This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
When it comes to job hunting, a well-written CV is often the first point of contact between a candidate and a potential employer. According to Kathryn Vasel, a business writer at CNN, you have a mere seven seconds to make a lasting impression.
"Those first seven seconds someone spends on your resume are the deciding seconds on whether they like you or not," Vasel notes. "They spend the rest of the time trying to corroborate that first impression," adds Olivia Jaras, the founder of Salary Coaching for Women.
With this in mind, Forbes offers the following five tips for writing a compelling CV:
- Be detailed and provide specific examples of your experience and skills.
- Prioritize relevant experience and highlight achievements that align with the job requirements.
- Use action words and verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Keep your header simple and easy to read.
- Include a brief summary and a section on personal information.
As Jaras emphasizes, a good CV should have a subtle tone and avoid coming across as pushy or aggressive. "A good resume doesn’t sound too pushy, aggressive or assertive. It’s a more subtle energy," she says.
