CVs serve as a short summary of your key skills, experiences, and qualifications. These documents are the first chance you will get to introduce yourself to a potential employer, so you need to work on them carefully. In this guide, we will look at how you can create a CV online.
Using Online Templates
A simple way to make a CV is to use an online template. A good template will grab the attention of a recruiter and will present your skill, achievements, and work experience in a simple way. The most important details should be very easy to digest. If you work in less creative industries like finance, you will have to go for a template with modest and neutral tones. However, people in creative fields like fashion can go for colourful VC templates. Regardless of your field, you can download a CV template here.
With the right CV template, you will only need to edit in your details. If you pay for the template, you will have more customization options and can enjoy customer support from the provider of the template. When you add your details, you have to ensure that the following elements are present:
- Contact details- This information must be at the top of the CV, and it has to be in a font that is easy to read. You will need to include your phone number, email address, and home address.
- Professional experience- The length of this section will vary depending on the stage of your career. If you are still a student, you will focus more on your academic achievements and should keep this section very short.
- Key skills- This refers to the skills that the employer is looking for. It is advisable to demonstrate the skills using your previous experiences. Showcasing skills that are relevant to the role will show the recruiter that you understand the job you are applying for.
- Personal statement- In some countries like the UK, a personal statement at the top of the CV can introduce your aspirations and achievements. This shouldn’t cover more than 5 lines.
- Hobbies- While hobbies aren’t directly related to the role you will be playing, they help the recruiter determine the kind of person you are. The employer may relate to you more if you share the same hobbies.
Using Word Templates
You can also use CV templates on Word. To do this, you have to launch the program and type ‘Resume’ or ‘Cover Letter’ in the search box. This will reveal many different templates, and you can pick the one which suits you best. Again, you will replace the placeholder details with your own information. The advantage of using Word is that it gives you very many options and features. You can also edit the document for free. However, once you are done editing the document, you should consider converting it to PDF format. Most recruiters prefer this format as it takes less space and is quick to open. It is also easy to open PDF documents on any operating system.
