In today’s job market, if you don’t have the right experience, you don’t have the job. In order to make sure that your CV stands out in 2022, take these steps to ensure it’s an effective one. To do this, follow our tips on what to include and what not to include in your CV and learn how to make it stand out by formatting it correctly and choosing the best fonts for your particular industry and style. This way, you’ll be able to add the necessary experience you need to land the job of your dreams!
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Use Quality Fonts
Font choice and font size are crucial for ensuring your CV can be easily read. In addition, make sure you use common sense when it comes to background colors: dark backgrounds make text difficult or impossible to read. You may not think white is an option, but most word processors allow you to choose a white background with black text—or choose a color that contrasts well with your desired background. Color is important too; if you’re sending an old-fashioned hard copy of your resume (not likely in 2022), avoid neon colors that might rub off on someone’s hands as they hold it!
A good font can go a long way toward making your resume memorable. If you’re sending a paper copy, stick with traditional fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. If you’re sending your resume via email, consider fun fonts that stand out without looking unprofessional (such as Helvetica or Papyrus). Whatever you choose, make sure it’s easy to read and contrasts well with your background; black text on white is usually best for paper copies of resumes.
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Do Not List Irrelevant Work Experience
To make your resume as effective as possible, only list work experience relevant to your career goal. In today’s job market, everyone is fighting for top positions and job qualifications are ranked in order of relevance. Irrelevant work experience looks like a red flag and makes hiring managers immediately assume you may not be qualified enough for better positions. This unnecessary hurdle can be difficult to overcome. If you have any doubt about whether or not your work experience is relevant, don’t list it; instead include it on your LinkedIn profile instead where it will still be searchable but won’t make an appearance on resumes unless employers specifically request it from you. If you’re concerned about employment gaps or entry-level jobs, read our tips on how to cover them up effectively!
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Avoid Boring Design Options
It’s common to go with basic fonts, a standard layout, and simple cover designs. But there are other ways you can make your resume stand out – without looking like you’re trying too hard. Bright colors, typography that stands out (but is easy to read), and creative page layouts have all been shown to improve resume-scanning success rates by up to 22%. Do whatever it takes; creative resumes get way more attention than boring ones.
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Keep It Concise
Each industry and company will be looking for something different. Some want job experience, others want special skills, or a particular knowledge base. It’s important that you tailor your resume to fit each individual job opening you are applying for. It may seem tempting to include everything that you have ever done on your resume, but don’t do it! Recruiters and hiring managers spend an average of six seconds skimming over a resume. That doesn’t give them enough time to read all of your past experiences, so make sure your CV is concise and tailored for each company/job opening you apply for. If you don’t think it is well-tailored then take it out! Remember: Keep it Concise!
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Highlight Your Accomplishments
Just as it’s important to lay out your career history, it’s equally important (and often overlooked) to clearly state your accomplishments. Many employers are looking for employees with specific skill sets. For example, if you have experience developing mobile apps, put that right at the top of your resume! Don’t worry about making yourself sound too braggy. Employers want someone who can get things done and will recognize when you do so. Be sure that accomplishments directly relate to job requirements and include figures where possible; there is no better way of convincing an employer that you are capable than presenting hard evidence of what you have achieved.
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Tailor the Job Description
Tailor your resume for each specific job you apply for. If it’s a sales position, highlight your results and accomplishments as they relate to boosting sales numbers. If it’s a public relations position, highlight PR skills such as crisis communications. Additionally, double-check that your resume is error-free and easy-to-read before you submit it. Employers are looking for candidates who show attention to detail and care about their profession; an easy-to-read resume shows them you care about both of those things.
You can also tailor your resume for each individual employer. When searching for jobs, visit company websites and find out what specific qualifications they’re looking for in their applicants. That way, you’ll know if your current skills and experience make you a strong candidate for that job. You can also look up information about pay and benefits of jobs at specific companies so you can put that information on your resume if it’s applicable. For example, if a company has high starting salaries with excellent benefits, highlight those facts on your resume so it’ll help convince employers to interview you.
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Add Education Section If Required
The most important thing you need to do is make sure your resume looks good and that it fits whatever expectations an employer might have. What constitutes good will vary based on which industry you’re applying for work in, but there are some basics that always apply.
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Stay Current With Current Trends
Everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves—even if that means following along with what everyone else is doing. Even when it comes to your career, you don’t want to fall behind with current trends. The world of work is changing faster than ever, and staying up-to-date on current trends will ensure you remain relevant and attractive to future employers. What are some ways that you can remain abreast of today’s issues?
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Add Salary Requirements Section If Required
You’ll want to include your salary requirements section if you’re applying for a job that has a salary attached. If not, there is no need to add a section about salary requirements. In fact, many recruiters advise against including information about salary history, preferring instead that candidates focus on their abilities and accomplishments. However, if you must list your desired salary, be sure it fits with both what is typical for your geographic area and for your field.
Canva Resume can also be used for fasted and quicker resume builds. This resource helps you audiences create all the right impressions by designing on-brand resume designs for both business and personal correspondence.
