Imagine you are one of 200 applicants vying for your dream job. The hiring manager has just 30 seconds to decide whether your CV makes the cut or ends up in the bin. What will set yours apart?
Your CV is not just a document; it is your personal marketing campaign. It bridges the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. For graduates and young professionals, it is often the first impression you make before meeting an employer.
The truth is that most CVs fail not because candidates lack talent, but because they are missing essential elements or are poorly presented. The difference between landing an interview and being overlooked often comes down to getting the fundamentals right.
Here are the 10 non-negotiables that must appear on every professional CV:
1. Contact Information That Works
It may sound obvious, but many applicants still get this wrong. Always include your full name, current phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile. If your email still reads “coolkid2000@hotmail.com”, it is time for an upgrade.
A professional format such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com works best. Double-check your phone number because nothing frustrates recruiters more than a disconnected line. You should also include your city and region but skip your full street address. Employers need to know where you are
2. A Professional Summary That Hooks Attention
Think of this as your written elevator pitch. In just three to four sentences, answer the questions: Who are you? What do you do? Why should they care? Avoid bland statements such as “Recent graduate seeking opportunities in marketing.”
Instead, go for something that sells your value: “Digital marketing graduate with hands-on experience managing campaigns that boosted engagement by 40%. Combines analytical thinking with creativity to deliver measurable results for growing brands.” If you do not sell yourself, no one else will.
3. Skills That Match the Role
Your skills section should never be a dumping ground for everything you have ever learnt. Tailor it carefully to the role you are applying for. Generic lines such as “good communication skills, team player, problem solver” add little value. Instead, demonstrate specificity: “Data analysis (Excel, Python), project management (Asana, Trello), client relationship management, cross-functional team leadership.”
Mix hard and soft skills but always keep them concrete, for instance, “proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and Google Analytics” says far more than “good with computers.”
4. Work Experience That Shows Impact
Your work experience should read like a highlight reel rather than a job description. Every entry should answer the question: “So what? Why does this matter?” Saying you were “responsible for customer service” is forgettable.
Reframing it as “resolved customer complaints with 95% satisfaction rate, reducing refund requests by 30%” makes the difference. The winning formula is always action verb, what you did, and measurable result. Even part-time roles can shine if you present them in terms of ..READ FULL ARTICLE>>
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
