Why I you Should Value Your CV

The Curriculum Vitae is the most important contact document between the job seeker and the prospective employer. It is the gate pass to an interview. When your Cover letter convinces the employer you are the right person to do the job, your CV should support it. Invest in your CV as it represents your personal brand. It should market you for the job and therefore just like a product, it should appeal and convince the employer to want to meet you.

Therefore it is very critical that the information in the CV be as clear, simple, and brief as possible. The following are some of the most critical information the CV should contain.

1. Name and address- The name of the applicant should be clearly spelled out in the CV. The name should match that provided in other documents that usually accompany the CV, like identity card, academic certificates, testimonials and any other relevant document. Remember to also include the post office box number and the location, the telephone number and email address.

2. Personal information- The CV must include the date of birth and marital status. Your nationality can be included if applying for jobs outside your country. Religion and Languages spoken is useful if the advert requests you to, however has no value to your CV. When applying for UN jobs, it is okay to put other languages like French, German e.t.c to your list.

3. Education- Start with the latest highest qualifications and go backwards to the more remedial education. Name the institutions attended, the certificates awarded, the examining bodies. Sometimes its necessary to briefly state some of the important relevant subjects studied.
Challenging assignments

4. Key achievements- This is for those with experience and have worked in other places they are required to state the special assignments which they achieved that could appear to be beyond normal call of duty. One could also mention any most challenging assignment achieved in the previous employment. A summary of the work experience can also be included here.

5. Work experience- Work experience should contain summary of positions held previously with the content of responsibilities in those positions, starting with the current held position going backwards to when one started working. The periods or dates when the positions were held and the responsibilities attached must be indicated.

6. Seminars and workshops- The seminars and workshops attended should also be included, with the dates when they were attended, their contents and their objectives. This assures the prospective employer that you are update with the new industry developments.
Valid member

7. Professional membership- List the professional bodies in which you are a member. There are jobs one cannot do unless you are a valid member of the relevant professional body. For example, one cannot practice law in Kenya unless you are a member of the Law Society of Kenya.

8. Referees- List three (3) referees giving their addresses, telephone contacts and email addresses. This will enable prospective employer to contact them directly for any information about you.