Things to include in your CV

 Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) tells prospective employers about your skills and abilities. It highlights your professional background and gives an impression of who you are from a professional perspective. Your CV is your chance to create a great first impression and tell your prospective employer why you are the best person for the job. This article outlines the things to include in your CV to make a great impression on your prospective employer.

 The following are the things you should include in your CV:

i) Personal information

 This information includes your name, address, and contact information. Include your names as they appear on your identification documents. For address, you should indicate your physical residential address and postal address. Include contact information including your phone number, email address, and link to your LinkedIn profile. Do not include your date of birth in your personal information.

ii) Professional Summary

 Using one paragraph, briefly explain the scope of your profession/career and your future career objectives. Indicate your goal for applying for that specific job.

iii) Education background

 Indicate your education history starting from the most recent. Indicate the name of the institution, the period attended, and what you studied. It is advisable to only include your college studies and not to include high school or primary school. You may also include other professional training and certifications that you have.

iv) Work experience

 Showcase your previous jobs and professional experiences. List organizations you have worked for and indicate positions held and periods spent at a certain job.  You may also include philanthropic works and consulting. In this section list your previous jobs starting with the most recent one.

v) Awards and honors

 Include awards and honours given due to academic achievements and other activities you have engaged in. List the name of the award, from whom it was given, when, and why it was given.

vi) Skills

 Include skills that complement your academic skills and may be helpful to the job you are applying for. Include a combination of soft skills including networking and team player as well as hard skills including software, Microsoft, etc.

vii) Referees

 Referees are people who know you and can give a testimony about who you are. These may be your past employers and colleagues. List referees who know you well professionally and can give an honest and clear testimony of who you are. Provide their names, their positions, and phone number.

 Your CV is your best chance to create a great impression and give a clear picture of your professional abilities to prospective employers. Your CV should be positive but honest. The CV is not a static document but should be adjusted as you grow professionally and depending on the requirements of the job you are applying for.