The academic CV is a type of curriculum vitae which details educational background, research and teaching experience, professional appointments, fellowships, awards, publications, grants, and other key achievements. When applying for an academic position, creating an academic CV is one of the most important steps in the process. That is because a proper academic CV will showcase your achievements, displaying why you would be a valuable asset to any educational institution that would hire you.

Unfortunately, many people find themselves wondering exactly how to create the perfect academic CV. From formatting and structure to the various sections that your academic CV will include, it is likely that you have a lot of questions. Luckily, we are here to answer all of those questions, giving you the information that you need to write an academic CV that highlights your past achievements and attractive skills and qualities.

As always, don’t forget to make sure that your CV stands out aesthetically so that you can present your professional skills appropriately. To do this with style and professionalism, we highly recommend using a CV template. When using a CV template, you won’t have to put all of your time into the design of your CV. What does that mean? Put simply, you’ll have much more time on your hands to ensure that your academic CV is properly formatted and filled with substance. Now, onto your questions about creating an academic CV!

Important Steps for Writing an Academic CV

Before we talk more specifically about proper format for an academic CV, we’d like to share some general information that you need to know. As you create your CV, you need to remember that academic selection committees have to review thousands of applications for each scholarship, post, or grant that they are offering. That means that you’ll be facing a lot of competition and need to do everything in your power to make your academic CV stand out. That’s why we want you to keep the following important steps in mind!

Tip #1- Think About Length, But Don’t Agonize Over It

The first thing that you need to remember when creating your academic CV is that length isn’t as much of a concern here. Unlike resumes (and even some other types of CVs), academic CVs can be of virtually any length. You can read our article on the difference between resumes and CVs for more information. That being said, if you are applying to a particular job, you should always check the job listing to see if it includes any specified page length limit on your CV. Otherwise, don’t feel too limited by the length of your CV as it is less of a concern than when writing a resume.

Tip #2- Consider Your Audience

When creating an academic CV, you should always keep your audience in mind. Much like a resume, an academic CV should be tailored to fit the audience that will be reading it. If you are applying to work for a university or department, for example, you’ll want to answer a couple of questions about that entity. For one, does this department value publication over teaching experience in terms of promotion decisions? If this is the case, you should focus on your publications before listing your teaching experience to prioritize the information.

By considering your audience as you write your academic CV, you’ll be able to highlight the most important information and this will increase your chances of impressing a recruiter.

Tip #3- Be Knowledgable About Structure

Considering the fact that length isn’t a major concern when writing an academic CV, you’ll want to focus more on structure. A proper academic CV always places the most important information at the top of the document, for example. This includes your education, employment history, and any publications.

To make your CV stand out even more, consider inserting a personal statement at the top of your CV. In this section, you can sum up your skills and background and how it relates to the position you are applying for. Further, following proper structure, be sure to list your experiences in reverse chronological order in each section of the CV.

Tip #4- Make Your Academic CV Easy to Read

Although an academic CV is sure to contain a lot of information, you need to go above and beyond to ensure that your CV is uncluttered and easy to read. To keep your CV neat, utilize 1-inch margins on every side of the document. Additionally, use ample space between each section. To make the document even more attractive, consider including a bulleted list in some sections of the CV. It’s been proven that bulleted lists are attractive to the human eye for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it breaks up long sentences and gives our eyes a break as we read.

Tip #5- Edit Carefully

As with any CV, you will want to ensure that your academic CV is professional and well-polished before submitting it. The only way to make sure that your CV is of the highest quality is by editing carefully. Ideally, your document will be completely free of errors. Read through your CV several times, proofreading for any spelling or grammatical errors along the way. For added reassurance that your CV is free of errors, we recommend getting an extra set of eyes to proofread. Ask a friend or family member to look behind you and offer any helpful feedback that they can provide.

Tip #6- Be Consistent

Regardless of what academic CV format you choose, you’ll want to prioritize consistency. By that, we mean that you should bold all section titles if you bold even a single one, for example. Consistency not only makes your CV easier to read and more attractive but also displays professionalism and organization.

What is the Proper Format for an Academic CV?

You may be wondering about the proper academic CV format. The CV format that we’ll be breaking down below will give you a better idea of sections you might include in your own.

As always, we recommend tailoring your CV to the unique field and job that you’re applying for. Take this into consideration as you use the following guidelines to assist you in writing your academic CV.

We also want you to keep in mind that some of the sections listed here may not apply to your field. If that’s the case, simply leave them out! Do what makes the most sense.

Contact Information

The first section of your academic CV should include all relevant contact information. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and email address front and center.

Personal Statement

While this is an optional section, a personal statement is your opportunity to include a brief overview of why you’re the perfect candidate for the position.

Education

Next, list your academic background in the Education section of your CV. Include both undergraduate and graduate institutions that you attended. For each degree that you hold, list the institution, location, degree title, and the date you graduated.

Employment History

Provide all relevant work history in the Employment History section of your academic CV. These should be listed in reverse chronological order, including relevant details about the position and dates in that position.

Fellowships/Grants

In this section, list any fellowships or internships, and be sure to include the organization, title, and dates. You can also include any grants you have received in this section, including the amount of money awarded for each individual grant.

Honors/Awards

In the Honors/Awards section of your academic CV, include any awards that you have received for relevant work.

Service

Use this section to include any service opportunities that you have completed for your department.

Certifications/Licenses

Relevant certifications and licenses can be a huge selling point for academic positions. Be sure to include any type of license, certification, or accreditation in this section as well as the date it was received and the date it expires.

Publications

This section is where you will include any publications, articles, or books you have written. Include all of the relevant information about each publication such as the title, journal title, and date of publication.

Professional Affiliations

Here, include any professional organizations that you belong to.

Interests/Skills

This is another optional section but this section provides the opportunity to include a glimpse into who you are. If you are bilingual, for example, this would be the section to include that information and could make you a more attractive candidate for an academic position.

References

You may want to also include a list of your references at the bottom of your academic CV in the event that it is relevant to the position you are applying for or if it is explicitly required by the job listing.

We hope that these academic CV writing tips and formatting examples have been helpful to you! If you simply follow these guidelines and keep these writing tips in mind, you’re sure to have success. This ensures you can create an academic CV that is attractive, informative, and above all, professional. Good luck and check back to BuzzCV for more CV and career tips!

When writing a CV, many of us tend to forget about the importance of the format. CV format is important for a variety of reasons including the fact that proper formatting ensures that your CV is scannable by ATS bots, as well as attractive and easy on the eyes of recruiters. Put simply, proper CV format can make all of the difference between a recruiter reading your CV in full or simply moving it to the bottom of the pile.

If you have ever wondered how to properly format your CV, we are here with a few tips for proper formatting. In this article, we’ll detail all of the sections that your CV should have, explain the difference between a skills-based CV and a classic chronological CV, and include the steps you should follow to create each type.

As always, don’t forget to make sure that your CV stands out so that you can present your skills in the most professional manner! For this, we highly recommend using a CV template. This way, you don’t have to put all of your time and effort into the design of your CV, allowing yourself more time to focus on formatting and, of course, the content. With that, let’s get started!

CV Format and Structure: What Sections Should You Include in Your CV?

When practicing proper CV format, the first thing you need to know is all of the sections that you should include in your document. The most professional CV includes a series of important sections that you can use to really sell yourself as the ideal job candidate. When creating your CV, be sure to include the following sections in this order:

• Contact Information
• Personal Statement
• Professional Experience
• Academic History
• Key Skills and Qualifications
• Industry Awards
• Professional Certifications
• Publications
• Professional Affiliations
• Conferences Attended
• Any Additional Training

Aside from including these sections in your CV, it is also crucial to structure each specified section the right way. For this, we recommend including the following information in each section. Let’s break down each section step-by-step so that you know the relevant information to include in each section.

Contact Information

In the Contact Information section of your CV, you’ll want to include relevant contact information. Not only does this make it easier for hiring managers to contact you for an interview, but it also makes it easier for them to look into your background, thereby verifying your relevant professional experience. Here’s what you’ll want to include in the Contact Information section of your CV:

• Full Name
• Professional Title
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• LinkedIn Profile
• Home Address

Personal Statement

Your CV’s Personal Statement section is an especially crucial section when it comes to enticing a hiring manager to read your CV in full. This is because the Personal Statement section acts as an overview of all of the information that you’ll be including in the document. You will want to include relevant keywords in your Personal Statement section, explaining why you are the ideal job candidate for the role.

Be sure to keep your Personal Statement to a brief 100 words in length (at most) and use it as an opportunity to provide a highlight of your relevant skills and experience. If you have years worth of relevant experience in a similar job role, for example, write your Personal Statement as a CV summary, highlighting your most impressive professional achievements.

If you don’t have much professional experience yet, however, don’t worry! Instead, go for a CV objective in which you summarize all of the skills you have mastered so far and how you would apply these skills to the position if hired. Regardless of whether you use a CV summary or a CV objective in your Personal Statement section, be sure not to focus solely on what you want out of the position. Instead, focus on emphasizing what you have to offer as this is what hiring managers are really interested in.

Here’s an example of a great Personal Statement that focuses on the skills the applicant brings to the table, rather than what they want out of the position if hired:

Reputable and licensed NMC Registered Nurse who is trained to work effectively in high-stress environments, all while staying calm and rational under pressure. Seeking to leverage analytical and record-keeping skills to assist St. Johns Hospital with any and all upcoming challenges.

Professional Experience

Structure should be a primary concern when organizing the Professional Experience section of your CV. By including relevant professional experience in proper CV format, you will make your CV more pleasant to read all while presenting your experience in a way that entices hiring managers. Here are a few key points you should keep in mind when structuring your Professional Experience section in accordance with proper CV format:

• Start with either your current or most recent job.
• Next, list your previous jobs in chronological order (descending).
• After this, list your job title, dates worked, and the name of the company.
• Below each entry, add up to 5 bullet points which explain your achievements and responsibilities.

Academic History

In the Academic History section of your CV, you’ll want to focus on any post-secondary education that you have. There’s really no point in mentioning your high school, for example, unless it is your highest degree of education. To create your Academic History section in accordance with proper CV format, be sure to include the following in this order:

• Graduation Year (if you are currently studying, include your estimated graduation date)
• Degree
• Institution Name
• (If applicable) Include Sub-Honors

As an additional note, applicants without a lot of job experience should place the education section above your work history, taking care to mention any coursework you have completed as well as extracurricular achievements.

Key Skills and Qualifications

Finally, you’ll want to follow these steps when creating the Key Skills and Qualifications section of your CV in accordance with proper CV format:

• Create a spreadsheet that includes a master list of all of the professional skills you have developed.
• Next, read the job listing carefully and take note of any skill-related keywords.
• Select the skills from your spreadsheet that most directly align with those in the job listing to include on your CV.
• Rather than simply listing skills in a separate Skills section in your CV, be sure to also include them in both your Personal Statement and Professional Experience sections.

Want to learn more about relevant skills to include in your CV? Check out our articles, “The Best Hard Skills to Put in Your Resume” and “The Best Soft Skills to Put in Your Resume“!

CV Format Beyond the Sections

Now that you know which sections to include in your CV, it’s time to talk more in-depth about overall CV format. By following the appropriate steps when formatting your CV, you’ll create an eye-catching CV. Hiring managers appreciate an attractive, well-organized CV.

An appropriately formatted CV also increases your chances of passing the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) CV scan. This is incredibly important as, according to a worldwide report on recruiting automation trends, 75 percent of talent acquisition professionals claim that AI-based technology is projected to play a large role in their hiring processes this upcoming year.

So what do you need to keep in mind as you format your CV? Here’s what you need to know:

• One-inch margins should be set on all sides.
• Use either 1.0 or 1.5 line spacing.
• Choose an appropriate and professional font for your CV and stay consistent with the font throughout the entirety of the document.
• Create a professional CV header where you can include your contact information.
• Divide your CV into legible sections.
• Ensure that your section headings are slightly larger than the rest of the content.
• Add a blank line before and after each header in the document.
• Make sure to save your CV as a PDF to ensure formatting remains intact.

Should You Use a Skills-Based CV Format or a Classic Chronological CV Format?

The next thing you will want to consider as you format your CV is whether to use a skills-based CV format or a classic chronological CV format. If you have a more unorthodox work history, a skills-based CV is likely the best bet for you. Those with a detailed work history would be able to make a classic chronological CV format work to the best of their advantage, however.

Skills-Based CV

A skills-based CV (also known as a functional CV) focuses on the candidate’s skills rather than their work experience. This type of CV is usually utilized by those in creative industries who have done a lot of jobs on their own (such as freelancing jobs) or those who are career changers.

Here is an outline of the basic structure of a skills-based CV that you can follow when creating your own:

1. Contact Information
2. CV Objective
3. Skills Summary
4. Work Experience
5. Education
6. Additional Skills

There are many pros associated with using a skills-based CV format. For one, this type of CV takes the focus off of your work history, highlighting your specific skills instead. This makes this type of CV a great choice for those with a limited work history, as well as freelancers and those with experience handling a large number of single projects.

Secondly, when written properly, a skills-based CV showcases your most important skills, validating them with specific examples related to past work experience. Finally, a skills-based CV format is the best fit for creatives and candidates that find themselves targetting more highly specialized positions.

Classic Chronological CV Format

A classic chronological CV format gives you the ability to offer a more historical account of your career path so far. Those with a robust work history will find that a class chronological CV format is best suited for them as it allows plenty of room to highlight relevant job history.

Here’s an outline of the structure you should be using when creating a classic chronological CV format of your own:

1. Objective
2. Summary
3. Work Experience
4. Skills
5. Education

Like a skills-based CV format, a classic chronological CV format has its fair share of advantages. For one, a chronological CV shows specifically which positions you have held in the past and for how long. A chronological CV also fits the preference of most recruiters as they are most familiar with this format. Finally, if you’re applying for a senior executive position, a chronological CV will be prioritized by recruiters in most cases, increasing your chances of landing a job interview.

Final Tips for Proper CV Format

Now that you’re more familiar with the proper CV format, it’s time for a couple of final tips for proper CV format. When creating a CV (rather than a traditional resume), there are a few tips you’ll want to follow. Want to learn more about resumes as opposed to CVs? Check out our article on the difference between CVs and resumes! With that, let’s get on to our CV tips:

• Always choose the right font type and size: Your CV should always be legible and easy to follow for recruiters. We recommend choosing a sans-serif font between 10 and 11 points for maximum readability.
• Utilize your space effectively: When creating your CV, keep in mind that it is easy for your CV to become too long. To ensure you’re using the space allotted in the most effective way, organize with bulleted lists, bold important keywords, use section headers, and remove any irrelevant information.
• Make sure you’re using the right margins: It’s a good rule of thumb to keep your margins between .5 and 1 inch. Margins that are too large will leave too much white space. On the other hand, margins that are too small can easily make the page appear too busy.
• Always proofread for errors: Lastly, we highly recommend proofreading your CV for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes multiple times. There’s nothing less professional than a CV filled with obvious and careless mistakes. Take your time and make sure your CV is as professional as possible!

We hope that these tips, tricks, and examples of proper CV format have been helpful to you! When following these guidelines, you’ll have the best chance of creating a professional CV that a recruiter will not only read but enjoy reading! When your CV is properly formatted, you’ll have a much better chance of getting that all-important job interview. From all of us at BuzzCV, good luck!

Regardless of what position you’re shooting for, whether it is your first job out of college or a senior-level executive position, the process of condensing your accomplishments and skills down into a single document can seem like a challenging task. That being said, if a new job is what you’re looking for, the perfect CV isn’t something you can skip over. When it comes to a senior-level executive position, you might even say that the process is more difficult than those looking for their first job out of college. 

If you’re gunning for a senior-level position, in all likelihood, you’ve held several jobs throughout your career, working your way up the corporate ladder. In this time, you have likely dipped your toes into a variety of industries and departments. Unfortunately, however, the people you will be competing with for this job will be coming from many different paths. For this reason, your CV will need to be created to thoroughly impress.

Today we will be walking you through exactly how to write a perfect CV for a senior-level executive position. If you’re striving to become an executive, you have to make your CV speak to that job role by making it extra impressive. This isn’t an easy task but with a few tips from us, this challenging task will be much more simple. Let’s get started!

Start By Creating an Executive Summary

Although you may be a detail-oriented go-getter that has a proven track record of success in higher level positions, you have to keep in mind that nearly everyone that is applying for the same senior-level executive position as you likely has the same qualifications. For this reason, you need to get rid of the resume objective altogether and instead focus yourself on crafting an executive summary that proves you’re the best fit for the job role. 

When it comes to a thorough executive summary, we typically recommend that applicants showcase four to five bullet points that directly highlight your value as it relates to the senior-level executive position. Put simply, this summary acts as your most valuable CV real estate. Think of this as your first (and biggest) chance to offer a potential employer direct reasoning for why you’re the best fit for the job and make it a seemingly obvious choice. If you can do that, you’ll make a good first impression that impresses and that’s the main point of your senior-level executive CV. 

Make Sure to Include a Core Proficiencies Section

Another key section to include in the perfect CV for a senior-level executive position is a core proficiencies section. This section acts as your chance to showcase the skills you have as they directly relate to an executive position. Be sure to only include core proficiencies that directly relate to an executive position. For example, although your strengths in Excel may be important, this isn’t an especially “executive skill”. Instead, you may want to highlight skills in employee development, global strategy, or skills and acquisition. These are skills that any senior-level executive should have and you will stand out to a recruiter if you are able to highlight such skills successfully. Collect all of these executive skills in a section that you label either “Core Proficiencies” or “Areas of Expertise” and situate them directly underneath your executive summary. In doing so, you can generate a great first impression that will keep a recruiter reading for longer.

Demonstrate Financial and Business Impact

Qualitative results are great and they can seriously give a recruiter an idea of the type of person you are but when it comes to a senior-level executive position, quantitative results are what recruiters are really looking for. The ideal senior-level executive candidate will be known for generating a positive impact both financially and in business and it’s important to note that you are not likely to land an executive position simply for being a good person. Candidates that can detail how they have driven growth, reduced costs, and optimized staff performance will be the ones to come out on top. That’s why you need to demonstrate your financial and business impact and do it quickly. 

The best way to do this is by simply showing the results. Show the quantitative data that speaks to your skills in these key areas. One of the most simple ways to accomplish this is by creating a section on your CV labeled “Key Highlights” or “Key Accomplishments”. We also highly recommend bolding the most impressive quantitative data so that a potential employer can find this information quickly and easily. 

Hit Hard on Highlights That Match Your Target Role

If you’re applying for a senior-level executive job, it is likely that you have many accomplishments in your past work history to be proud of. You’ve worked your way up to the top and you should embody these accomplishments in your CV. That being said, it’s important that you not overstuff. You should never view your CV as an autobiography that details every little detail about your life. Rather, you should hit hard on highlights as they relate to the senior-level executive position that you are applying for. 

Share career highlights as they directly relate to the position you are applying for and make connections with the needs of the role you’re applying for and accomplishments you have made in the past. Why should a potential employer select you for this high position? Show them the evidence. Make it clear as day. Leave out the fluff and focus on those hard-hitting highlights that will convince them of your value. 

Focus on Your Most Recent Work Experience

Most CVs benefit from a chronological format and this is because it clearly highlights your career progression throughout the years. That being said, most of your CV should be focused around your most recent work experience. You should spend the most time discussing your current role, including details that will prove to the recruiter what your role entails and what type of company you are working for. Even if you haven’t been at your current job for very long, this same rule still applies. The only exception is if your current job is completely unrelated to your career goals or an executive summary. 

Include Only Your Past 15 Years of Job Experience

If you’re applying for a senior-level executive position, you have a lot of job experience leading up to this point. You may have quite a bit to share in terms of the history of companies, responsibilities, and different positions you have held. That being said, it is highly recommended to only share your past 15 years of job experience in your CV. If there are positions that you feel are especially relevant to share that extend outside of this time range, you can still share this in a section labeled “Prior Experience”- just be sure to leave out the lengthier details. Following this rule will ensure that you don’t run out of space and can keep your senior-level executive CV well-organized and straight to the point. 

Discuss Education at the End of the CV

When you’re a recent college graduate, your degree is often one of your biggest selling points as a potential employee. When you’re applying for a senior-level executive position, however, it’s time to shift your focus away from education and more towards relevant job experience in leadership roles. For this reason, it is highly recommended that while you still include your education on your CV, you move it towards the end (with the exception of any advanced degrees that may work in your favor). This will give you plenty of room to focus on work experience while still highlighting the importance of the degree that you hold as it relates to the job you are applying for. 

Use BuzzCV to Craft the Perfect Senior-Level Executive CV!

Now that you know some of the most important tips regarding creating the perfect CV for a senior-level executive position, it’s time to get started! One of the hardest parts of creating a CV is often found in choosing a design that speaks to your professionalism and value. Fortunately, BuzzCV has you covered there! We offer over 20 certified CV templates that you can use to create a modern and professional resume and cover letter easily. Each of our designs are attractive, organized, and easy to use- making them the perfect templates to ensure success when creating your own CV for a senior-executive level position. 

While showcasing your accomplishments and skills are essential when applying for a senior-level executive position, the way that you organize this information within your CV is just as important. BuzzCV is here to offer you the tools you need to get noticed! Follow these tips and use our resources to create the perfect senior-level executive CV today!

Check out our CV templates today to get started and register as a member for free today! 

As a member, you’ll have access to:

• Free CV templates
• Digital CV
• Digital cover letter
• Personality test
• Job search
• Customer support

While it is important to note that an attractive and eye-catching resume is not likely to land you your dream job alone, it certainly doesn’t hurt to put in the effort when it comes to how you represent you and your abilities on paper. For this reason, finding the right resume design for you is absolutely critical. This means you need to identify what the right CV template is. Put simply, the right resume design is one that encapsulates both your individual skills and personality, boosting your resume to the top of the pack. 

That being said, BuzzCV knows that finding an attractive CV template design that also matches your professional identity can be easier said than done. That’s why, today, we’ll be talking about the difference between basic CV templates and design CV templates, both of which are offered here at BuzzCV. Which CV template type is best for you and which can elevate your chances of winning that dream job? Let’s find out. 

Why is CV Template Design Important?

Before we look at basic CV templates and design CV templates specifically, let’s sum up why your CV template design is such a critical component of your ability to score the job of your dreams. Put simply, your dream job doesn’t rely on your education, experience, and skill alone. Rather, it relies on the presentation of your CV, as well. According to James Innes, founder and chair of CVCentre.co.uk, “design has become more important with the current job market. In fact, it becomes continually more important as competition for jobs increases year on year.” So why is presentation so important when it comes to your CV? 

Presentation is key when it comes to your CV because it is the first thing that your potential employers will notice about you. Before a potential employer reads a single word on your CV, you make an impression with the presentation of your CV. For this reason, your presentation on your CV can make all the difference between landing a job and being skipped over. If the presentation of your CV is thoroughly professional, you immediately give the impression, as the applicant, that you are thoroughly professional yourself. This will impress a potential employer and very likely move your application to the top of the stack for consideration. 

So how can you do your best to present your CV as professionally as possible? One of the best ways of doing so, other than focusing on a professional overall design as we will discuss later, is to avoid some of the most common mistakes on CVs. This includes spelling mistakes, an overuse of bolds or italics, or splitting sections over two pages. Aesthetics, however, are also crucial which is why identifying whether you will use a basic CV template or design CV template is so important. This is obvious when you consider the fact that up to a quarter of CVs are trashed immediately by potential employers because of poor presentation value. So how can you choose the right CV template for you?

What is a Basic CV Template?

In order to choose the best CV template for you, it’s important that you have an idea of the options at your disposal. For the purposes of this article, we will be focusing on two main CV template types: basic CV templates and design CV templates. Each of these template types are offered here at Buzz CV but you are likely wondering which is the best for you. Let’s talk about each type in detail as well as offer some examples of the best CV templates in each group, starting with the basic CV template. 

A basic CV template, put simply, prioritizes offering the needed sections with important information outlining your experience, education, and skills without the flair offered by design CV templates. While a design CV template may feature special graphics or stylized finishes, a basic CV template is a bit more straightforward, relying on the presentation of information rather than aesthetic. These basic CV templates may be in a chronological CV format or in a skill-based CV template but, regardless of the basic CV template that you use, there are a few “must-haves” that every CV template needs. For one, this includes 6 important sections including:

• Contact information
• Personal statement
• Work Experience
• Education
• Job Skills

There are also a few other essential “must-haves” when it comes to a thorough basic CV template. These extras will ensure that your basic CV template will be powerful and present you well despite the lack of added aesthetic flair. These include:

• All of the essential sections with the option to add extras if you choose.
• An easily readable layout.
• A matching cover letter template to pair it with.
• Optimised for ATS scanning.
• A generous use of white space.
• The ability to include all required information within the recommended CV length.

Now that you have an idea of the layout of a basic CV template, let’s look at a few examples of some of the most highly recommended basic CV templates that you can use to present yourself professionally. 

Customer Service Basic CV Template

This template is a popular basic CV template used for the customer service field. As you can see, this CV gets straight to the point and doesn’t rely heavily on graphics or color schemes. Instead, the information itself is showcased. This is a key distinction to make between basic CV templates and design CV templates. As you can see, this basic CV template also includes all required sections for a CV in a plain and simple layout. While basic CV templates may not be as visually appealing as design CV templates, it is clear that they get the job done and lay out all important information in a well-organized format. 

Account Manager Basic CV Template

Much like the customer service basic CV template that we looked at above, this basic CV template that is centered around an account manager position capitalizes on information rather than extra visual appeal. While there is more of a robust color scheme present in this basic CV template, it is again centered mostly on the presentation of white space- something common amongst most basic CV templates. For a more basic and plainly organized approach to your CV, either of these templates would make the best choice. 

What is a Design CV Template?

Now that you have a good idea of what a basic CV template is and how you can use it to represent yourself professionally, it’s time to talk about the other CV template type offered here at BuzzCV: the design CV template. Design CV templates, unlike basic CV templates, capitalize on a more visual approach to the CV. Design CV templates are known for being more visually appealing, helping you to stand out a bit more when your CV lands on the desk of a recruiter. While it still offers the same required sections needed in any CV, there is much more of a focus on a stylized approach. This often gives a potential employer the first impression that you are unique, making them much more likely to read your CV in its entirety. Design CV templates typically offer graphics, backgrounds, and attractive color schemes. 

There are a few things you should keep in mind when working with a more creative design CV template. For one, you should use columns to maximize on space. This ensures that you are able to maximize the use of the space and keep your CV to one sheet of paper. You can do so by splitting your resume layout into two sections, with a narrow column running down either the left or right side of the page. Another thing to keep in mind when using your design CV template is that you always put the more impressive stuff above the fold. The top half is the area where a potential employer will place their focus first so it’s important to get all of the most important information in front of their eyes immediately by placing it there. This is why, despite using a design CV template, you should always avoid wasting space with huge headers for your name and contact details across the head of the page. 

Let’s look at a couple of examples of design CV templates and talk a bit about why they are so effective. 

Statistician Design CV Template

As you can see right off the bat, this design CV template maximizes the use of high-quality imagery and a color scheme that is attractive without being distracting. Keeping in line with our recommendations for putting all of the important information above the fold, this design CV template allows you to input the most crucial information in the form of a summary, right in the place where a potential employer will be drawn first. The color scheme used in this design CV template strategically draws the reader’s eye to the top of the fold first, meaning your summary will be presented front and center. The rest of this design CV template maximizes the use of white space, something that is crucial in a well-done CV. Each section is laid out in an organized fashion and isn’t made hard to follow with the use of unecessary graphics. 

Assistant Design CV Template

This design CV template again capitilizes on the use of a continous color scheme but, instead of the use of a high-quality image at the top of the fold, it uses attractive typography and colored section headings to organize the entirety of the CV. This makes it easy for the reader’s eye to follow each section without being confused about which section will be about. This not only saves time but shows a potential employer that you prioritize organization and professionalism, while also adding aesthetically pleasing components. Again, the use of white space is maximized and this makes the CV feel clean and straightfoward while remaining attractive- the main purpose of a design CV template.

Which CV Template is Better?

So, finally, you may be asking, “Which CV template type is the right choice?”. While we offer both basic and design CV templates here at BuzzCV, we do have a clear favorite: design CV templates. These templates tend to be much more attractive and offer enough customization options that allow you to stand out from the crowd. When creating the perfect CV, it’s important that you are able to make stylish choices that help you stand out without distracting from the purpose of the CV itself. 

Our design CV templates offer the perfect balance of style and professionalism. While basic CV templates will certainly get the job done, they are less likely to help you stand out as they tend to appear more like “templates” than design CV templates do. Design CV templates tend to appear more original and allow you to represent yourself as unique and highly qualified for the position you are applying for. 

Use BuzzCV to Create the Perfect CV Today!

Now that you know the difference between basic CV templates and design CV templates, it’s time to get to work on your own! At BuzzCV, we offer over 20 certified CV templates that you can use to create a modern and professional resume and cover letter easily. Our design CV templates will help you stand out from the pack and our basic CV templates will offer you the formatting you need to inform your decisions as you create the perfect CV.  Check out our free CV templates today to get started and register as a member for free today! 

As a member, you’ll have access to:

• Free CV templates
• Digital CV
• Digital cover letter
• Personality test
• Job search
• Customer support

What is the difference between a CV (curriculum vitae) and a resume? Better yet, when should you use a resume and when is it a better choice to use a CV? The difference between a CV and a resume can be a confusing subject. That’s we will be exploring the difference between a CV and a resume so that you can understand which is best for a particular situation. 

The primary differences between a resume and a CV are what’s included, the length, and what each is used for. While both are used in job applications, a resume and CV are not always interchangeable. Keep reading for a breakdown of the differences between a CV and a resume as well as some tips for writing both!

The Main Differences Between a CV and a Resume

The main differences between a CV and a resume include the document’s contents, length, and purpose. It’s also important to consider which region of the world you’re applying in as well as your career path when deciding which is more appropriate to use in that situation. In the United States, for example, a resume should be a concise collection of your professional experience, qualifications, and skills that are specifically relevant to the job that you are applying for. A CV, on the other hand, presents an in-depth history of your professional and academic credentials and accomplishments. 

Some of the main differences include the following:

• Experience: CVs are most commonly used to apply for more academic roles or grants, programs, research, and fellowships or perhaps teaching positions. It is possible that you have a CV if you are applying to or have graduated from a doctoral or masters program. Resumes, on the other hand, are used for applying for jobs in either the public or private sectors which are often referred to as “industry positions” in contrast to academic positions.

• Length: Seeing as a resume includes your qualifications and skills for only a specific role, it should typically be somewhere between one and two pages in length. A CV, on the other hand, will not have a length limit and is typically much longer than most resumes because it includes much more information, including much more detailed descriptions of research, presentations, and coursework. 

• Geographic location: Finally, in other regions of the world (such as New Zealand and the UK), employers use the term CV to describe both CVs and resume-type documents rather than using the word “resume” at all. In other regions such as India and Australia, the terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably. In the United States, however, a resume and CV are two distinctly different types of documents used for different purposes. 

What is a CV?

A CV, an abbreviation for curriculum vitae (a Latin word meaning “course of life”) is a detailed and comprehensive document which describes the entire course of both your professional and academic accomplishments. CVs are usually formatted in chronological order and start with a description of your educational experience. Although there is no length requirement for a CV, most will range from three to ten pages, with some being even longer. With the more experience that you have, generally, the longer your CV will be. 

What Should You Include on a CV?

Now that you have an understanding of what a CV is, you may be wondering what specific information you should include when you are writing your CV. In most cases, you’ll want to include your career history as well as your awards, education, grants, scholarships, special honors, education, research projects, and publications on your CV. It’s also a good idea to include professional references, fieldwork, and coursework as well as a personal profile that lists your relevant attributes and skills. 

What is a Resume?

Put simply, a resume is a document that is meant to act as a summary of your skills, education, and career history. There are also optional sections that you can include in your resume including a resume objective and a career summary statement. It is important to remember that a resume should be as concise as possible. While a CV can be very lengthy, a resume should be no more than one to two pages long. 

What Should You Include on a Resume?

Typically, a resume will include a professional or “summary” statement, a dedicated skills section, and a condensed description of your recent and relevant professional achievements. These should be listed in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most current job. You may also want to include details surrounding your educational experience, volunteer work, or relevant professional associations. 

When to Use Each Type

Now that you have an understanding of the main differences between a resume and a CV, as well as the basic definition of each, it’s time to figure out how to best determine the right time to use each type. If you’re unsure of whether your employer requires a resume or a CV, you can ask yourself the following questions in order to best determine which document fits the situation best:

• Where is the company based? Considering that one of the main differences between a CV and a resume have to do with the fact that they are used mainly in different geographic locations, it is important to consider this when deciding which type to use. Depending on where a company is located, “CV” may refer to a standard resume or it may refer to the longer form listed above.

• What kind of job are you applying for? It is equally important to consider the type of job that you are applying for when deciding between a CV and a resume. If you’re applying for a job in academia (especially as an educator), for example, then you’ll probably need a CV. If you are applying for an industry-level job, however, a resume is likely the best choice. 

Summary

• The main differences between a CV and a resume are length, purpose, and content.
• Resumes are typically between one and two pages.
• CVs have no specified length restrictions but are often between three and ten pages.
• A resume is a concise summary of your professional accomplishments as they are relevant to the job you are applying for.
• A CV is a comprehensive document that offers in-depth information presenting your relevant academic and professional achievements and are often used when applying for either teaching or research positions. 
• When deciding whether to submit a resume or a CV, you should consider the job role and the geographic location of the position. 

Create the Perfect CV or Resume With BuzzCV!

Now that you know the difference between a CV and a resume, you’re prepared to use the right one depending on the job role you are applying for. But what’s the easiest way to create the perfect CV or resume? With BuzzCV, of course! Check out our free CV templates today to get started and register as a member for free today! 

As a member, you’ll have access to:

• Free CV templates
• Free Cover Letter Templates
• Digital CV
• Digital cover letter
• Personality test
• Job search
• Customer support

And don’t forget to always attach a cover letter to your CV when applying for a job. If you need help writing a cover letter we have the perfect article for you.

It’s not enough to just have a CV these days. You also have to have one with an eye-catching design as well as the right information to let a potential employer know that you’re the right candidate for the job. While many of us have used Microsoft Word in the past to craft a CV, there is now a new way to create a CV that lands you the job of your dreams: online CV builders. 

With an online CV builder, you can really help yourself stand out from the crowd. Best of all, you don’t have to spend any money to create a completely professional-looking resume that is built to impress. There are plenty of great templates out there that you can use based on those that have been used by successful applicants in the past. 

Today will be comparing Word vs Online CV Builders to let you know which is the best choice for creating your CV. We will be comparing each in order to answer which is the best choice when it comes to crafting your CV. With this article, it will soon be clear that the days of opening Microsoft Word and hacking out a CV are long gone- there is now a much better way. Let’s get started!

What is an Online CV Builder?

Before we compare online CV builders with Microsoft Word, it is important that you have a basic idea of what an online CV builder is. Put simply, an online CV builder is an online tool that allows you to create a resume that you can then download, print, and send to potential employers without having to worry about the ever-changing best practices of creating a resume. Most online CV builders will allow you to create a resume completely for free, however, not every online CV builder offers the same features.

Some online CV builders will let you enter your information before allowing you to download a printable version that is ready to be sent to employers. Other online CV builders will also give you the option to create a cover letter as well, and in some of them (like BuzzCV) you’ll even be given the option to create a personal resume website!

Why Online CV Builders Are Better Than Microsoft Word

Now that you know what an online CV builder is and how it works to help you build a professional resume, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of using one. We will also be taking a look at the pros and cons of using Microsoft Word to create your resume so that you have an understanding of why online CV builders are considered the best method. Let’s get started!

The Pros of Using an Online CV Builder

As it turns out, there are many pros associated with using an online CV builder when writing your resume. Online CV builders have become many people’s go-to when creating a winning resume and, as you’ll see, there are many reasons for this.

Minimal to No Technical Knowledge Required

One of the best things about using an online CV builder is the fact that they require little to no technical knowledge to use. Using an online CV builder, you can easily upload your information from a Word document or even enter it yourself manually. You don’t have to worry about formatting your resume, nor do you need to have any knowledge of more technical aspects such as coding knowledge in order to create a complimentary website to go along with it. All you have to do is simply upload your information and the online CV builder will take care of the rest for you!

Online CV Builders Are Low Maintenance

In most cases, online CV builders allow you to create several different versions of your resume that can be tailored specifically to the jobs that you are applying for. Once you’ve created your resume, you can download it and the accompanying website is automatically created for you. Again, there is no need to worry about the more technical aspects as an online CV builder takes care of these components for you.

Online CV Builders Offer Customizable Templates

Although it should be noted that the number of customizable templates varies by platform, almost every online CV builder has at least a few different templates that you can customize to your liking in terms of colors and fonts. You may even be able to choose formats and styles that are best for certain industries. The templates offered by an online CV builder make it easy to design your own resume, both in terms of a printable resume and a resume website.

The Cons of Using an Online CV Builder

As attractive and easy-to-use as online CV builders are, there are a few cons that should be noted in order to offer the most honest comparison between online CV builders and Microsoft Word for building a resume. That being said, the pros of using an online CV builder far outweigh the cons, making it the best option for creating a resume you can be proud of!

Less Control Over Your Content

One of the main drawbacks, for some, when it comes to using an online CV builder is the simple fact that you have less control over your content. The platform that you choose to create your resume could shut down at any point and, if that were to happen, your resume website would be lost and you’d have to start over again from scratch. That being said, the ability to create a resume website with an online CV builder with little to no technical knowledge far outweighs this possibility. 

Templates Are Easily Recognizable

Due to the limited number of templates available on most online CV builders, employers and hiring managers may be able to easily spot when someone is using an online resume template. Although there are plenty of customization options offered, they aren’t always as robust as the options available when creating a resume for yourself. With the time saved creating your resume with an online CV builder, however, this hardly seems like much of a con.

Some Aren’t Free

Finally, it should be noted that while many online CV builders are free, there are some online CV builders that only offer all of their amazing features for paid customers. While you may be able to create a CV for free, some may require that you pay to access all of the features. In most cases, however, these robust features are worth paying a little extra.

The Pros of Using Microsoft Word

Now that you know the pros and cons of using an online CV builder to build your resume and resume website, it’s time to look at Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word was long considered to be the best way to create a professional resume. That is, until online CV builders entered the picture and changed the game entirely. Let’s take a look at some of the pros of using Microsoft Word to create your resume. 

Professional-Looking Format

One of the most difficult parts of creating your resume is often getting the formatting right. Even if you know what you want it to look like, getting the spacing and font sizes all lined up can end up being a giant pain. When using a Microsoft Word template, the guesswork is mostly taken out of the process. Simply pick one and plug in your information.

Built-In Checklist

A Microsoft Word template will also break down all of the sections of your resume for you. From work history and education to skills and personal information, a Microsoft Word resume template will have all of the designated places for you to fill out yourself. This makes it easier to plug in all of your details without forgetting crucial information during the process.

The Cons of Using Microsoft Word

So what’s wrong with using Microsoft Word over an online CV builder to create your resume? It seems like the pros make it an easy choice, after all. That’s where you would be wrong, however. While Microsoft Word may have once been considered the best option for creating a resume, there are some cons that make it an outdated method to use overall.

It’s Harder to Stand Out From the Crowd

For one, when using Microsoft Word to create your resume, hiring managers see dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes each week and most of those are made by someone using a Microsoft Word template. While the templates help you design your resume, what you need to remember is they are also helping millions of other people create their resume the exact same way. When it comes to a job hunt, you don’t want to blend into the crowd. It’s better to stand out. Using a Microsoft Word resume template, it will be much more difficult to do so.

Not Optimized for the ATS

Secondly, Microsoft Word templates are not optimized for the ATS. Most of today’s employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort and rank all of the resumes they receive. If your resume doesn’t hit the right notes for that system, it is likely to end up in the reject pile and the hiring manager may not even see it. Regardless of whether or not you are the best candidate for the job you’re applying for, having a resume that isn’t optimized for the ATS may keep you hidden from prospective employers. This is a big con to consider when it comes to using Microsoft Word over an online CV builder.

Offers Outdated Resume Styles

Finally, if you’re using a Microsoft Word template, you might be using a template that is far outdated. Believe it or not, resumes are constantly evolving. Using a template that isn’t up to speed with the resume rules of today can immediately make you look out of touch. This isn’t the kind of first impression you want to make with a potential employer. Unfortunately, that’s what you’ll get when using a Microsoft Word resume template. 

The Choice is Clear: Use an Online CV Builder

As you can see from weighing the pros and cons of both online CV builders and Microsoft Word, the choice is clear: you should be using an online CV builder to create your resume and resume website. This online tool makes it easier than ever to create a professional-looking resume and resume website without much technical knowledge at all. Best of all, customizable templates make it easy for you to stand out from the crowd! 

Summary

So, in summary, why should you be using an online CV builder to create your resume and resume website?

• Minimal to no technical knowledge required
• Online CV builders are low maintenance
• Online CV builders offer many ultra-customizable templates to use

Create a Winning CV With the Best Online CV Builder: BuzzCV!

Now that you know why online CV builders are the key to creating a winning resume and resume website, it’s time to find one that can do it all for you! Luckily, you’ve already found the best of the best. Buzz CV offers certified resume templates recommended by recruiters and, using our platform, you can create your new CV and download it in as little as 10 minutes. Even further, our platform allows you to easily create a Digital CV/ CV Website without the hassle that can be sent to an employer as a link. This is the best way to represent yourself as a job candidate! Check out our CV templates today to get started and register as a member for free today! 

As a member, you’ll have access to:

• Free CV templates
• Digital CV
• Digital cover letter
• Personality test
• Job search
• Customer support

Online CV builders are the way of the future and there has never been an easier, faster, and hassle-free way to create a winning resume that wows future employers. Register today to become a member and start building your next resume!

Writing a winning resume can be somewhat of a balancing act. Not only do you have to keep your resume fairly short and sweet, but you also have to include enough quality information to make a good first impression with potential employers. Further, when reviewing your credentials, hiring managers will have a particular interest in the skills you possess as a potential employee. For this reason, it is incredibly important to know what is relevant to the job you are applying for when thinking of the skills to list on your resume. And, of course, it’s important that the skills you put in your resume are actually skills that you possess.

At BuzzCV, we know that there is an endless number of skills that you can include on any resume but it’s up to you to decide which ones will be the most effective. It’s crucial to consider that there are skills that make you a more highly qualified employee for a job, ranging from hard, industry-specific skills to those soft skills that virtually every job demands. This begs the question: how do you figure out what the best skills to put in a resume are? Today, we will be answering that very question. We will also be including specific examples to give you a better idea of how to craft the skills section of your resume. Let’s get started!

Top Skills to Put in Your Resume

As highlighted, there are various skills that you should consider putting on your resume ranging from industry-specific skills to soft skills. In this section of the article, we will be detailing the top skills to put in your resume for both industry-specific and soft skills. These are the skills that potential employees like to see in a resume and will give you extra help when communicating your worth as a employee when applying for your next job. 

Top Soft Skills to Put in Your Resume

There are various soft skills that you should consider putting in your resume. These skills are the most common things that employers are looking for in a potential employee regardless of what the job entails specifically. Always include soft skills in your resume when crafting your skills section. So what are some of the most impressive soft skills to include in your resume?

Problem-Solving

Regardless of what the job is, eventually there will be obstacles and your potential employers want to know that you’re well-equipped to handle unexpected issues as they arise. This involves being capable of coming up with a rapid, effective solution to a variety of problems. In fact, there are a multitude of jobs that are centered around nothing but problem-solving, handling issues for the company, clients, or both as they pop up. Make sure that your employers know that you are capable of handling issues, big and small. 

Flexibility

Most companies, industries, and organizations hold an employee that is capable of adapting to any situation in high-esteem. An employee that has the natural ability to use a variety of methods and different approaches according to the circumstance in order to achieve the best end result tend to be the one that rises quickly through the ranks at their company. If you are a flexible employee who is capable of staying light on your feet, adapting to each new situation as it arises, make sure to include this in the skills section of your resume. 

Communication

Communication is one of the most important components of any thriving workplace. For an organization to operate on a daily basis, its team of employees need to have strong communication skills, conversing with each other and keeping conversation open at all times. Whether it is written or verbal, being able to communicate effectively with your boss, co-workers, and clients in all situations is telling of a valuable employee. One of the most important skills any potential employer is looking for in a prospective employee is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. You simply can’t skip listing this skill on your resume if you want to stand out!

Critical Thinking

The basis of critical thinking is the ability to think logically and rationally even in high-pressure situations. Any employer is looking for an employee that can think through a project or problem and determine the best course of action to take. Critical thinkers are adept at coming up with new and better ways to work, making critical thinking an invaluable skill to include in the skills section of your resume. 

Creativity

The ability to think outside of the box and to come up with creative solutions to everyday problems can be a particular asset in any job role. Whether you are good at thinking about things in a way that hasn’t been done before or like to harness your creativity to lighten up the office on an everyday basis, this skill is something your employer should know about you. Be sure to list previous examples of times that you have used your creativity to find the solution to a problem, perhaps through a creative skill such as design or writing. 

Organization

The skill of organization is a must-have for any job role and the ability to stay organized means much more than just keeping your desk neat and tidy. Organization extends to the ability to organize tasks and projects for your coworkers, management, and especially, yourself. One of the best ways to really show of your organization skills is by creating a tightly structured resume so keep that in mind when you create your resume, whether you’re using a CV template (highly recommended) or creating your own structure.

Responsibility

A responsible employee is one that can be depended on by their employer, co-workers, and clients at all times. Part of being a good employee is taking responsibility for your job duties and even owning up to it when you make mistakes. Most managers prefer not to have to check in on their employees constantly to ensure that their job is being done the right way and, as a responsible employee, you ensure that they don’t have to. Responsibility means that you do what you need to do to complete the job tasks that you are responsible for. Don’t leave this soft skill off of your resume!

Attention to Detail

Finally, the last crucial soft skill that we recommend you list on your resume here at BuzzCV is attention to detail. When on the job, you need to ensure that you follow all instructions extensively in order to complete your assigned tasks. This is especially crucial when working with others. The ability to pay attention to the smaller details is essential at any job that you will ever have. The skill of attention to detail is a must for any employer as they consider prospective employees.

Top Industry-Specific Skills to Put in Your Resume

Now that you know some of the most important soft skills to put in a winning resume, it’s time to talk about a few of the top industry-specific skills, or hard skills, that you should consider. These skills tend to be more technical, and each industry or type of job will usually have its own required set. It is important that you research a potential job extensively in order to identify which industry-specific job skills they expect from applicants. Here are a few industry-specific skills that are considered highly valuable in a number of top industries.

Design

Aside from the obvious professions including web or graphic design, there are many jobs in a variety of industries ranging from marketing and advertising to construction that require some degree of design skills. Design skills are highly sought after in employees in a variety of industries so if you consider yourself a design-oriented employee, make sure to list this in the skills section of your resume.

Project Management

Various jobs require project management skills. The ability to complete assignments on time and effectively manage your task flow are essential parts of project management. If you have used project management software in a previous job role or have used project management skills to complete a major project before the established deadline in the past, make sure to list these examples in the skills section of your resume!

Knowledge of Computer Software and Applications

In a world where technology and a knowledge of computer software and applications is essential in a variety of different industries, this is an important industry-specific skill to have. In fact, the list of professions that do not require you to use computers or applications on a daily basis in your job role is incredibly short. Don’t leave this skill out when crafting the skills section of your resume!

Administrative

Even if your job isn’t necessarily administrative in nature, it’s likely a part of your job role in one way or another regardless of industry. Administrative skills involve the ability to organize, plan, schedule, write emails, and manage files, and these skills show potential employers that you are well-equipped to take hold of the details if hired. 

Writing

There are many jobs out there that involve writing to some extent. Whether it’s to clients or co-workers, having a basic writing ability is necessary and an absolute skill that should be included on your resume. After all, emails that are full of typos and grammatical errors will not represent you very professionally in your job role and tend to send the wrong message about your abilities. Demonstrate that you have this skill by crafting a CV that highlights your writing abilities.

Marketing

Finally, even if you are not a marketer per se, many companies desire an employee with marketing skills. Marketing involves selling and promoting products or services. Knowing the benefits and highlights of your company’s products and/or services can be valuable to a slew of different job roles. If you have any specific marketing or social media marketing expertise, that’s even better!

Here are some examples of a few more soft and industry-specific (hard) skills that you may want to include in the skills section of your resume according to Indeed.com’s Career Guide:

Consider the Job Listing

If you’re still unsure about which skills to use after reading our list of soft and industry-specific skills to include in your resume, you can get some help choosing by considering the job listing. Read through the job description for the job you are applying for a few times and you’re likely to notice 3-4 essential skills that the employer is looking for. If this is the case, it’s best to focus on these skills as you create your CV and resume to represent yourself in the best possible light.

How to Create the Skills Section of Your Resume

Now that you know what skills to put in a resume in order to wow potential employers and land yourself the job of your dreams, it’s time to learn how to create the skills section of your resume. There are a few different steps that you should follow to organize the skills section of your resume effectively. Let’s take a closer look at these steps!

Step 1: Sort By Relevance

Let’s say that you’re applying for a job in the sales field. If that’s the case, your prior experience as a hairstylist is likely not the most relevant to this job field. Instead, you’ll want to emphasize experience that is directly applicable to a role in sales. If you lack the experience, however, search through your existing positions for key skills that may be relevant to sales. Always sort by relevance when creating the skills section of your resume!

For example, if you were responsible for working with customer service (scheduling clients and checking them out at the end of their appointment as a hairstylist) this is something that can be an interchangeable skill to a sales role and you can include it in the skills section of your resume. 

Step 2: Add a Highlights Section

Next, it’s important that you add a highlights section to your resume. The resumes of today are structured to be value-oriented and this requires you to provide information that is more achievement-oriented as opposed to strictly task-based. If you have had multiple job roles with varying achievements, for example, select the top four that you are the most proud of and incorporate these into a Career Highlights section on your resume. Keep this section well-structured and organized to demonstrate organizational skills that will prove impressive to potential employers. 

Step 3: Categorize by Job Skill

With either your task-based information or achievements, you can categorize the content into sections to illustrate the diversity in your responsibilities. This is best if you are higher up in your career level and have multiple responsibilities that span several platforms or departments. If you are a manager or director of operations at a company, for example, your responsibilities may include the following: managing staff, communicating with vendors, and hiring and training staff. 

In this case, you’ll want to categorize by job skill in a format that looks similar to the following example:

• Customer Service: Include examples of ways that you have maintained and improved the customer experience at your previous company. 
• Change Management: Include examples of ways that you have effectively restructured staff, developed training programs, or coached employees on the expectations of the company.
• Process Improvements: Include examples of responsibilities and/or achievements related to the creation and implementation of processes centered around improving operational efficiencies.

Summary

In summary, here are a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to what skills to put in a resume:

• Include important soft skills that are highly-desired across a variety of industries
• Include industry-specific (hard) skills that are valuable to employers across a variety of the top industries
• Sort the skills listed in your skills section by relevance to the job you are applying for
• Add a highlights section that provides achievement-oriented examples of your skills
• Categorize and organize the skills section according to job skill, highlighting examples of the ways you used these skills in previous job roles

Perfect Your Resume With BuzzCV! 

At BuzzCV, we offer a variety of cover letter templates that all but guarantee that you will land your dream job. Using our stunning cover letter templates and knowledge of how to create a cover letter and resume that shows off your skills and value as an employee, you have the power to get hired quickly at the price that you name. Check out our cover letter templates and register as a member for free today! As a member, you’ll have access to:

• Free CV templates
• Digital CV
• Digital cover letter
• Personality test
• Job search
• Customer support

Start on your cover letter and resume today with these helpful tips surrounding what skills to put in a resume. You’re sure to land the job of your dreams in no time based off of your valuable job skills! 

For us, it is important to create CV templates that suit everyone’s needs and for this reason we have developed a large selection of free CV templates. A good CV is the first step in the pursuit of your dream job and therefore it is important for us to help you create the perfect CV.

It can be difficult to know what a CV should look like and how it should be structured. With our templates you do not have to think about that and can instead focus on the content to create a well-written and effective CV. 

All templates are created together with recruiters and designers which gives you a professional resume that stands out when you apply to a job. This means that you will be called to more interviews.

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New Updated CV Templates

A good layout and a clear structure on your CV are important and for this reason we have developed several different templates. With our templates, your CV is easy to read, neat and gives the recruiter a good first impression. For us, it is important that our templates suit all different types of employment and therefore we make sure that they are always updated to suit your needs.

The idea of the templates is that all professional groups should be able to use them, and therefore different templates can fit some services better than others. If you are looking for a more creative job you may want to look at one of the more playful templates, while if you are looking for an administrative job can look at one of the templates with a more classical look.

Personalize Your Chosen CV Template

When you have decided which template you want to use, you have the opportunity to make it completely personal by choosing the color of the details, changing the font, changing the text size and rearranging all sections in the CV or adding your own special sections. 

The styling options you choose will never affect your readability or risk ruining your CV. All choices are designed to customize and make your CV personal without losing information. No matter what choices you make, you will still have a professional resume that you can be proud of.

If you ever want to change the template it is very easy, all your information is saved and easily transferred to the new template you choose. You never have to worry about doing the same work twice.

Create a Digital CV

All templates are tested and optimized to work on several types of devices. All templates are therefore perfect to send digitally, but are also made to be able to print if you prefer to give a physical copy to the employer.

There are several benefits to having a digital CV. For example, you can link to your social media directly in your resume which you can easily find with the push of a button. This way you can easily invite recruiters to your social platforms to get a clear overall image of you. Just be careful about the content of the media you are linking to, double check that you do not have any pictures that could risk scaring off potential employers.

Free Cover Letter Templates

In addition to CV templates, we also create free templates for cover letters. Using the templates, you can easily create a matching layout and give a better overall impression with your application. The cover letter template works in the same way as the CV templates and you can easily customize them to your preferences and needs.

In a cover letter, there is more space for free text and a chance to really show who you are. It can be challenging for many to know what to write and therefore we have produced a guide on how to write a cover letter, where you will find everything to inspire and help with the writing process.

Streamline Your Job Search

With our CV builder and our resume templates you streamline your job search and easily get a professional and well-structured resume with a matching personal letter. We are here to make a process, which otherwise can be difficult, smooth and fun. We want to help you easily achieve your dream job!

We wish you the best of luck with your job hunting!

Writing a strong CV is an art and something that is not easy. Therefore, we will help you by listing some of the most important things to consider when writing your CV. Once you have started writing your CV, you can read our CV examples, which you will find at the bottom of the article, for inspiration on how to formulate your CV.

A CV is a personal description of your career to date. Therefore, you need to adapt your CV to your personality and work experience. Below are some simple tips to get a slightly sharper CV that will be interesting to read.

Previous Jobs

List your previous jobs that are most important to the job you are applying to and describe what you did with a few lines. The jobs you have previously held that are not as interesting for the job you are applying to, you place further down in your CV and just fill in the company name, your role and the time you worked there.

Be Relevant

When describing a previous job, it is important that you highlight only tasks that match the new job you are applying for. In your CV you should describe why you are good at the task you are applying to. For example, if you are looking for a job as a salesperson, your previous experience in an administrative role is not something that is of interest to the employer.

Only Include Information the Employer Wants to Hear

Write your CV based on what the employer wants to hear. This is a very important point that many misses when writing a CV. Keep in mind that the employer has an idea of what he/she needs fill a position. You should try to match this in your CV. So, the important thing is not that you describe yourself based on what you think, but that you describe yourself based on what the employer who seeks to fill the position needs.

Brag – But Don’t Lie

You are your own brand, so don’t be afraid to brag. Don’t be shy when writing your CV or cover letter. You should never lie in your CV; the truth always comes out. But highlight your best qualities, your knowledge and your personality and do it a lot. When you apply for a job, you are competing against many others for the same position, so you must describe yourself and why you should get the job. Therefore, you should never be shy and hold back in your CV without highlighting your knowledge and skills makes you the best person for the job and do it with confidence.

Your CV Must Stand Out

In addition to a well-written CV, it is very important that your CV, in terms of appearance, stands out. When the employer goes through all the applications, the first thing he does is notice what a CV looks like, and how it is structured. Therefore, you must have a nice CV that is unique and different from all other applicants. We do not recommend that you write your CV in Word as it is extremely difficult to create a good CV with that program. Instead, use a service that is uniquely designed to create your CV.

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Create Unique Content

Never copy from someone else’s CV or example CV you find online. Your CV is your unique description of yourself and it must also be adapted to the job you are looking for. Therefore, it will never become good enough if you copy someone else’s CV. What you should do, however, is to find inspiration from others and how they have written and described themselves. This way you can improve your CV with new formulations and ideas.

Supplement Your CV With Other Documents

Nowadays, it is not enough to just send your CV to an employer, but you often have to attach other documents as well that show that you are ambitious and the right person for the job. A cover letter must always be attached with your CV. In your cover letter, the employer gets a better picture of you as a person and why you should get the job. In many recruitment processes you will be asked to perform a personality test. Therefore, it may be a good idea to conduct a personality test even before applying to the job. Other good documents that may be good to have ready before applying to a job are grades, reference letters and certifications and diplomas if you have one.

CV Example for Inspiration

Please read the above CV example for inspiration for your own CV. Feel free to test our CV builder when writing your CV. This will give you a good idea for the structure for your CV and you can choose from several CV templates and read several examples.

Good luck with your job hunting!

Writing a CV is no easy task. Whether you’re writing a CV for the first time or updating your old CV, it can be confusing and difficult. To facilitate this difficult task, we at Buzzcv.se together with our professional recruiters have compiled an ultimate guide for you. This is so you don’t have to worry about googling the right information in the jungle of articles on the web.

Our guide is divided into different sections so you can easily skip the parts you feel confident about and focus on what you are struggling with.

Having said that, we wish you the best of luck and we are sure that you will manage this gallantly and get a perfect CV that will give you the dream job.

1. Fundamental Information About CV

1.1 What is a CV?

CV is an abbreviation of the word “curriculum vitae” which is Latin and means “the course of life”. Your CV is thus a historical description of your professional life. By professional life we mean your schooling as well as your work experience.

In Sweden, the word CV is often used synonymously with the English word “resume”. This is wrong as a CV is a short listing of your working life credentials. A CV is an informative document that can contain shorter descriptions of your work experience, education etc.

Having said that, it is important to point out that your CV should not contain too much information and should be kept short. It is often here that confusion arises when “keeping it short” and at the same time being “informative” can be a bit contradictory. But don’t worry too much about that right now. We will explain this in more detail below and you will get a good understanding of how everything is connected.

1.2 What Should A CV Include

By default, it is usually said that a CV should contain the following headings.

• Personal information
• Professional experience
• Education
• Project/Certification
• References

In addition to the standardized headings, you should also have additional headings in your CV to give the employer a better idea of who you are. These headings are.

• Title
• Summary
• Short About Me
• Skills

So, your CV can contain up to 8 different headings depending on how you feel about designing your CV and what you want to include. We will go through the different headings below and what information they should include.

1.3 Cover Letter

We strongly recommend writing a cover letter for every job you apply to. You send the cover letter together with your CV to complement the basic information in the CV. You should use your cover letter to describe, more fully, why you are interested in the service and why you are so good at it. You can see your cover letter as a short, interesting story, which makes the employer extra interested in you.

Please read our guide where you will receive tips and advice on how to write a cover letter.

To clarify this a bit: Imagine that your CV is the document that the employer sees first. Here, the employer sees that you have the right education and work experience to do the job. But your CV does not describe who you are, which means you are still completely anonymous in the eyes of the employer and you do not stand out from other people with similar CVs. This is where your cover letter comes into the picture and explains more fully who you are and creates a greater interest for the employer.

1.4 The Steps to Getting A Job

The most important thing about being able to do something is to understand why you have do what you need to do. Therefore, we offer below an explanation of how the employer looks at the employment process so that you get a better understanding of why you should put down work on your CV.

The employer has posted a job advertisement and receives 100 CVs.

Step 1: The employer reads CV after CV and quickly looks through each CV for about 3-10 seconds. If something captures the employer’s interest, that CV gets about 30 seconds of attention.

Question: What is the easiest way to get the employer’s attention?

Answer: Stand out (visually)! If your CV looks different from the other 99, you will become one of the CVs that the employer spends 30 seconds reading instead of 3.

Conclusion: The appearance of your CV is important to get past step 1.

Step 2: The employer spends 30 seconds on your CV, reads your information and puts it in the “save” pile. In addition to your CV, there are another 5 CVs that fall into the “save” pile. All 6 CVs that are in the “save” pile are people with approximately the same qualifications but only 3 people will be called to an interview.

Question: What can you do to be called to an interview?

Answer: Stand out (informatively)! Hiring a person is a long process and it is important that people who are hired are the right match. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the employer feels commitment as early as possible.

Conclusion: Explain more informatively about who you are and why you are perfect for the job. A good document for this is a cover letter.

Step 3: The Interview. During the interview you will be able to say more about yourself and highlight your personality. If you really want to impress the employer, you can do a personality test and give them your results that show that you are the perfect person for the job.

Also read: Best tips for being called to a job interview

Hopefully, the above steps have given you a better understanding of why it is important to have a visually attractive CV, a well-written CV and a cover letter. Perfect, let’s move on!

2. Begin Writing Your CV

2.1 Personal Information

What is personal information? It is your name, contact information (mail and telephone number), your age and where you live. It is no more advanced than that. The only thing to keep in mind is that your personal information is at the top of your CV.

You do not need to include the title “personal information” in your CV. But in some cases, it may be a good idea to include a title to clarify the structure of the CV.

Personal information – CV template

(If you like the CV, you can click here to use it)

The above CV is a perfect example of a well-structured CV that has the heading “personal information. At the same time, the contact details are also easily accessible at the top of the CV.

2.2 Title of Your CV

All our CV templates have the option to write a title in your CV. This title is not standard based on the norms surrounding CV writing, but we believe it is a great way to make you stand out and give you the opportunity to quickly describe to the employer who you are.

The title of your CV can be used in a way that you think suits you best. If, for example, you are looking for a job as a financial assistant, you can either write “Financial assistant” as the title of your CV to clarify that you are applying for that particular job. Alternatively, you can write something that will make you stand out and create an interest as “Sweden’s sharpest economist”. As you can see, you can use the CV title as you want to suit your needs. We have asked a large number of recruiters about titles in the CV and everyone thinks it is a good idea and something that is innovative.

2.3 Summary

Here you can fill in a short summary of your previous career and where you want to be in the future. You can view this section as a shortened and extremely summarized version of your personal letter. The purpose of this section is to give the employer a quick summary of why you are the right person for the job. You choose if you want to include this section in your CV. If you choose to include it, you should spend time getting a good summary that is interesting. Otherwise, this section may appear negative as your CV will be longer and not as clear. Here you can read an example of a good summary that has a red thread about why the person is applying to the job.

2.4 Short About Me

Here you have the opportunity to describe some brief personal information about yourself. For example, if you have a husband or wife and children. You can bring up any hobby that you are passionate about or something else that can capture the employer’s interest. But remember to keep it very short, preferably just a few sentences. You have the opportunity to talk more about yourself during the job interview.

2.5 Education

You should always include your education in your CV. The views about where to put this information in the CV differ from recruiters to recruiters. Based on our surveys, your education should be early in your CV if you have a degree from a college or vocational training. If you only have a high school diploma, you can put your education after your work experience.

Keep the education section as short as possible. Print out the school name, your program and one or two sentences that describe the education if you think it is needed.

2.6 Work Experience

Work experience is the most important section of your CV and a section that you should spend a lot of time on. This is where you have the opportunity to show the employer that you are right for the job and have the right experience. You can choose to have the order of your previous jobs in different ways. Either you print them in chronological order with your current job first. Alternatively, select only the previous jobs you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

For jobs that are not relevant to the job you are applying for, you can use a bulleted list of years, company names and positions under the heading “Other Jobs”. This is true for both of the above options. See example CV below.

2.7 Projects/Certification

Under this heading you fill in the special projects that you have been involved in and completed or certifications that you want to highlight in your CV. Here you can brag about some relevant relevance to the job you are looking for. The purpose of this heading is mainly to show that you are an ambitious person who is happy to take on demanding tasks. Examples of a certification may be a sales training that you passed. Examples of a project may be a special task that you were responsible for, or were involved with at a previous workplace. A concrete example could be if you were given the task of streamlining a work task and as a result the company saved time.

Try to be creative here and think back to things that you have done before that make you stand out from the crowd and that may be interesting to hear about from an employer.

2.8 Skills

In this section you bring up special skills that you are extraordinarily skilled at. The section is designed as a list and you can choose to have your own “grade” in the form of a number to visually show how good you are at a certain skill. This section is designed to give the employer a quick overview of your skill without having to read much text. In just a second, the employer will know that you are good at, for example, “project management” or if you are a “team player”.

2.9 References

Here you can either fill in the text “References are provided on request” alternatively fill in the name of your reference, his/her position and company. We do not recommend that you fill in any contact information for your references in your CV. This is because you will most likely send your CV to a number of different employers and only a handful of these will lead to an interview. Therefore, you should not unnecessarily spread contact information to your references but only disclose them when an employer asks for them.