Preparing a killer CV
Tips to creating a winning CV
Tasked with the management of human resources and facilitating the employment of various Namibians, we turned to Africa Personnel Services to share some tips on writing a winning CV.
Have you ever wondered how to create a curriculum vitae (CV) for any position? Here are some tips to create a CV that will better your chances of being employed. Recruitment and call centre agent Fadielah Beukes from APS gave some tips:
When reviewing and looking at a CV, employers look at how presentable it is. In terms of the colours used and the level of creativity applied.
Your current and past employment dates should be featured in the CV as well as the gaps between your employment dates.
Make sure to check the spelling on your CV and have a second or third party look through it to ensure it is up to par.
Common mistakes when creating a CV:
According to APS, common mistakes include:
Not indicating the position you are applying for
Sending the wrong attachments to the company
Sending through unclear official documents like your identity document and qualifications
Creating an eye-catching CV might be a challenge for some, but using apps and online software can assist with that.
Software to build your CV with:
Canva
My Perfect CV
Chat GPT
Resume Builder
Resume.io
More creative CV tips:
An eye-catching CV requires a colourful layout as well as a current professional photo attached to it. It is advised for your CV to be two pages, with the most relevant information added to it.
In terms of cover letters, Beukes said applicants won’t necessarily be disqualified when not attaching a cover letter to their application. However, keep your highlights and key achievements in your CV short and do not write a long cover letter.
The shortlisting of candidates starts as CVs come in. You can send your CV on the last day of submission. Ensuring that it is updated is an integral element not to forget.
Applying for any position requires you to add your relevant experiences that align with the position you are applying to. Having a degree depends on the skill and qualification required for the position.
If you still need advice on creating your CV, using the internet for templates is a perfect place to start. The Microsoft Word application also allows you to choose a template of your liking.