Your CV is your introduction to a potential employer. In it, you show the experience you’ve gained throughout your career and any relevant life experience that relates to the job you’re applying for.
An entry-level CV often has a different focus than a CV from someone with more experience. It highlights your education, soft skills, and activities when you haven’t yet gained much work experience.
This type of CV will highlight the skills you’ve acquired so far and can show an employer you’re willing to learn. As with other types of CV, it is important you should personalize an entry-level CV for every job you apply for.
In this article, we’ll review how to write a CV when you’re just started out in the industry.
1. Write about your Education
An entry-level CV often looks bare. Most college graduates worry about this and go to great lengths to fill their CV using complicated formatting tricks and oversized text fonts. This is not the solution.
What is important is that you demonstrate your knowledge and ability in the industry you’re applying for.
To help beef up your CV, you want to focus on your education, expounding the specific classes you took that illustrate your knowledge and expertise relevant to the job and industry you’re applying to, which indicates you’re the right choice for an interview.
2. Swap your Career Objective for a Professional Summary
This is a double-edged sword. First, by removing your career objective and replacing it with a professional summary section, you’ll help build your personal brand. A summary section helps portray you as a professional, a specialist, and an expert. By writing a lengthier summary section, you are saying: “I am a qualified expert in industry X, and I have skill and knowledge to offer you”.
The professional profile will be your short introductory paragraph that highlights your key strengths, skills, and areas of expertise. It should be no more than 3–4 sentences long.
3. List your Skills
In this section, you’ll be promoting the skills you have to a potential employer. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at things you’ve done that have helped you improve your transferrable skills. Some activities can include; Internships, leadership or support roles in organizations, or volunteering.
Sometimes a hobby is also a valid source of experience, but only if it has something in common with the job you’re applying for. Explain it in simple terms to show how it relates.
4. Use Keywords
Many employers use keyword tracking systems to sift through job applicants. This helps them save time while trying to find the right candidate. If you’ve included relevant keywords in your CV, it’s more likely to make it through any applicant tracking systems.
Finally…
Before sending your CV, review it thoroughly for spelling and grammar mistakes, and typos. A well-written and properly formatted CV will show employers that you pay attention to details and care about submitting high-quality work.
Finding a job fresh out of college isn’t always easy; it takes perseverance, confidence, and even a bit of luck. There are many factors that will affect your chances with each application you make; having control over your CV can be one. Get your CV reviewed today by an expert to turn the odds in your favor.
https://jobcenterkenya.com/4-tip-on-how-to-write-an-entry-level-cv/
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