Basics and core sections of a CV

But before I begin, there is a couple of things that many of you need to know:

  • There is no 1 strict or standard international way of writing a resume.
  • The length of a resume is usually 1-2 pages depending on person’s seniority level.

When writing your CV:

  1. First and most importantly, make sure your name + family name (ONLY, NO FATHER’S NAME) are written in a large, clear, and capital font at the very top of your CV. You don’t want recruiters to be searching for your name the moment they hold your CV, it happened to me once and that’s a disaster!
  2. When stating your personal info, make sure to put your email, telephone number, and just the city/country of residence. Nationality is also recommended if applying to countries abroad that need visa permits.
  3. Start with a short summary showcasing who you are, what you do, and what you’re aiming for.
  4. Mention your Education or Work Experience. The stronger one always goes first.
  5. Under work experience, use bullet points of your main achievements and duties in every job you had. Make sure not to exceed around a max of 5-6 points.
  6. If you have any certificates, mention them.
  7. State any voluntary/ social work, internships, and professional programs you involved in.
  8. Mention all your hard and soft skills that you have (ex: computer, presentation, communication etc…)
  9. state your extracurricular activities. If you Belong to a sports team or a social club or movement. These are always an advantage for your CV.
  10. Languages

Some notes to keep in mind:
If you worked in a place for a short period of time (2-3months only) do not mention it on your CV, it’s not worth it. Recruiters might start questioning this.

  1. Make sure to put everything in chronological order from most recent to the oldest in time.
  2. Be consistent in your Layout!! Stick to one font and letter size for every title or description across the whole CV. Don’t use flashy colors or some drawings. The design and shape of the CV is very important, must be clear, straightforward, and organized.
  3. Try not to make any major vocab or grammar mistakes.
  4. Do not state any references in your CV, if a company asks for them then you send them contacts references separately.
  5. Last but not least, When sending your CV or uploading it in an application, always keep it in PDF format rather than word.