37 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
37 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
A CV should be a focused, well-structured document that clearly answers "why should I interview this person?". Here's a breakdown of what to include:
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Essential Sections (Always Include)
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These core sections appear on virtually every CV, in this order:
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Contact Information — Full name, phone number, professional email, city/country (no full address needed), and optionally LinkedIn or a portfolio link
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Professional Summary — 3–4 sentences at the top highlighting your strengths, key skills, and the value you bring to the role
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Work Experience — Listed in reverse chronological order; include job title, company, dates, and bullet points starting with action verbs that show outcomes, not just duties
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Education — Degree, institution, and graduation year; recent graduates should place this above work experience
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Skills — A mix of hard skills (tools, software, languages) and soft skills (communication, leadership); only list skills not already obvious from your experience
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High-Value Optional Sections
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Include these only if they genuinely add signal:
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Certifications & Courses — Especially relevant if recent or industry-specific
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Projects / Portfolio — Very valuable for entry-level candidates or career changers; include links (GitHub, Behance, etc.)
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Languages — List with clear proficiency levels (Native, Fluent, Conversational)
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Volunteering / Awards / Publications — Add only if directly relevant to the role
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Hobbies & Interests — Generally the lowest priority; include only if they reflect relevant traits
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Key Principles to Keep in Mind
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Principle Why It Matters
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Quantify achievements Numbers make claims credible ("increased traffic by 30%")
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Tailor to each role Generic CVs are easily filtered out by ATS and recruiters
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Use action verbs Starts bullets with impact ("Managed", "Delivered", "Increased")
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Keep it to 5–7 sections More than 8 sections usually adds noise, not signal
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Avoid full home address City + country is sufficient; employers prefer digital contact
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Recruiters spend just 6–10 seconds on an initial CV scan, so clarity and relevance are far more important than length or completeness.
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