What is a CV?

A CV is a short summary of your key skills, experience and qualifications. Often, it's the first chance you get to introduce yourself to a potential employer and show them why you're a great candidate. Employers and recruiters can have tens or even hundreds of CVs to sort through for each vacancy, so it's important to create a CV that stands out from the crowd. In this article, we explain why a CV is important and share tips on how to create a CV that will land you an interview.

Why is a CV important?

Almost every time you apply for a job, you will have to submit a CV, usually along with a customised cover letter. But why is a CV important? A CV allows you to highlight all of your relevant professional and academic experience and show an employer that you're a great fit for the job. A well-crafted CV will:

Outline your skills and experience

Your CV should clearly show a potential employer your most relevant professional experience, skills and qualifications. Since employers may have a large number of CVs to look through, making this information stand out is vital to ensuring that your CV ends up on the 'yes' pile. A good CV might use formatting elements such as colour and layout to make sure the employer sees the most important information.

Highlight your value

Instead of simply listing your previous roles and the responsibilities you held, you should make sure you mention 2-3 concrete things you achieved for your former employer in each role. For example, you might mention targets you hit or new processes you implemented. This shows your potential employer the value you'll bring to their company.

Catch the employer's attention

The most important information on your CV should appear towards the top of the page. This might include your profession, any relevant qualifications or a short personal statement that succinctly tells the employer why you'd be a great fit for the role. You may also choose to add a headshot or a professional logo or to use visual elements like colours or a creative layout to grab the employer's attention.

Position you as the right person for the job

You may think that since you're sending your CV along with a customised cover letter, you can get away with sending the same CV with every job application. However, in order to show the potential employer that you are the right person for the role, it's a good idea to edit your CV each time you send it. Study the job posting carefully and consider what the company believes are the most important attributes for a candidate to have, then edit your CV so that it highlights the qualities they're looking for.

Land you an interview

A CV is just the first step in the recruitment process—but if it's not well-written, logical and professional, you're unlikely to get any further. If you do it right, there's a good chance your potential employer will offer you an interview based on what they've learned about you from your CV.