Your essential guide to writing a standout CV

What is a CV?
Think of your CV (Curriculum Vitae) as a snapshot of your professional story. It highlights your skills, experiences, and achievements, showing employers why you're the right person for the job.

It's a chance to show off what you can do, and while every CV will differ and be tailored to the industry you’re applying to, the essential building blocks include the following:

1. Your contact details: Make sure your full name, an email address, and your phone number are clearly visible. You can also add your town or city, and if you're open to moving for a job, you can mention that too.?
2. A personal summary (your "elevator pitch"): This is a short paragraph at the top of your CV that quickly tells an employer who you are and what you bring to the table. It's your chance to make a strong first impression.
   • For first timers: Focus on your enthusiasm, key skills you've developed (even from school projects or hobbies), and what you hope to achieve.
   • For experienced individuals: Highlight your career goals, your most significant skills, and the value you've added in previous roles.
3. Languages: If you speak more than one language, list them and your proficiency level.
4. Education: List your qualifications, starting with the most recent. Include the name of the institution, the qualification you received, and the dates you attended.
5. Your experience: This section is where you showcase what you've done.
   • For first timers: Don't worry if you haven't had a traditional job. Many experiences count. Think about any volunteering or charity work, holiday or weekend jobs, or even work shadowing you've done. 
     
     Internships and even content creation projects you’ve worked on count. These show initiative, responsibility, and a willingness to learn. Significant school projects, sports, or club activities can also highlight valuable skills like teamwork and leadership.
   • For experienced individuals: List your previous jobs, starting with your most recent. Include your job title, the company name, and your employment dates.
6. Your skills: This section is key to showing what you're capable of. Skills generally fall into two categories: Hard skills and soft skills. Their combination is what equips you to do the job well. 

Use this template as a guide to build your own compelling CV. Remember to tailor it to your unique experiences and the specific jobs you're applying for.

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Tips to make your experience shine

• Use action words: Start your bullet points with strong verbs, for example managed, developed, organised, achieved, increased, collaborated.
• Quantify when possible: Numbers speak volumes, and they add credibility and show output, even if it’s small. For example, did you increase sales by a certain percentage? Organise an event for a specific number of people? Did something you did/implemented save money?
• Don’t lie or amplify: It's unethical and if you aren’t equipped to do a job, it can lead to serious consequences and will damage your reputation
• Don’t add personal details: Your religion, relationship status, or age are irrelevant to your ability to do a job. • References: Don't list them directly. Simply state ‘References available upon request’ or provide them when an employer asks.
• Keep your CV polished: A clear, uncluttered design with a professional font is best. Proofread your CV to ensure it doesn’t have grammar or spelling errors.

Disclaimer: This article is solely intended for information. It does not constitute financial, tax or investment advice or recommendation. Please speak to a financial advisor or registered financial professional before making any financial decision(s).

Standard Bank, its subsidiaries or holding company, or any subsidiary of the holding company and all of its subsidiaries make no warranties or representations (implied or otherwise) as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of the information provided in this article or that it is free from errors or omissions.