All About Writing a CV - CV Writing Guide Kenya

What is a CV?

Curriculum Vitae: an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications (L, lit.: the course of one's life). Another name for a CV is a résumé.

A CV is the most flexible and convenient way to make applications. It conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers. It can be used to make multiple applications to employers in a specific career area. For this reason, many large graduate recruiters will not accept CVs and instead use their own application form. 

An application form is designed to bring out the essential information and personal qualities that the employer requires and does not allow you to gloss over your weaker points as a CV does. In addition, the time needed to fill out these forms is seen as a reflection of your commitment to the career. 

There is no "one best way" to construct a CV; it is your document and can be structured as you wish within the basic framework below. It can be on paper or on-line or even on a T-shirt (a gimmicky approach that might work for "creative" jobs but not generally advised!). 

When should a CV be used?

1. When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format.
2. When an employer simply states "apply to ..." without specifying the format.
3. When making speculative applications (when writing to an employer who has not advertised a vacancy but who you hope may have one).

What information should a CV include?

Personal details

Normally these would be your name, address, date of birth (although with age discrimination laws now in force this isn't essential), telephone number and email. 

British CVs don't usually include a photograph unless you are an actor. In European countries such as France, Belgium and Germany it’s common for CVs to include a passport-sized photograph in the top right-hand corner whereas in the UK and the USA photographs are frowned upon as this may contravene equal opportunity legislation - a photograph makes it easier to reject a candidate on grounds of ethnicity, sex or age. If you do include a photograph it should be a head and shoulders shot, you should be dressed suitably and smiling: it's not for a passport! 

Education and qualifications 

Your degree subject and university, plus A levels or O levels and GCSEs or equivalents. Mention grades unless poor!

Work experience 

Use action words such as developed, planned and organised.

Even work in a shop, bar or restaurant will involve working in a team, providing a quality service to customers, and dealing tactfully with complaints. Don't mention the routine, non-people tasks (cleaning the tables) unless you are applying for a casual summer job in a restaurant or similar.

Try to relate the skills to the job. A finance job will involve numeracy, analytical and problem solving skills so focus on these whereas for a marketing role you would place a bit more more emphasis on persuading and negotiating skills. 

All of my work experiences have involved working within a team-based culture. This involved planning, organisation, coordination and commitment e.g., in retail, this ensured daily sales targets were met, a fair distribution of tasks and effective communication amongst all staff members.

Interests and achievements 

Keep this section short and to the point. As you grow older, your employment record will take precedence and interests will typically diminish greatly in length and importance.

Bullets can be used to separate interests into different types: sporting, creative etc.

Don't use the old boring cliches here: "socialising with friends".

Don't put many passive, solitary hobbies (reading, watching TV, stamp collecting) or you may be perceived as lacking people skills. If you do put these, then say what you read or watch: "I particularly enjoy Dickens, for the vivid insights you get into life in Victorian times".

Show a range of interests to avoid coming across as narrow: if everything centres around sport they may wonder if you could hold a conversation with a client who wasn't interested in sport.

Hobbies that are a little out of the ordinary can help you to stand out from the crowd: skydiving or mountaineering can show a sense of wanting to stretch yourself and an ability to rely on yourself in demanding situations

Any interests relevant to the job are worth mentioning: current affairs if you wish to be a journalist; a fantasy share portfolio such as Bullbearings if you want to work in finance.

Any evidence of leadership is important to mention: captain or coach of a sports team, course representative, chair of a student society, scout leader: "As captain of the school cricket team, I had to set a positive example, motivate and coach players and think on my feet when making bowling and field position changes, often in tense situations"

Anything showing evidence of employability skills such as team working, organising, planning, persuading, negotiating etc. 

Skills 

The usual ones to mention are languages (good conversational French, basic Spanish), computing (e.g. "good working knowledge of MS Access and Excel, plus basic web page design skills" and driving ("full current clean driving licence").

If you are a mature candidate or have lots of relevant skills to offer, a skills-based CV may work for you 

References

Many employers don’t check references at the application stage so unless the vacancy specifically requests referees it's fine to omit this section completely if you are running short of space or to say "References are available on request."

 

Normally two referees are sufficient: one academic (perhaps your tutor or a project supervisor) and one from an employer (perhaps your last part-time or summer job). See our page on Choosing and Using Referees for more help with this.

The order and the emphasis will depend on what you are applying for and what you have to offer. For example, the example media CV lists the candidate's relevant work experience first. 

If you are applying for more than one type of work, you should have a different CV tailored to each career area, highlighting different aspects of your skills and experience.

A personal profile at the start of the CV can work for jobs in competitive industries such as the media or advertising, to help you to stand out from the crowd. If used, it needs to be original and well written. Don’t just use the usual hackneyed expressions: “I am an excellent communicator who works well in a team…… “

What makes a good CV?

There is no single "correct" way to write and present a CV but the following general rules apply:

It is targeted on the specific job or career area for which you are applying and brings out the relevant skills you have to offer 

It is carefully and clearly laid out: logically ordered, easy to read and not cramped 

It is informative but concise 

It is accurate in content, spelling and grammar. If you mention attention to detail as a skill, make sure your spelling and grammar is perfect!

If your CV is written backwards on pink polka dot paper and it gets you regular interviews, it's a good CV! The bottom line is that if it's producing results don't change it too much but if it's not, keep changing it until it does. 

If it's not working, ask people to look at it and suggest changes. Having said this, if you use the example CVs in these pages as a starting point, you are unlikely to go far wrong.

What mistakes do candidates make on their CV?

One survey of employers found the following mistakes were most common

·      Spelling and grammar 56% of employers found this

·      Not tailored to the job 21%

·      Length not right & poor work history 16%

·      Poor format and no use of bullets 11%

·      No accomplishments 9%

·      Contact & email problems 8%

·      Objective/profile was too vague 5%

·      Lying 2%

·      Having a photo 1%

·      Others 3% (listing all memberships, listing personal hobbies, using abbreviations)

How long should a CV be?

There are no absolute rules but, in general, a new graduate's CV should cover no more than two sides of A4 paper.

If you can summarise your career history comfortably on a single side, this is fine and has advantages when you are making speculative applications and need to put yourself across concisely. However, you should not leave out important items, or crowd your text too closely together in order to fit it onto that single side. Academic and technical CVs may be much longer: up to 4 or 5 sides. 

How do I get my CV down to two pages from three?

First change your margins in MS Word to Page Layout / Margins/ Narrow - this will set your margins to 1.27 cm which are big enough not to look cramped, but give you extra space. 

Secondly change your body font to Lucida Sans in 10 pts size. Lucida Sans is a modern font which has been designed for clarity on a computer screen. For more on fonts see here A good rule of thumb is to have your name in about 18 points, your subheadings such as education and work experience in 14 points and your body font as 10 points. 

Use tables with two or three columns for your academic results and references. See a CV using tables for modules and references here and an explanation of how to do this here

Use bullets for content, rather than long paragraphs of text. (See the box to the right)

Finally set line spacings to single space

If after all these tricks you are still on three pages you have to be ruthless with your content: read every single word and remove it if it doesn't add value to your CV!

The one page lean and mean CV!

In certain sectors such as investment banking, management consultancy and top law firms, a one page CV, highly focused, highly objective CV, now seems to be preferred. All of these areas have in common that they are highly competitive to enter and it may be that selectors, faced with so many CVs to work through prefer a shorter CV. 

There is no point putting lots of detailed information into a CV which doesn't add any value, and in fact, just dilutes the impact. This is called the presenter's paradox. These CVs normally have lots of single line bullets and no personal statement at the beginning. They are fully of factual, as opposed to subjective, content. You must make every word count. They focus on achievements, initiative and responsibilities more than on tasks and duties. When carefully designed, these can be the very best CVs, but also the hardest to write! 

Tips on presentation 

Your CV should be carefully and clearly laid out - not too cramped but not with large empty spaces either. Use bold and italic typefaces for headings and important information

Never back a CV - each page should be on a separate sheet of paper. It's a good idea to put your name in the footer area so that it appears on each sheet. 

Be concise: a CV is an appetizer and should not give the reader indigestion. Don't feel that you have to list every exam you have ever taken, or every activity you have ever been involved in - consider which are the most relevant and/or impressive. The best CVs tend to be fairly economical with words, selecting the most important information and leaving a little something for the interview: they are an appetiser rather than the main course. Good business communications tend to be short and to the point, focusing on key facts and your CV should to some extent emulate this. The longer and denser your CV is, the harder it is for an employer to comprehend your achievements. As Mark Twain said: “If only I had more time, I would write thee a shorter letter”. 

Be positive - put yourself over confidently and highlight your strong points. For example, when listing your A-levels, put your highest grade first. 

Be honest: although a CV does allow you to omit details (such as exam resits) which you would prefer the employer not to know about, you should never give inaccurate or misleading information. CVs are not legal documents and you can't be held liable for anything within, but if a recruiter picks up a suggestion of falsehoods you will be rapidly rejected. An application form which you have signed to confirm that the contents are true is however a legal document and forms part of your contract of employment if you are recruited.

The sweet spot of a CV is the area selectors tend to pay most attention to: this is typically around the upper middle of the first page, so make sure that this area contains essential information.

If you are posting your CV, don't fold it - put it in a full-size A4 envelope so that it doesn't arrive creased.

Contact Robert for your cv today by text, call or whatsapp on 0722661827 or email us on Rmuhoho@gmail.com

Which are the Most Successful CV Writing Formats?

Most effective CV writing Formats: Each individual possesses a unique set of talents, skills, abilities, experience, and training; as a result, one must consider all factors in order to determine the best strategy.

Although there are dozens of different formats, a CV will fit one of three basic categories: Chronological, Functional, and Combination.

Chronological

A chronological format emphasizes professional experience; however, it is best if a chronological CV utilizes a focused summary of qualifications that quickly conveys essential skills to an employer. This provides an opportunity to immediately capture attention through vital keywords and employer-centric language, thereby ensuring you make a strong first impression during the critical 15-second initial human screening.

Without a summary of qualifications, the chronological format can be risky as it will simply stress the past rather than target your goals and the employer's needs. With potentially hundreds of CVs to review, the employer cannot be burdened with interpreting a candidate's work history during the few seconds of an initial screen. Rather, the summary of qualifications does the work, ensuring you get the attention you deserve...and that relevant skills won't be missed.

Generally, the chronological format works well if one's past employment meets certain criteria, including:

The work history directly relates to the targeted position; ideally the history will show progressive responsibility in a specific career direction.

The years of experience fall within a marketable range and include present (or very recent) employment.

When work history is not directly related to one's current employment objective, a Combination format is likely the best approach.

Functional

This largely obsolete format seeks to present qualifications that relate to the targeted position by focusing on skills and qualifications only; this is achieved by using functional headings that are strategically developed around one's transferable skills without developing details about the work history. If work history is presented, it is generally only as a simple list at the end of the CV.

The traditional functional format was historically used to hide unfavorable elements in a candidate's employment history, so it is often viewed with extreme caution by human resource and management professionals. In particular, they may wonder what the candidate is trying to hide, especially when the work history is omitted entirely (which we do not recommend).

While the functional format was once considered effective if a job seeker's current employment objectives were completely unrelated to his or her work history, recent advances in CV parsing (screening) technology make it impossible for a functional CV to survive in most online job boards or employer applicant tracking systems. Virtually the only time a functional CV may be effective is when the CV will be delivered directly to the hiring manager and there is no chance that a CV parsing system will be applied. Even then, it is best to avoid combining non-complementary skills (e.g., truck driving and office management) as doing so simply conveys a lack of focus.

In most cases where one is considering a Functional approach, a Combination/Hybrid format will prove to be more effective.

Combination/Hybrid

The combination format incorporates the functional treatment's strengths without posing the same risk; it, too, will demonstrate, at the beginning of the CV, a candidate’s key strengths, skills, and core competencies that are strategically developed around one's career goals and transferable skills (if applicable), thereby placing greater emphasis on one's overall skill set. Unlike the functional style, the combination CV includes details of the work history, including responsibilities, dates, contributions, and achievements. This makes the combination format superior, except in extremely rare circumstances, to the traditional functional format.

While in most instances the combination format is the best choice for the majority of job seekers—it quickly illustrates one’s core skills in the 15-second human scan—it also works best in CV parsing systems where recent work history lacks a direct correlation to current employment objectives (such as with new graduates or those changing careers). By demonstrating, through functional headings, relevant skills, education, training, and accomplishments, the connection between your transferable skills and the targeted position will be clear.

You can get in touch with the CV Makers company to make your cv today. I have previously used them and they do a wonderful job in matching work experience and education to new job requirements. The CV they made for me was concise and straight to the point and I got a job on my second Interview. The guy to talk to is Robert and I found him to be very helpful and very much on point. He actually made my CV in an afternoon. His number was 0722661827 (I hope he has retained it since-its been 2 years now) and email was rmuhoho@gmail.com

How to Write a Job-Getting CV in Kenya - Best CV Writing Help

One of the most important tools in a job seeker's arsenal — and possibly the one that is treated most casually by the job seeker — is the CV. How well could a carpenter perform with a broken hammer, or a surgeon with a faulty instrument? Likewise, landing the job that’s right for you will be far more difficult without a powerful, accurately targeted marketing tool.

Crafting an effective CV requires stepping back, making objective assessments of oneself, being organized, and writing well.

Where to Start

Before sitting down to write your CV, it is best to have a clear plan. As a result, it will be helpful to consider the following:

Find your direction

As you would for any journey, decide where you want to go. The more specific you can make this decision, the better. If you have been a widget-maker all your life and you wish to continue in this field, the decision is simple; if you want to switch to making thingamajigs, you will need to dig a little deeper and possibly do some in-depth personal assessments.

Once you have decided upon a goal, you have a CV target. This will guide you in selecting the details that match (as closely as possible) the requirements of the type of position you seek.

Uncover your qualifications and accomplishments

Identify the information you will be using including work history, education and/or training, certifications, accomplishments, strengths, etc. Keep in mind that your accomplishments and strengths help ensure you stand out from other candidates with similar skills; therefore, it is essential to draw out those most relevant to the position you are targeting so that you may showcase them in your summary and work history.

Many people, surprisingly enough, have difficulty recognizing their strengths and completely overlook some of the best accomplishments they have to offer. The trick to uncovering these key points involves looking at what you do (and/or have done) from the employer's point of view: How have your actions benefited the organization?

Everyone has accomplishments, yet often we are unaware of them. If you are particularly proud of something you have done, it is probably an accomplishment. Also, it can help to think in terms of challenge / action / result: What challenge existed? What action did you take? What was the result? If you can quantify the results — by using percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames, for instance — you will give your CV more authority and "punch" when an employer reviews it.

Consider the visual elements

Determine the design of your CV. If you generally submit a CV utilizing 8-point font and quarter-inch margins on all sides (a mistake often made by those who believe in the one-page myth), objectively assess the entire document. Will it stand out in a stack of CVs? Will your skills, strengths, and goals be quickly and easily identified?

White space can be used to your advantage. In fact, if you are at a mid-career level, a two-page CV is most common; and executives or those at highly experienced levels may find a two- or three-page CV is appropriate (depending upon your history and goals).

The idea is that you need not be concerned about keeping your CV to one page. It is more important that you present your most relevant qualifications and strengths in a clear and concise manner that maximizes the impact.

As You Craft...

Now that you have a plan, the next step involves crafting the CV; it is important to keep these fundamental strategies in mind:

The 15-second review

Employers are likely to spend only about 10-20 seconds on the initial pass. Your objective is to capture his/her attention while encouraging a more in-depth reading. This can be a valuable guide when deciding what to include in the summary and what to eliminate: Will it have enough impact to pass this rule?

The basic elements of an effective CV will include:

1. A clean, visually appealing appearance that invites tired eyes to read.
2. A dynamic and powerful summary of qualifications that targets the position requirements.
3. Accomplishments emphasized in the initial summary and/or work history.
4. Keywords and phrases appropriately placed throughout the document.
5. A strong, well-written work history that highlights the last 10-15 years; earlier positions may be included in condensed fashion unless the skills are particularly relevant to your current goals.
6. A section highlighting education, professional development (workshops, seminars, or other training that relates to your job goal), and other relevant certifications, publications, etc.
7. Depending on your level, field, and goals, a table or list of specific technical skills may prove beneficial.

Summary of qualifications

Think of this as the "headline" to the "advertisement" that will "sell" you to the employer. Select your top skills, abilities, and strengths while ensuring they pertain directly to the type of job you are pursuing.

While it is critical to align your qualifications with the type of positions you are pursuing, quality of the writing is important, too. Write concisely, and write well. Keep in mind that while the language should be strong, sentence fragments are standard practice for CVs; however, cover letters need to be complete sentences (i.e., in first-person narrative form).

Work history

If you have a CV that details every job you have held beginning in high school, it will be a relief to know you may be able to eliminate them and free up a great deal of space for important information. You want to include information that demonstrates your strengths and illustrates your track record utilizing skills relevant to your job target. Positions you have held during the last 10-15 years are considered the most important unless you are a Senior Executive and you need to show a more complete career track. Sometimes earlier positions can be included in a block of additional experience.

It is important to be concise and pointed. Back up the statements made in the summary of qualifications with information that demonstrates how you used your skills and how they benefited your previous employers. Here, too, it is vital to remember your target, choosing and arranging information so that it will highlight your most relevant abilities and background.

Education and Training

An overview of your education is typically reserved for the end of the document; however, if it directly relates to your job target, you may place it early in the CV following the opening skill summary. This can be especially helpful if, for instance, you have a degree in widget making even though your work history has been largely in thingamajigs.

Give brief information that includes the level (e.g., associates, bachelors, etc.), kind (e.g., arts, science, etc.), and area (i.e. major and/or concentration) of degree(s) that you possess as well as the awarding institution and location.

If you have attended seminars include these. If you have obtained certifications in your chosen field, or ones that show you could easily secure any required certifications, list them either before or after the continuing-education portion of this block. The relative importance of the certifications will determine their position; for instance, a technical certification will be more important for a job involving information technology than one involving hospitality services.

Finally — A CV that Gets Noticed!

You are just about done, and you should have a much stronger CV document. Just a few additional points to consider:

Personal information — age, marital status, health, religion, and ethnicity should not be listed when seeking positions within Kenya. (When pursuing jobs in other countries -- particularly with non-Kenya employers -- various personal data is often included, depending upon the country.)

References are rarely included because they are submitted at a later stage in the process when mutual interest has been established between you and the employer.

Often, particularly for a job you really want or need, there is no substitute for having a CV professionally prepared. Just knowing that writing specialists — who are highly trained and keep up with industry and job trends, and innovations in CV preparation — are preparing a powerful document for you can be a big boost of confidence, which allows you to wow interviewers. And you can't put a price on that.

Either way you do it, think positive and be confident as you enter your job search!

You can get in touch with the CV Makers company to make your cv today. I have previously used them and they do a wonderful job in matching work experience and education to new job requirements. The CV they made for me was concise and straight to the point and I got a job on my second Interview. The guy to talk to is Robert and I found him to be very helpful and very much on point. He actually made my CV in an afternoon. His number was 0722661827 (I hope he has retained it since-its been 2 years now) and email was rmuhoho@gmail.com