Top 10 CV Writing Tips

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One of the most powerful  but under estimated self projection tools  a young job seeker can have is a well written CV structured along performance  and value addition potentials . Also known as Curriculum Vitae, a CV is one of the few if not the only opportunity you get for any formal employment assessment- it is your link to the world. 
According to Cv library, getting your CV right can earn you many interviews while doing otherwise may  limit the chances of you getting that invitation via call or text.
Each CV is unique as it details the set of skills that can sway a potential employer in your direction for a possible job position. There is no one fit-it-all approach in writing a CV as each industry requires that you tailor your skills towards the sector of the economy you are interested in working in. There are sections that every employer expects to see in a CV and the following are highly valuable tips that can guide you in writing an attention grabbing  CV!! Not only that a dream job landing one at that. Yes it's that easy!

1. Section 1: Be brief in writing your name and contact information.
   It is important that  you write your full names as legible and as brief as possible. There is no such thing a name writing contest! For so many recruiters, writing traditional names/Aliases on your CV is a no-no. You can add  professional abbreviations after the name. Additionally, writing the contact address on a single line gives the advantage of being perceived as brief, sharp and resourceful. 
2. Using professional looking  e-mail addresses give you an edge.
   Email addresses that have your names.surname@ gmail.com, yahoo.com etc,  is higly recommended. If your names are taken, check with the mail provider which one best suits you.You don't want your prospective employers looking over your  CV simply because of an u e-mail address.  You also don't need to add your facebook,id  twitter handle, or badoo username except you are very professional in the use of them which can also give you an added advantage. These days many qualified job prospects loose opportunities through what they post on social media in the name of self expression without even realizing the reason why. Social media is everything.  
3. Section 2:  Personal Statement/Career Objective/Professional Profile :
   This is a brief introduction of your professional goals. The questions of  who you are, what you've got and your short or long term industry tailored goals should be answered. This is where  the "whys" and "hows" of your goals are highlighted  Keep it  short, simple and smart. 
4. Section 3: Educational Qualifications, and distinctions followed by professional qualifications  earned with dates.
   This should start from the most recent to the oldest.
5. Section 4: Employment history
   This should be performance based . This where most young job seekers miss it. Just listing your job title, and functions is not enough. There must be a  standard to bench mark your functional performance against. For example 

•    Job Title Data Analyst XYZ Company (2000-2005)
  Responsible for Data collection and analysis
• Job Title : Service Administrator(Data)  XYZ (200-2005):
  Achieved complete data management using tools as SPSS, MYSQL, Excel, etc within 3 months in the data section.
•  Same job functions  but differently expressed 

                                           Section 6: Soft and Hard Skills List:
The list is exhaustive but please don't put "gisting"(a Nigerian slang for gossiping)   and  "selfie taking" as one of your soft skills. Instead your Microsoft office skill, Effective communication and Leadership skills, Project management skills etc are some good examples of what you can add.
Please don't add internet browsing it puts everyone off. Be  sure you truly possess these skills before adding them to your CV.

     Section 7 Hobbies :

List your hobbies here, nobody penalizes you for that.

Section 8: References  :

Optional on request or a list of referees. Note Always ensure you have an academic from your Educational institution of learning whom you can use as a referee. Most employers prefer academic referees to other types.

Section 9: Proof read, proof read, proof read...
Section 10 Always get a second, third fourth or fifth opinion on your CV

I hope you have learnt something from this post.
Let me hear your opinions, comments and observations in the comment box.
To your success.