Most employers if not all, have seen every kind of CV there is to date.
One of the most important things applicants must know is that it only takes a couple of minutes for an HR executive to judge whether you're fit for a job or not. That being said, why not spruce up your CV to make sure that they'll have the most impressive minutes of their time.
Here are some ways to set you apart from the crowd.
DO NOT use a Word Template
Or to be exact, do not use the ones pre-loaded with Microsoft Office. There are some interesting templates on the Internet that you can download and immediately set you apart from the rest of the applicants.
DO write a detailed cover letter
Make sure that your cover letter clearly states what you want to do and which industry you want to be in. These two bits of info should be in the first paragraph and not in the middle of the letter.
DO NOT use your passport photo
This is not the 1990s anymore where CVs had to be so formal. Add a more colourful picture of you but remember not to go overboard. Don't use photos from your brunch!
DO colour your CV where necessary
Add infographics if you need to add infographics, maybe divide the subsections of your CV using colour borders. But don't use red to emphasize certain words on your CV. There's italic for that.
DO put your best foot forward
Remember that your CV should not just be a list of your job experiences. Make it dynamic, make it interesting, make it your own. It is an extension of you as a professional. The only good CV is one that shows the personality of the applicant.
By Keith Pereña
