Writing a good CV is about far more than listing where you have studied and where you have worked previously. In addition to the job application itself, this is the document that will convince the employer that you are the perfect candidate for the job. It follows that you should be able to boast with a well-thought-out and well-selling CV.
The first step on the road is to avoid the common mistakes that recruiters and employers see all too often, and which lead to the CV ending up in the no pile.
- You do not describe what you do
It is common to write your job and title in the CV, but perhaps less common to describe what the role entailed. Understanding your area of responsibility, your budget responsibilities, personnel responsibilities, and your experience as a group leader are valuable pieces of information for the person reading your CV.
- You do not describe what you have achieved
It is an advantage if you describe the results. What have you accomplished over the years at the workplace in question? Feel free to write about your own or your company’s results compared to the market’s results during the same period. All this you can include in two to three sentences.
CVGuru, the most popular CV help service in Norway, offers CV templates that are beautiful and easy to use, and just about all of them include a few sentences for describing work responsibilities and achievements.
- You assume that others know the company
If you have not worked in a well-known company, it may be a good idea to write a short description of the company. «XX is an international company engaged in game development. The company has 65 employees at the Stockholm office and a turnover of x number of millions annually.” It gives the reader information that you have worked in an international environment – a parameter that may be very important in the current job profile.
- You start with an educational background
We can sometimes see CVs where the candidate begins with their educational background and then describe their work experience. It is a wise CV disposition if you are a student and applying for your first job. As soon as you have gained work experience, however, you should first present your experience.
- You write too much
Long CVs are difficult to get through. A few pages is a good guideline. Highlight only what matters. Communicate clearly what you are good at and have experience with. Begin your CV with a summary of who you are, i.e. a few lines of your strengths, before you go into your work experience.
- You «namedrop»
Some assume that the recipient knows everything about their experience, their previous employer, and industry. They talk about other seemingly familiar names and are too internal with their language.