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how to make a great cv

Bruno
Bruno ·
Let’s Create a CV 🚀

Introduction

In today's competitive job market, having a great CV is essential to stand out from the crowd. A well-crafted CV not only highlights your skills and experiences but also captures the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. In this guide, I’ll walk you through practical steps to create a compelling CV that makes a lasting impression.

Understanding the Purpose of Your CV

Before diving into the creation process, it’s important to understand what your CV is meant to achieve:

  • Showcase your skills and experiences: Your CV should clearly outline your qualifications.
  • Form a professional narrative: It should tell your career story in a cohesive manner.
  • Pass ATS screenings: An effective CV should be ATS friendly to ensure it gets noticed.

Step 1: Choose the Right Format

When creating a CV, it's crucial to choose a format that highlights your strengths:

  • Chronological CV: Best for those with a consistent work history.
  • Functional CV: Ideal for job seekers with gaps in their employment or those changing careers.
  • Combination CV: Merges elements of both chronological and functional formats.

Example Format

  • Contact Information: Name, phone number, email, LinkedIn profile.
  • Professional Summary: A brief statement that summarizes your qualifications and career goals.
  • Work Experience: List your previous jobs, including the company name, job title, and dates. Use bullet points to describe your achievements.
  • Education: Include your degrees, institutions, and graduation dates.
  • Skills: Highlight relevant skills that align with the job you're applying for.

Step 2: Crafting an Engaging Professional Summary

Your professional summary is your chance to make a strong first impression. It should:

  • Be concise: 2-4 sentences summarizing your experience and skills.
  • Tailor it: Customize your summary for each job application to reflect the specific requirements.

Sample Professional Summary

“Dynamic marketing professional with over 5 years of experience in digital marketing and brand management. Proven track record in driving online engagement and increasing sales through innovative strategies. Passionate about leveraging data analytics to enhance customer experience.”

Step 3: Highlight Your Work Experience Effectively

When listing your work experience, focus on achievements rather than just duties. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your bullet points:

  • Situation: Briefly describe the context.
  • Task: What was your role?
  • Action: What steps did you take?
  • Result: What was the outcome?

Example of Work Experience

Marketing Specialist
ABC Company, New York, NY
January 2020 - Present

  • Developed and implemented a digital marketing strategy that increased website traffic by 40% over six months.
  • Led a team to create a social media campaign that resulted in a 25% growth in online sales.

Step 4: Emphasize Your Skills

Make sure to include a dedicated skills section. This should list both hard and soft skills relevant to the job:

  • Hard Skills: Technical abilities specific to the job (e.g., software proficiency).
  • Soft Skills: Interpersonal skills (e.g., communication, teamwork).

Skills Example

  • Technical Skills: Google Analytics, SEO, Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Soft Skills: Leadership, Problem-solving, Time management.

Step 5: Education and Certifications

List your educational background and any relevant certifications. Include:

  • Degree(s) obtained
  • Institutions attended
  • Graduation dates
  • Any additional certifications that enhance your qualifications

Example Education Section

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing
University of California, Los Angeles
Graduated: June 2018

Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP)
DMI, 2020

Step 6: Make it ATS Friendly

Many employers use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to filter CVs. To ensure your CV passes these screenings:

  • Use standard section headings (e.g., Work Experience, Education).
  • Avoid graphics or unusual fonts that may confuse the ATS.
  • Use keywords from the job description naturally throughout your CV.

Step 7: Use cvuno for a Professional Touch

To streamline the process and create a unique CV website, consider using cvuno. With cvuno, you can generate a personal CV website in about 30 seconds without any templates. The platform ensures that your CV is ATS friendly and offers synced downloadable PDFs. See an example CV created using cvuno for inspiration.

Conclusion

Creating a great CV takes time and effort, but following these steps will help you craft a professional document that showcases your strengths and experiences. Tailor your CV for each application, focusing on the skills and experiences that align with the job.

Don’t forget to use tools like cvuno to create a polished and professional CV website that sets you apart from the competition. Start your journey towards landing your dream job today!

Let’s Create a CV 🚀
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