How to create an impressive CV or Resume ? What a CV should contain and what it should not?
Making a to-the-specific and to-the-point document (resume/CV) that represents you, is not so hard. Even it doesn't requires professional's touch too. Whenever you start writing your CV, read and read your materials with recruiter’s eyes.
A resume is shorter than CV and it should be lasted in 2-3 pages maximum, where as a CV for experienced person should not be more than 4-5 pages. Always remember, profile shortlisting is not an hour job but it is done in few minutes or better in seconds. So, you need to show your skills and exposure in such a fashion that can be easily scrutinize by recruiters and your CV can get shortlisted. Don’t increase the paper weight with your experience years but smartly show your ability & skills so that your CV can be picked in not more than 30-40 seconds.
Following important points should be kept in mind while making CV –
Objective is not necessary, so no need to have it.
I have seen, most of peoples put an Objective section in their CVs at top and put some impressive line(s). Do you think recruiter would get enough convinced and impressed with your these lines and keep you in privileged? Not at all. I agree that your CV should be qualitative so that it can get shortlisted but you would also agree that shortlisting of CV doesn't guarantee you for the position. It is your knowledge and exposure that make you able to get a job.
Summarize your profile at beginning but it shouldn't be a big list.
Don’t get started adding summary in a list that is already under your Projects, Education, Experience section. You should take care and awareness while adding your profile summary.
It can be more related with the job you are seeking like domain expertise, and skill expertise. I have seen most of peoples make a big list/paragraph with their technical skills and projects. It is not required at all as it is already in trailing pages of your CV.
Don’t put your all projects in your CV but mention few projects you have worked on that matches or relates with the skills and domain for which you are applying
If you have worked around 10-15 big projects, then mentioning all them would be like writing history and off-course no one has so much time to go through page by page. Instead, mention your 4-5 projects only(best fit for skill set & domain) that can help you to be a good candidate for the position you are applying for. Also, don’t forget to mention that you are listing only relevant and current project and not all.
Don’t put your much personal details like how many brother/sister you have, your name etc. It is all about to increase the length of CV.
It is not required at all. You are just wasting your paper and time of CV reviewers.
Keep a section for special training if any you have attended during your tenure with any employer, or yourself.
Some employers, provide special training to their employees on time to time. You should attend these training. It shows your awareness about update on latest trends and seriousness. Also, sometime it add a value in consideration.
Whether CV should contain your Social Media Accounts or not
No, if you are applying for core development/testing stream.
Yes, if you are in SEO, HR or where social links help in business.
Keep only related skills, and unnecessarily don’t show a big list of skills
This is very important. Most of peoples mentions so many skill-set even those are not related/matched with the job profile they are applying for. Please remove all those and keep your list more relevant.
Don’t decorate your CV so much
Even if you are good at paint brush, do not decorate your resume or CV. Make it simple and to-the-point.
Mention your awards if you have been awarded
It shows your activeness, so you can put this information. But, again it should be related with the position you are applying for, otherwise better to not have it.