Written by Esme, Managing Director, FS Personnel Recruitment Services Pty Ltd
FS Personnel – Inspired by Growth
Now that you’ve stand up and got a grip on your vision, is it time to get your cv ready.
What about the Picture:
There are people who will not agree, but in some business sectors it will be beneficial to upload a clear picture of yourself. But important, no pouting mouth, professional clothing which will suit your industry is recommendable. The picture must look like you, not extremely photo shopped, and not a picture of 10 years ago. Think of it this way, when they see you for an interview, there will be no surprises.
Here are some opinions about a picture on your cv:
Should You Include a Picture on Your Resume or CV in 2022? (novoresume.com)
Best CV Photo Advice and Tips: To Add or Not to Add? (visualcv.com)
Cover letter?:
Some countries may prefer a cover letter or a short executive summary.
My advice will be to give a short summary of yourself, bullet point your skills related to the job you are applying for.
When handling a position/vacancy in South Africa where the unemployment rate is 35%, recruiters need to work through thousands of cv’s and sometimes do not have time to read a cover letter, we tend to look at key words.
Personal information:
To my opinion, start with your personal information first. The information which you will include will differ from country to country. Herewith some websites which may help:
CV Styles in Europe – Next Station
US Resume Format (American Style Resume Template) (zety.com)
Australian Resume Examples And Templates To Land The Best Jobs (resume-example.com)
Tips for creating a New Zealand-style CV (careers.govt.nz)
7 Checks to Format Your Australian CV – The University of Adelaide College
Personal Skills and qualities:
Some countries prefer a short list of personal skills and qualities. Do not google this part of your cv, be honest! Focus on the skills and qualities relevant to your job search.
Qualifications:
In most countries it is best to sort your cv in reverse chronological order. With most relevant and recent experience at the top, followed by your qualifications, and then education.
I prefer to see the qualifications right after the personal information, followed by the working experience starting with the most recent job.
List you qualifications in chronological order, the most recent first. This should include, for each item:
- Institution (School, College, University)
- Qualification name
- Dates attended or completed.
Languages:
List the languages you are able to speak, write and read. Also mention how well you can speak, read and write this languages.
Computer skills:
List the computer skills you have, may it be coding, technical, or normal using everyday programs.
For IT positions it is recommendable to mention the level of experience, for example: basic, intermediate or advanced.
Or mention the amount of years you have experience in that specific program.
Working experience:
This section should include:
- Companies you worked for, and location of the company
- Employment dates
- Your job titles
- Your primary responsibilities
As already mentioned, start with your most recent job.
References:
Some countries prefer references, others don’t. In South African we need your previous direct superior’s contact details. We do not accept “letter of employment” or “letter of recommendation”.
List the most recent employer’s details, those of 20 years back will not be of any help.
Other important information about your cv:
Do a spellcheck.
Keep your cv concise and to the point.
Don’t add anything on your CV that you wouldn’t be able to take full ownership of during an interview. Never lie!
Look out for the next step to follow on Wednesday 12 October 2022 on how to job search in the modern world.