A finely curated CV can help you get any job you want and choosing the right format is the first step toward making an impactful CV. Depending upon your experience and what job you are applying for; you must select the format which will highlight your professional experience and skills in the best way possible. There are two types of CV formats each with its purposes and specifications, let us discuss them in detail so that they will help you next time you create a CV:
A finely curated CV can help you get any job you want and choosing the right format is the first step toward making an impactful CV. Depending upon your experience and what job you are applying for; you must select the format which will highlight your professional experience and skills in the best way possible. There are two types of CV formats each with its purposes and specifications, let us discuss them in detail so that they will help you next time you create a CV:
Also termed the traditional format, this CV follows your experience in chronological order. All of your professional work experience is written in reverse chronology so that your most recent experience and achievements are at the top. This format is widely used by almost everyone but you should only use it if you have the relevant experience and skills for the job you are applying to. If you have any career gaps it is best to not use this format and if you are using it anyways, provide appropriate reasons for the gaps. This format helps in emphasizing your career growth and highlights your progression throughout your career.
A skills-based CV is a perfect choice for fresh graduates or people seeking a career change. This CV is also known as a Functional CV and it emphasizes your skills and qualities rather than focusing on your professional experience. Skills-based CV helps in covering up career gaps by highlighting any short-term or volunteering experiences you have had that are relevant to the job you are applying for. This format also helps in making career change CVs because it showcases how your current skills can be transferred to the new job. If you have no relevant employment history or lack of experience, this CV will take the focus off it and shine a light on your strengths.
Now that you know which format will be best for you, it comes to writing the CV. According to the CV writers in Pakistan, there are certain types of CV tips and tricks that work best for the Pakistani market and will land you the job you want. Although a lot of the things remain the same as every other CV, some of the things are changed depending upon the requirements of the specific job or the overall requirements of the Pakistani organizations. For writing a CV that is perfect for the Pakistani market, you need to consider the following things:
Write your name, email address, and phone number at the top of your CV. Your personal information needs to be correct so the employer can contact you easily. Update your phone number to the one you use, if you use another number for WhatsApp, you can also include that one as well. If you have recently relocated, change your address and make sure that it is written completely including everything from the street name to the area and the city. You can also mention in your cover letter if you will be willing to relocate if you are applying for a job in another city. Some jobs require your CNIC number as well so read the job description and you will find any further requirements written there. You can also add the link to your LinkedIn profile in the CV if you think your account is impressive and will help the recruiter in deciding in your favor. Recheck this information once again after completing the CV to ensure everything is accurate.
This section is given the most priority in the Pakistani market, where you have worked and what designation you were on matters the most to the recruiter. Include as much information as you can about your day-to-day responsibilities and all the achievements you acquired in each job. If you are a fresh graduate, you can add the projects that you did in your university that are relevant for the job or you can include any internships or volunteer work you might have done. Try to emphasize your skills if you have no professional experience because that will take the focus off of your inexperience.
This is also one of the most important sections in Pakistani CVs that the recruiter highly consider. Some of the companies may ask you to provide your results as well like your CGPA. Include all the educational information in this section, if you have done any additional courses then you can also include them as well. Mention the names of all the institutes where you have gained education from. If you are a fresh graduate, you can also add things such as your thesis projects and you can also highlight any courses in your degree that are relevant to the job.
Reading the job description before you start writing the CV is important, it helps you target the keywords the recruiter will most probably look for. Once you read the job description, it can include the keywords mentioned in the job description and you can also include adjectives in your CV that are similar to the ones the recruiter has used. This will help immensely, especially if you are applying for a job in any MNC because they use the ATS system to scan CVs. This is one of the reasons, CV writing services providers in Pakistan have now moved towards a more keyword-friendly approach.
These are some of the things that will instantly make your CV stand out in the Pakistani Market. Other than this, you should also pay attention to how you format your CV. Avoid using colorful templates, use professional fonts and make sure your sentences are not too long. With the competition higher than ever and more and more people looking for jobs, the recruiters do not have time to read every CV entirely. Make sure your CV is readable, concise, and structured in a way that the recruiter can see all your achievements in just a few minutes. Creating a CV that impresses the recruiter will take up a lot of your time but it will provide you with a lot of amazing job opportunities in the country.