{"id":1960,"date":"2025-02-16T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-16T12:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careernavig8r.com\/blog\/?p=1960"},"modified":"2025-02-21T12:41:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T12:41:32","slug":"how-to-write-cv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careernavig8r.com\/blog\/how-to-write-cv\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Write & Refine The Perfect CV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Writing a CV can be both one of the most important and most frustrating parts of finding a new job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a skill all of its own and one that often has very little to do with the actual job you\u2019re applying for. After all the years spent training to be a pilot, vet, or financial advisor, now you\u2019ve got to put pen to paper and convince someone that you really are the perfect person for that role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some people are masters of CV writing, it\u2019s not uncommon for a resume to need a little extra time and refinement. Fortunately, there\u2019s a simple step by step process you can follow that will set you on the path to success and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll be sharing today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Formatting & Layout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it might not seem as important as the content, bad formatting can often be disastrous, causing many employers to overlook your resume entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the face of it, you might just think this is about professionality. Although it\u2019s certainly true that an unprofessional looking resume won\u2019t get you very far, there\u2019s actually an even bigger issue at play – one that many first time applicants don\u2019t even know about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When filtering through applications, many companies now use a system called ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to speed up the process and understanding a little about how ATS works is absolutely crucial to formatting your CV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a common misunderstanding about ATS that it makes the decisions for recruiters. This is not strictly true but what it is designed to do is reformat the information in a way that will be easier for recruiters to parse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way most ATS systems work involves scanning an image of the text from left to write. Some will then also convert it to a more convenient format for ease of reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let\u2019s say you\u2019ve put together a beautiful looking CV. At the top you\u2019ve got a nice headshot. You\u2019ve split your page into two columns with periodic subheadings denoting the various sections. From a graphic design perspective it\u2019s very appealing. For anyone using an ATS system, it\u2019s a bit of a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only will the ATS jumble up your text by reading both columns as if they were one line, but that photo will then also play havoc. What the recruiter will see is a garbled mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Now, that\u2019s not to say they don\u2019t know why this happens and some dedicated recruiters may take the time to piece your CV together or go and find the original document, assuming they like what they see. That said, it\u2019s not a good idea to expect this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to make life easier for your potential recruiter – and you really should – then here are some points to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n