray professionalism & attention to detail
- Be easy to read and find relevant information
- Highlight information of value & be quick to scan over
Keep all your information in concise and easy to read structure, possibly using bullet points and nice spacing. When formatting your CV, focus on simplicity and readability. Even if you are a designer or other creative worker, keep your CV separate from your design profile.
- Always send your CV in a PDF format so that the structure of the document is intact
- If you are posting your CV then make sure it is printed on a good quality white A4 paper. Do not print on both sides of the page.
- Always use a clear, simple and easy to read font in a standard size. Avoid fancy fonts and choose standards like Arial, Tahoma and Calibri for a professional look.
- Avoid using images or too much color for design purposes
It is important when formatting it to always look back at the document to make sure it gives off a professional vibe. Use black and white text and background and try to use colors only for headers.
Now let’s talk about the language or writing style to be used in the CV. Use active words like “created, analyzed and researched” instead of “did, had, got, completed,” etc. Proofread the document multiple times to avoid silly mistakes and other serious spelling or grammar mistakes. Stay away from generic descriptions like “punctual, team worker, hard worker” etc. and demonstrate these qualities as real-life examples in past jobs experiences.
Study the job circular by the company and prepare a CV template which is more appropriate. If a job post is looking for someone with strong educational background then focus on that part of your life. If the business is looking for experienced candidate then highlight your job experience to the maximum.
Do not ever lie on your CV!
If you are proven to be dishonest or fail to back up something on your CV during interview, you will lost the respect and value to the recruiters in the first instance.
At the end of the day, what is the purpose of your CV?
When you write CVs for job applications, always ask yourself what the purpose of your CV is.
A good CV should be created with purpose of enticing the reader to meet you and learn more about you. Or maybe even prove to the reader that you are the perfect candidate for the job role – simple!
It’s easy to say, but much harder to do, isn’t it?
Put in the effort to prove yourself to be the right person for the job role and portray that confidence during the interview. You will get one step closer to your dream job!
If there is a scope for a cover letter, then always put in the extra effort to write a good cover letter. It allows you an extra opportunity to market yourself appropriately for the job role. A personalized cover letter will also impress recruiters as they will see the effort you have put in to learn about the company and job role for the interview process.
Check out this article to polish up on your interview skills Looking for a Job? Prepare Yourself Well for the Interview.
Conclusion
I hope that this guide on how to write a good CV has taught you or refreshed your memory about the importance of a good CV for job seekers in Bangladesh. The guidelines, tips, strategies and Do’s & Don’ts covered in this article will allow you to write CVs for jobs in not only Bangladesh but worldwide.
Following this simple guideline, you will ensure that you are called for an interview to demonstrate yourself to the interview board to get a good job.
While advice is readily and easily available, you must follow it yourself for the best results. So, work on a good few CV templates for yourself right now and write a good CV to be used for your next job application.
Find jobs in various industries, from Bikroy.com/Jobs and stand out with an attractive and convincing CV highlighting your unique blend of skills, knowledge and personality.
Don‘t use a generic CV template from online, create your own unique CV using your experience and always check to make sure it is professional. Imagine yourself to be the recruiter and see if you would be interested in hiring a person with your CV.
With an honest feedback, you will improve your CV to be even more perfect every time. Always check, and recheck your CV for errors and make sure it is neat, clean and well-structured.
Best of luck on your next job application!
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