Step-By-Step Guide on How to Write a detailed and successful CV

We all know that the job market is now stringent, not only in Liberia, but also other countries in the world. And, you and I know that: part of job consideration for an applicant is the CV; you need a well tailored CV if at all, you want to gain entrance into the job of your dreams. Topic 1- Your CV What is a CV( curriculum Vital)? It is a well-written document about the story of your life academics, capabilities, experiences, etc. It can also be called a Resume, but Resumes are slightly different from CV. What is the difference between CV and Resume- not much difference between the two. Except that CV contains elaborate details about your academics and other information, while Resumes are straight to the point. Like, what can you offer us? What did you graduate with? Your volunteers? Any certification, etc. Types of CV We have 3 major types of CV. They are A. Reverse chronological- suitable for we recent graduates. B. Functional- suitable for people switching from a career to the other, e.g moving from accounting firm to transport firm. C. Hybrid (combination of the two)- suitable for anybody. It is very effective.

Things You Should Know as a Graduate (CV) 1. Your academic achievement is your selling point. 2. Your extra curricula activities in school, during IT, etc. 3. Your volunteers are your selling point. 4. Know your strengths and weaknesses - maximize your strength to overshadow your weaknesses. 5. Sell your self in the CV by hammering on your strength, and neglecting your weaknesses. Even when asked about your weaknesses, give a strength as a weakness. 6. Employers don't care about your religion (it may help anyway), don't care about your height, stature, and so on. They only care about what you can offer. 7. You tailor your CV, not as "once written- multiple use, but based on the requirements of the position you are applying to, e.g. A CV to GT bank should be different from A CV to USAID (except if the position, pay, building is similar, lol).

Contents of The CV (Recent Graduates) First of all, you need to know that having a good template is paramount. A good resume/CV template does half of the Job you need to do (it's the skeletal system of your resume). More importantly, having a Resume builder software will sky-rock your time of completion (If you are lazy to sit in front of your laptop all day brainstorming on the necessary adjectives to include so as to win your employers over, you need a good builder). You can get wonderful templates which are not common. Just use google or any other search engine with the caption: "quality/good/best/perfect /Recent graduate resume template/Cv.doc." Download as many as you want and pick the best based on clarity, legibility,neatness, uniqueness, and other criteria you deem important. Now the content of a CV are: 1. The header- Can you imagine a man without his/her head? That is how a CV is without the header. A CV with no header is like a deaf-and- dumb communicating with a blind person. Here you have your name writing boldly. Having a good template solves the problem of font size because good templates have the framework of the ideal size of font. Your task is, only, is to edit the "YOUR NAME, Email, home address, phone number (one is advisable), etc." 2. Objective/ Personal Profile- you may decide using anyone of the above. Although, it is frankly advisable to use Objectives. What goes into objective? Simple, you need to research on the qualities needed for the position before writing your objectives. You have to center it upon the requirement of the position ( it would be absurd writing a sales objective for a marketing position). For example, if after critical research from organization websites, relatives working at the organization, other sites, and through other means, you discovered the organization wants a proficient word operator as her criterion, you can write (A knowledgeable transport manager, proficient in Microsoft words, with fantastic ability to multitask...*please be mindful of what to include here as you may be tested during the interview*

As for the personal profile, it's good for people that are experience in a specific field, as that tells what they have done and are proficient doing (a valid point I picked from a mentor here Xfire). 3. Summary of Skills- some people may skip this. But, I tell you, please include it. Reason, employers may not have the luxury of time to delve into the ocean of your length work experience story. Do them that favor of telling them, simply, all what you learn. Doing that may land you the job and also makes things easy for you and your employers.What goes into this section? Like objectives, the summary of skills also depends on the objectives of the organization. The only difference is listing, in bulletin format, those qualities you possess that could benefit the organization, whereas you write a jointed 2-5 sentences in Objectives of your capabilities. Here, you also need some action verbs based on your discipline (search online for active verbs, also, to support your CV writing, more than enough active verbs are in the resume software. Download now). For example, as a transport student, I may decide to write... * Honest and listens to details. * A team player with vivid knowledge of supply chain management, insurance policies and Physical Distribution, etc. The basis is to use action verbs that will catch the employer's attention. *Note* Even if you use action verbs, adjective verbs, lol, till tomorrow, if your CV lacks that touch of research, YOU  MISS!

4. Education Education is one of the greatest selling point for we fresh graduate; that is why it comes up earlier for us, than for workers. Education, comes up earlier . In resume,it is advisable to include only your university education. Reason? Nobody cares if you attended St. Theresa convent, or Peace international school, or Monrovia best high school, etc. Or, even, if you were the school president (well, it may count). But the most important thing to them is how fervent you are during your undergraduate days. So, save your biography. If you bags a 1st class or a 2nd class upper, please indicate it in this section. If you bags a high point in school, say 4.5, 4 points generally, 3.9, and other strong point ; please put it here.  5. Work experience This is another important section where you showcase all the experience you have gathered during your IT, internship, volunteers, You'll write, CAR format (Cite the task( Activities you did to solve the problem, and Result of your effort). You may itemize it for clarity sake. TO BE CONTINUED...