How to write a CV: our top tips to get you the attention you deserve.
If you want to truly showcase your expertise in sustainable technology then our CV writing tips can help!
At Executive Integrity, we know what a well-crafted CV looks like and there are small but powerful changes that make a mediocre CV a great CV. This vital document is the first crucial step in your exciting career move.
For your CV to impress, consider the following tips:
- Format – Simply put, your CV should guide the reader down the page. It should be easy to read with a legible font, and should ideally be 3 pages. Hiring managers will sometimes sift through upwards of 50 CVs so don’t give them more than is necessary.
- Keep it simple – Keep your words punchy, concise, and allow for whitespace. Using bullet points is essential. But most importantly: a simple and clean design helps an ATS system better scan your CV for key information, getting you a high rank with employers. Some CVs don’t get picked up by an ATS! Make sure yours does!
- Personal Information – Some people really do forget the essentials so it’s important to get the basics right. Make your name visible and include your contact details, i.e. telephone number and professional email address. Make sure to add your up-to-date professional LinkedIn profile. This makes you more visible, better able to share your personal marketing, and allows you to effectively network when applying for jobs.
- Tailor your CV for the job – No two roles are exactly the same. One company’s vision, values, and expectations are different to another’s. Therefore, get an indication of what they find most important, what their mission is, and what problems are in their way of achieving this. Then tailor your CV to show how you can help solve this problem and how they can achieve their goals by hiring you. It helps to have one completed basic template of your CV that you can easily amend here and there for maximum traction.
- Professional Summary – This section is not about what you want, but what you can do for your future employer. Keep this section concise, using 2-3 powerful descriptive words to highlight your skill sets and professional traits that you can bring to a company. For instance, use words like “passionate about sustainability” or “innovative problem solver” to describe yourself if you have experience in sustainable technology.
- Professional Experience – List your work experience in descending chronological order including company name, job title, and employment period. You need to include whom you reported to as this helps the employer instantly see where you sat in the hierarchy. Make sure you include a brief company introduction per role (you can take this from the company website if necessary). Communicate your key responsibilities and achievements. Highlight your experience and emphasise any projects or initiatives that have positively impacted the environment.
- Show don’t tell – Don’t just say you can do something, demonstrate how you’ve already done it. And use active verbs showing what you’ve done. E.g. For X company, I constructed over 200 wind turbines in only 3 years for the effective transportation and installation of a 1GW wind farm. Compare this to: I am skilled at constructing wind turbines.
- Quantify your achievements – Demonstrate success such as increased sales growth or reduced carbon emissions. Impress hiring managers by backing yourself with precise numbers and statistics (if you have them).
- Focus on transformation – Try to be as specific as possible such as stating ‘by doing X over a (specified time period), the company went from X to Z, tripling their X’. How did the company grow/develop/change for the better by what you did for them?
- Education – List your highest degree first and highlight any relevancy to the aspired role.
- Qualifications and Courses – Add any additional qualifications you may have beyond your formal education, such as relevant and applicable certifications in related fields.
- Publications – Include any relevant industry publications, such as articles or papers you have written on sustainable technology. This will set you apart as an industry thought leader.
- Include additional Information – If you speak multiple languages or have a relevant hobby, such as volunteering with an environmental organisation, include it to demonstrate your commitment to environmental innovation.
These tips will help your CV stand out and increase your chances of getting an interview in the sustainable technology industry.
