Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) will be your first impression if you are getting a new job, Internship, or scholarship. A well written and organised CV can provide you a good opportunity while a weak or unorganised CV will remain unnoticed.
In CV, we have to provide meaningful and motivational skills and statements so the company or institute can notice your skills and statements. Cv matters a lot in almost every job sector of the world. You just have to know How to make a CV.
Here in this blog post, we will discuss that How to make a CV. How can an appropriate and well written CV give you more opportunities? Also, we will discuss what are the mistakes that we should need to avoid. Here in the below article is the step by step guide to How to make a CV.
What is a CV?
A document in which you put your personal information, your education, work experience, your skills, and your achievements in detail is called a CV (Curriculum Vitae). A well written and organised CV can provide you a good opportunity if you are getting a new job, Internship, or scholarship while a weak or unorganised CV will remain unnoticed.
In many countries, “CV” and “resume” are used interchangeably, but a CV is often more detailed than a resume.
Why is a Good CV Important?
A strong CV:
- Highlights your skills and strengths
- Makes a great first impression
- Helps you stand out in a competitive job market
- Can lead to more interviews and opportunities
What to Include in a CV
Your CV should contain the following sections:
1. Contact Information
- Full name
- Phone number
- Email address (professional one)
- LinkedIn profile (optional)
- Address (optional)
2. Personal Statement or Career Objective
A short summary of your career goals and what you can offer. Keep it 2-3 sentences long.
Example:
“Motivated business graduate with a passion for marketing and proven internship experience. Looking to contribute to a dynamic team and grow within a professional environment.”
3. Education
List your most recent education first.
Example:
- BS in Computer Science, Punjab University – 2020-2024
- Intermediate, Government College – 2018-2020
- Matriculation, City High School – 2016-2018
Include:
- Degree or certificate
- Institution name
- Dates attended
- Grades or achievements (if relevant)
4. Work Experience
Mention relevant jobs or internships.
Example: Sales Assistant – ABC Store, Lahore (Jan 2023 – Dec 2023)
- Assisted 30+ customers daily
- Handled POS systems and managed stock
- Increased sales by 15% through upselling
Use bullet points and action verbs (e.g., managed, created, designed, improved).
5. Skills
List your technical and soft skills.
Example:
- MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint
- Communication & Teamwork
- Problem-Solving
- Time Management
- Graphic Designing (Canva, Photoshop)
6. Certifications & Courses
Add any online courses or training programs.
Example:
- Google Digital Marketing – Coursera (2023)
- MS Excel Advanced – Digiskills (2022)
7. Languages
If you’re bilingual or multilingual, include this section.
Example:
- English – Fluent
- Urdu – Native
- Arabic – Basic
8. References
You can either write:
- “Available upon request”
Or mention a few references with their name, designation, contact number, and email (if you have permission).
How to Make a CV – Step-by-Step Process
1: Choose the Right CV Format
There are 3 main CV formats:
- Chronological (Most Common): Best for those with experience.
- Functional: Focuses on skills. Good for freshers.
- Combination: Mix of both formats.
For beginners, use the chronological format with recent education and work experience at the top.
2: Use a Clean and Simple Design
- Keep the layout neat and professional
- Use basic fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
- Font size: 11–12 pt for text, 14–16 pt for headings
- Save your CV as PDF to maintain formatting
3: Start with Personal Info & Objective
Put your name at the top, followed by contact info, and then your career objective.
4: Add Sections in Order
Follow this structure:
- Contact Info
- Career Objective
- Education
- Work Experience
- Skills
- Certifications
- Languages
- References
5: Proofread Carefully
- Avoid spelling or grammar mistakes
- Use tools like Grammarly
- Ask a friend or mentor to review it
Pro Tips to Make Your CV Stand Out
- Tailor your CV for each job. Use keywords from the job description
- Use action verbs like: managed, created, developed, implemented
- Keep your CV short (1–2 pages)
- Highlight your achievements, not just responsibilities
- Add a professional email (avoid: coolboy123@gmail.com)
Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
- Spelling or grammar mistakes
- Too much personal info (like CNIC or full address)
- Using fancy fonts or colors
- Lying about skills or experience
- Forgetting to update your CV regularly
Free Online CV Builders You Can Use
If you’re not comfortable using MS Word or Google Docs, try these free tools:
- Canva CV Templates www.canva.com/resumes
- Zety Resume Builder www.zety.com/resume-builder
- Novoresume www.novoresume.com
