how to write a cv

Whether you’re applying for your first job after college or want to shift careers later in life, writing your CV properly can make a world of difference. How to write a CV properly is an art form, and platforms like Jobs OneGlobe understand this.

It’s why we’ve designed a professional CV builder which you can use to properly present yourself to potential employers worldwide by systematically learning how to write a CV. Even though our CV builder will do much of the heavy lifting for you, there’s still plenty that you can do to make your job hunt shorter.

According to data, 75% of employers caught lies in CV, with 72% of CV errors coming from skill miscommunication. 69% of CVs have also been shown to miss certain accomplishments which candidates simply deemed unimportant for their desired job position.

These are situations and scenarios which you want to avoid as a prospective employee looking for a job abroad at all costs. Let’s take a look at how to write a CV properly and land a job on Jobs OneGlobe much more effectively.

What is a CV All About?

What goes into writing a CV for a successful job search? Let’s start by addressing what a CV is. According to Cambridge Dictionary, curriculum vitae is “a short, written description of your education, qualification, previous jobs, and sometimes personal interests, that you send to an employer when you are trying to get a job”.

In practice, the definition of a CV can be stretched to also include portfolio pieces, references, and other ancillary materials depending on the profession. For example, designers can include representative artwork or developers can attach projects or code snippets they wrote in previous projects.

How to write a CV mostly comes down to what individual employers are asking for in their job listings. Why is it important to write a CV properly the first time around? Published findings indicate that 54% of job candidates don’t tailor their CVs to individual job listings’ requirements. 34% of employers pass on CVs with little or no measurable results or KPIs present in previous employment or professional experiences.

Why is Writing a CV Properly Important for You?

The importance of how to write a CV the right way to get hired cannot be overstated. So, how can Jobs OneGlobe help you write your CV properly? Jobs OneGlobe features a professional CV builder built in close collaboration with HR professionals. Their deep insight and expertise on what employers want to see in candidates’ CVs were invaluable and instrumental in building our platform.

For you, this means that the process of creating a CV has never been as simple as it is on Jobs OneGlobe. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how to write a CV on Jobs OneGlobe and land the job you want more easily than ever before.

How to Write a CV on Jobs OneGlobe The Right Way

1. Attach a Representative Image of Yourself to the CV

One of the most fundamental mistakes most people make when writing their CV concerns their profile image. It’s not a good idea to use an inappropriate, casual photo for your CV. Instead, try to find a photograph that is adequate for the job position you’re applying for.

For example, applying for corporate positions such as in finance or sales might constitute more formal images, such as in a suit or a formal dress. Artists, designers, and other more dynamic and lax job positions don’t require this, so you can use a less formal but still professional image. The photo you choose will be your employers’ first impression of you beyond your skills and experiences – choose a good one.

2. Go into Detail on your Professional and Education Background

You can never provide potential employers with too many details about your professional or educational background. Depending on the position you’re applying for, you can accentuate certain experiences more than others to create a more focused CV.

How to write a CV is all about catering to what certain employers want to see from you. These are the job application mistakes you want to avoid. This is also why Jobs OneGlobe allows you to create several versions of your CV for different job positions. Such an approach allows you to apply for different job listings from a variety of angles to land the job you want far more easily.

3. List your Soft and Hard Skills to Encourage Employers to Hire You

Both soft and hard skills are equally valuable when applying for a new job. Whether you’re an IT expert, a marketing specialist, or a sales manager, your employer will want to know about soft and hard skills. Hard skills relate to skills closely tied to your profession. In the case of sales management, hard skills would constitute the use of certain sales platforms or sales methodologies.

Soft skills on the other hand describe skills that are related to interpersonal communication and collaboration. Team management, problem-solving mindset, and public speaking are all good examples of soft skills. When learning how to write a CV with Jobs OneGlobe, list both soft and hard skills and be honest about them. Your employer will quickly spot whether you’ve been truthful about your expertise or not, so it’s best to keep things professional.

4. Outline your Languages Proficiency to Appeal to Employers Abroad

Languages make the world spin. Without English, Spanish, German, or Chinese, we’d never be able to communicate with people abroad or migrate for professional reasons. You can land jobs more easily if you outline your language proficiency in the CV. Jobs OneGlobe took a proactive step to split language proficiency into verbal and written communication, A1 to C2.

This means that you can clearly explain your language proficiency to would-be employers without relying on rudimentary numeric scales or star ratings. Referring to any official certification or diplomas you may have acquired concerning language proficiency is also a step in the right direction. Official documents are always a welcome addition to your CV as they can legitimize any claims you’ve made to the employers.

5. Describe Yourself in a Few Sentences to Add Personality to your CV

What differentiates five software developers from one another? We all have distinct personality traits and lifestyles which separate us from other people. Believe it or not, your potential employers care about this. Employers often want to hire people who share their worldviews, interests, and belief in different social causes.

This is especially true for companies and NGOs whose core mission relates to certain lifestyle choices, such as veganism or LGBTQ+ activism. Use the opportunity to describe yourself, your interests, and your hobbies in a few short sentences. This will add flavor to your CV and make you a distinct candidate worth getting in touch with.

6. Include Any References, Diplomas, or Certificates as Proof of Expertise

Speaking of how to write a CV the right way, it’s never a good idea to claim certain things about your professional or educational background without proof. For example, stating that you’ve graduated from a university’s Master’s program without presenting proof of that isn’t a great idea. That’s why with Jobs OneGlobe, you have the opportunity to attach any documentation related to your CV as an extra.

Diplomas, certificates, and other references can be extremely beneficial for your employment prospects. Many job vacancies explicitly ask for specific credentials and diplomas as a requirement for example. This is most evident in specialized fields like healthcare or finance where certification is a must. Take the time to collect and attach any ancillary documentation you may have to boost your odds at landing the job you want.

7. Always Spellcheck your Data, Especially When Transliterating

If you’re applying for work abroad, chances are that you will have to transliterate some of your data into English. Languages like Russian, Greek, Chinese, or Arabic use special character sets specific to their linguistic roots. Presenting potential employers across Europe or the US with your original data may not be the best idea.

How to write a CV is all about adapting your approach, and the best way to do that is to transliterate your data. According to Google, “transliteration refers to the method of mapping from one system of writing to another based on phonetic similarity”. In other words, you should convert your data from your original language system into English for more effective intercultural communication. This will be seen as a proactive move and get you a step closer to the perfect job vacancy.

8. Ensure your Social Media Profiles are Representative

One of the fundamental changes brought on by modern hiring processes is the fact that employers now check their potential employees’ social media handles. If you have profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other public social media platforms, double-check them. Make sure that all the data you’ve provided in your CV matches whatever is present on those pages.

Try to clean up your socials and delete any inappropriate or incriminating photos, posts, or statements. Many employers will steer clear of controversial employees who are outspoken about certain issues or social causes. The current vaccination culture and the global pandemic is only the latest public topic to fall into that category. Spruce up your profiles before applying for work and attach those handles to show that you know how to write a CV in 2022.

9. Double-Check your Contact Information

When applying for work, you must outline your exact contact information for prospective employers. It is one of the fundamentals of how to write a CV properly and get employed fast. Double-check your phone, email, social media, and any other contact information you’ve attached.

Once the CV is done, you should keep tabs on those communication channels to answer employer messages as quickly as possible. Writing wrong contact information or omitting it outright will severely hinder your employment efforts. Learn how to write a CV better by starting with your contact information and making sure it is 100% correct.

10. Update your CV as you Gain New Skills and Competencies

Finally, when you’re satisfied with how to write a CV for yourself, you should start applying for work. Some job listings will require you to expand on your skills and competencies, however. In this case, you should use your free time to acquire more skills and certifications for better employment prospects. Jobs OneGlobe allows you to constantly update your CV or create entirely new ones under your name.

Adding more and more interesting things to how to write a CV will make you more appealing to employers looking for job candidates. Moreover, it will showcase that you are a learner and a proactive professional, traits that are valued highly in the corporate sector. Update your CV whenever you have something new to add or want to reformat, rewrite, or fix certain aspects of it. Don’t stop iterating and developing your CV until you land the job you want. Even then, there’s room for improvement in how to write a CV even more professionally.

Learning How to Write a CV and Landing the Right Job (Conclusion)

Knowing how to write a CV is one of the most useful skills you can acquire. With Jobs OneGlobe, it is easy not only to create your CV but also to put it into practice. Visit oneglobe.life and start exploring what we can do for you.

Whether you’re someone looking for work abroad or want to find great job candidates from around the world, Jobs OneGlobe can meet those needs. We’re here to pair talent with opportunity, wherever you are, whatever your professional plans may be. How to write a CV is at the heart of that process.

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