Catch up quickly on my previous blog in the series: CV Tips, in case you have missed
CV Headline - Writing a winning CV headline
CV Formatting - Format your CV very well
Core Competencies and Career Synopsis - Make maximum use of the Keywords
Your work experience' is probably the most influential subheading of your CV and that is why it must be as close to perfect in every way.
Some formats of Work Experience are below:
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CV TIPS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE
1. Must be Reverse Chronological
The last 10-15 years of your work experience or last 3 jobs (whichever is more) is most relevant. You should also keep this in mind when applying for jobs.
Keep your work experience to a maximum of 8-10 bullet points per job description highlighting most job or industry-specific keywords in every line. You may want to bold the word only.
Can all be used as long as it is kept as a standard throughout the experience
2. Don’t worry if you don’t have work experience
Everyone starts without work experience and everyone ends having good work experience. What matters is who you work for, what have learned and achieved, and how have you grown.
If you do not have work experience, focus on your bio, your education, the training and projects you have completed, your skills, and make this sellable.
3. Bullet Points
Use the most impactful sentences with bullet points. Avoid being descriptive. Your CV is being read by professionals who know how to interpret it. You must use one very important industry or product or work-related "keyword". Your CV should not have too much information but just enough of the most important ingredients to warrant a call or email.
4. Keep it simple, relevant, and interesting
Don’t use fancy words or jargon that appear confusing. You do not want the reader to get confused or not understand. This will defeat the purpose. Your CV must contain simple and professionals words, industry, or product-specific terms and these must always be impactful.
5.Facts, Figures, and Numbers
Maximize usage of numbers as digits and not words. The same with percentages. Graphical representation in charts, diagrams creates an impression.
Achieved 95% results in my first sales quarter OR
Trained 150 staff over the first year OR
Sold AED 400,000 worth of medical supplies between 2019-2020
6. Consider substituting experience with achievements
Companies want performers. If you can highlight your achievements and accomplishments it is even better than presenting your job responsibilities (or a mix of both is best and most recommended). Besides your achievements are directly linked to your duties and the impact is even greater. You will have also designed an “achievement” based CV.
7. Use words that create an Impact
Often using detail-oriented, team player, and hard work is often boring, monotonous, and vague.
But using words like a “strong leader”, “sales strategist” or an “effective communicator” are important characteristics you want to get across. Write down these words along with your keywords before preparing your CV.
8. List all your Work
All your work, whether part-time or full-time, whether paid or unpaid, whether charitable or project-based must be included in your CV in reverse chronological order. It tells a lot about you. Experience always counts.
9. Use a good word mix
Every bullet point must start with a different word. Well almost. Using words like "Created", "Designed", "Accomplished", "Achieved", "Managed", "Trained", etc as the first word greatly helps. Your current job description will show these words in the present tense.
10. Make Your CV Keyword Rich
Use "keywords" in your resume: Scan the job description, see what words are used most often, and make sure you’ve included them in your bullet points. Not only is this a self-check that you’re targeting your resume to the job, but it’ll also make sure you get noticed in applicant tracking systems. Try a tool (like SEO - keyword search) that will analyze and share the most used keywords.
e.g
ABS Shipping March 2015 to September 2018
Senior Accountant
Preparation of consolidated financial reports, working capital management, and control.
Processing vendor's payments, verification, reconciliation daily.
Preparing and verifying all petty cash protocol and payments, and physical verification to maintain adequate liquidity.
Daily review & follow-up of accounts receivables (AR) and accounts payables (AP).
Preparation & Implementation of Internal control processes for daily accounting.
Reconciliation of Dubai Customs, DP World, Calogi, portal account periodically.
Filling of periodical VAT return & maintain records in compliance with FTA regulations.
Preparation of MIS reports summarizing business financial position for management.
Reporting of profitability/contribution job-wise, custom standing guarantee used & rotation reports, the productivity of labor report for management.
Assisting in the preparation of cash flow statements, activity-wise reports, annual budgets, forecasting trends, capital budgeting& break-even analysis.
Variance analysis between budgeted & actual spending with reasons thereof.
Next Week: Education is Critical