Before applying for a job, having an organised curriculum vitae (CV) is key as it provides a summary of your experience, academic background, and learning experience, among others. Therefore, there are a number of things that are important in your CV.

Impression

According to Moureen Mutiso, a human resource practitioner and media personality in Kigali, usually when applying for any job, your CV will always land in the inbox of a very busy recruiter. He or she will probably be looking through lots of other CVs. Which is why you need to impress them within the shortest time.

But first, for you to grab their attention and ensure that they read your CV in full, you must always hook them with a punchy introductory paragraph.

"Always remember to sell yourself in your profile. You only have a few seconds to get your message across, therefore, write a persuasive paragraph that tells people why they should hire you. Don’t be afraid to brag a little, and tailor your profile to the jobs you are applying for,” she notes.

Mutiso adds that your CV should entail your name and contact details, this should be placed at the top so nobody misses them. It must also have a profile or personal statement, core skills section, abilities, work experience, education and qualifications, not to forget hobbies and interests.

Make it specific

According to Ajax Mbayiha, an entrepreneur and IT expert, many job applicants use the same CV when applying for multiple roles. Yes, your experience never changes, however, a CV is often one or two pages (maximum), hence, you cannot go into depth for each experience gained.

You must tailor your CV to highlight the key aspects of those experiences which apply most for the role you are applying for, those aspects which will attract the respective employers and set you apart from the grain, he adds.

Aesthetics are key

Mbayiha explains that your CV is a reflection of you as a person. Employers are not looking for a jam-packed, disorganised, aesthetically displeasing document in the same way they would not expect those qualities from you as an individual. As the saying goes "first impressions last”, CV is your chance to impress and will (most probably) be your first encounter with the recruiter or employer. Keep it clean, crisp, to the point and well-presented.

Add a personal statement

"Similar to the point above, the employer is using this chance to understand you better as a person. Experience is necessary, but you are more than your career! Make sure to include a short statement explaining some of your interests (field-related), some of your strengths as a result of your experiences and your career goals,” he states.

He says use a tailored statement to show your passion for the industry and summarise why you are a great fit for the organisation. Remember to keep it short.

Ensure contact details are clear

Mbayiha says that it may sound obvious, but he has come across numerous CVs without basic information such as full name, phone number and email address.

Granted, these may be provided through the medium used to find the opportunity (recruitment platforms, emails and so forth), however, oftentimes, recruiters find themselves reading through hundreds of applications and simply do not have the time to look through emails and LinkedIn profiles for these basic details, he says.

Additionally, this is beneficial when networking and you are required to provide physical copies of your CV – once the event has passed, recruiters may wish to contact you for further information if something from your CV speaks to them, he concludes.