The first step to finding a job in Malta is to write a solid and direct Curriculum Vitae including all relevant experience, education and skills. If this is your first job, you’re probably wondering what on earth to add to your CV. Fear not! Some companies nowadays are looking specifically for fresh graduates with little experience, who they can teach from scratch and mold according to their company’s culture. However, where possible, you should always focus on giving recruiters an overview of other experiences, such as involvement in student or community organisations, voluntary work, summer jobs and any other social/ sporting involvement, in order for them to get an all-round picture of your personality.
While the job interview is usually given more importance due to its greater need for preparation, a well-put-together CV is one sure way to actually get your foot in the door. The first question is, should you use a standard CV template or create an original CV?
STANDARD vs ORIGINAL CVs
The most common CV template is the Europass one. This CV format is used throughout Europe and aims to help people communicate their skills and qualifications clearly using one standard format.
Some candidates prefer to design a creative CV based on the job that they are applying for in the hopes that it will make their job application stand out. This may be more applicable for jobs in certain creative industries, such as marketing and design. Ultimately, it is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable submitting. If this is what you’re looking for, here are 10 free resume templates.
Key Ingredients to Write the Perfect CV
Whether you’ve been in the job hunting game for a while or are simply getting started, a CV should be made up of the same key ingredients. Here’s our recipe to write the perfect CV.
-
Presentation should be immaculate. Neat headings, clear printing and no fancy fonts.
-
Your CV should have a distinct focus and coherent flow.
-
Keep in mind that the image that you will be portraying through your CV should mirror the responsibility level and salary of the job you are aiming for.
-
List all education, with the most recent at the top.
-
List all relevant work experience to the job you are applying for, with the most recent at the top. If you’ve been working for a long time or have had a number of odd jobs throughout your life, there is no need to list each and every one of these. Simply mention the ones which you think are relevant to the job position. If this is your first job, list other experiences, such as involvement in student or community organisations, voluntary work, summer jobs and any other social/ sporting involvement.
-
Eliminate vague or long-winded sentences, job or personal descriptions.
-
List concrete achievements rather than job responsibilities. Explain how you added value to your company, rather than jotting down a list of your duties, and give concrete figures. Instead of saying that you helped increase company turnover, specify by how much.
-
Use action verbs when describing your achievements, such as managed, addressed and convinced. These will help make your CV stand out. Here’s a list of action verbs you can use, divided according to skill.
-
In addition to this, link your skills to the requirements of the job you’re applying for and show how they can be of benefit to the role.
-
Avoid making up or exaggerating skills, education or job experience. This information can be verified by the employer and can lead to instant dismissal if the facts don’t add up. Save yourself the embarrassment.
-
Remove any obvious remarks such as ‘available for interview’ or ‘references available upon request’. If you’re applying for a job these are taken for granted.
-
Whether or not you list your hobbies depends entirely on their relation to the job you are applying for. If they have nothing to do with the post, you can do without them.
-
Keep your CV concise while also giving enough information for the employer to get a good background and generate ample interest to set an interview. Try not to exceed two pages.
-
If you absolutely feel the need to add a profile picture, add one which is no larger than passport size, of good quality and make sure that you look professional. If photos do not meet these criteria, it’s best to go without.
-
Avoid using unprofessional-sounding email addresses such as crazybob@yahoo.com. Create a new email address if needs be.
-
Spell check your CV and if possible have it proof-read. Your CV should pass the 15 second test. Readers should be able to get the gist out of your CV in a couple of seconds. If this is not the case, you might want to restructure your CV. Put key facts and the most important information first.
-
Add employer references. These should be individuals with whom you’ve previously worked with or who can vouch for your character. Personal references such as family members, will not be considered. You don’t need to include full contact details of your reference just yet. You may be requested this information if the employer shows interest in you.
- Always keep your CV updated. Add any new courses, job experiences or skills you might have acquired.
Online Applications
When applying for a vacancy online, always add your latest CV as an attachment and never copy and paste your CV in the body of the email. Attach your latest CV in pdf format rather than in Word format.
You may be interested in: