A successful CV is one that grabs the employers’ attention, invites you to an interview and lands you the dream job. While there are many different templates that you can use, people routinely recycle the same template for every job that they apply for – and THAT can be a problem.

Usually, a CV Template is generic, but it is how you optimise these layouts to accurately capture your work experience and highlight your skills that makes all the difference.

Always Research the Industry

This is possibly the most important step to consider before tailoring your CV and choosing your CV Template. No matter what level of experience you have, it is vital that you research the company, its industry and analyse the job description.

For example:

If you have worked in customer service and are now looking to progress into management, your CV will need to look more professional, like this:

If you are a student who just graduated from University and lack the necessary experience for the job, the template used will look more like this:

If you are an artist or musician, you might opt for something creative; if you are an engineer or project manager you might opt for a more project/technical based layout.

Look At Your Experience

If you have a mixture of experiences and cannot pin-point a template that is industry specific, simply choose a Broad Focus template that allows you portray your skills and experiences in multiple sectors/industries.

Including the Right Content

Once you have chosen a layout that suits your requirements, remember to edit the information to sell yourself. You should always look at the descriptions and highlight keywords that you can use to get a sense of the company’s needs.