CV
The first step on your job search journey is creating a CV. Your CV is a vital part of your application material and as many employers read the CV first, the ideal CV should be able to stand alone. Time spent on creating a great targeted CV is time well spent.
Together with the cover letter, the CV constitutes your application material for a job. Your CV summarises your work experience, your educational background, and your various skills. All in all, this should provide an overview of your profile. Your CV must be able to stand alone, since many employers read the CV first and already sort through applicants here.
In the sections below you will find out:
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How to create a targeted CV
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Which content should be included in your targeted CV
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Tips on how to set up and lay out your targeted CV
The general /chronological CV versus the targeted CV
For each job you apply for you should adjust and update your CV to make it targeted to the specific job you are applying for. To make this task easier, you can start out by creating a general or chronological CV that includes your full employment history, complete educational background and anything else you think may be relevant, e.g. languages spoken, IT skills or other. This chronological CV is for you to keep as an overview. When you apply for a new job, you can select the information that is relevant for that specific job position, and in that way target your CV.
You can find a template for this kind of CV here.
| General CV | Targeted CV |
| No maximum length | Max. 2-3 pages |
| Complete background information | Select and relevant background information |
| Layout: No requirements | Layout: Skim-friendly with bullet points and clear headings |
| Private document | Send together with the application |
Important elements for your CV
In the following, we will review content elements which can be useful to include in your CV. There is no one-size-fits-all for a CV and you can adjust according to your personal preferences and of course the specific job you are applying for.
A CV should as a minimum include:
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Personal contact information: Name, adress, mobile number and e-mail
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Professional Summary or Objective Statement: A brief introduction that summarizes your career goals, skills, and experience.
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Education: List your academic qualifications and any certifications or training courses you have completed.
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Work Experience: Detail your work history, including job titles, dates of employment, and responsibilities.
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Skills: List your key skills, such as technical or soft skills, that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
It's important to tailor your CV to the specific job you are applying for and make sure it is well-organized and easy to read. Avoid using complex language or jargon and use bullet points to highlight key information. Finally, always proofread your CV for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting it.
Contact information and picture
There is some information that you must have in your CV: Name, address, telephone, e-mail
You can also insert a link to your LinkedIn profile or a website. Please make sure that your profile/website is up to date, so that the reader gets a good impression of you.
In addition, we recommend that you always have a picture on your CV. It gives a positive impression to see the face of the person you are reading about. When choosing a photo, don't go for a holiday photo from Mallorca or a selfie from the local cafe. Choose a presentable, well-liked photo of yourself in colour or black and white and with a neutral background.
Profile
The profile section of your CV is a brief and targeted introduction that should be tailored to each job you apply for (5-7 lines). It's your chance to demonstrate your suitability for the role by highlighting your core competencies, motivations, and professional interests in relation to the company's needs. Avoid including personal details such as where you grew up or your partner's occupation. Instead, focus on presenting a professional profile that showcases your qualifications and experiences relevant to the job. Remember, this section is the first thing the recruiter will read, so make sure it captures their attention and sets you apart from other applicants.
Work experience
When listing your work experience, provide a detailed account of your areas of responsibility and work tasks. If applicable, highlight any results achieved that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Don't be too modest about your abilities and remember that your goal is to stand out from other applicants. By elaborating on your responsibilities and accomplishments, you can help your reader better understand your qualifications and suitability for the role.
Below is an outline of how to list your work experience.
| 20xx-20xx | Areas of responsibility/areas of work:
Benefits/results:
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Project-oriented courses
If you have undertaken a project-oriented course, it will also be relevant to insert under work experience with an indication that it was a project-oriented process. Some prefer to put it under the education section, but it is entirely up to you.
Volunteering
You can also add your voluntary work under work experience and mark that it was voluntary with a bracket: (Voluntary work). However, if you have a lot of voluntary work behind you, it may make sense to create a separate heading for this point. Under the heading voluntary work, you can also add positions of trust and unpaid board positions.
Education
Under your education section, you list which education(s) you have or are in the process of completing. It is not important for the reader to know where you went to primary or secondary school, so you can leave this out of your CV.
As a recent graduate, you can advantageously specify your education. Please consider that not everyone is familiar with your education, so it is your task to clarify which skills and knowledge you have from your education. You can help the reader by selecting points such as: Projects, bachelor's thesis, project-oriented course, specific subject, etc.
Remember to highlight the points that are relevant to the job you are applying for. If you as a recent graduate do not feel that you have much relevant work experience, you can move the education section up before the work experience section. In a Danish context, that is perfectly acceptable.
Courses
If you have participated in (relevant) courses, you can list your courses with a brief description of what the course covered.
Language and IT
It is standard practice to include information on your language proficiency and IT skills in your CV. When listing languages, you can indicate your level of proficiency as a native speaker, fluent in writing and speaking, experienced, or beginner. For IT skills, it's important to specify which programs you are proficient in, especially if they are relevant to the position you are applying for. You can categorize your proficiency as a super user, experienced, or knowledgeable in each program. Providing this information helps the reader understand your capabilities and suitability for the job.
Hobbies
Not everyone fills in a section about their free time in their CV, but in fact this section can be a way to make the employer remember you. Write approximately 3-5 lines about what you do in your free time, and feel free to use your humour and linguistic creativity. You don't have to do anything extraordinary to be able to write a leisure section.
References
While it's a good idea to have references prepared in case you are asked for them during a job interview, it's not necessary to list them on your CV. Instead, you can simply include the phrase "references available upon request" to indicate your willingness to provide them if needed. This gives you the opportunity to select which references are most relevant for the job you are applying for. When selecting references, consider people who have worked with you and can attest to your skills and abilities. If you do choose to provide references, be sure to inform them and prepare them for the possibility of being contacted.
Other things
Some choose to state that they have a driver's licence. Our recommendation is that you write it in the CV if it is relevant for the position. Some positions may require that you have access to your own car as there is driving during working hours, or maybe the workplace is a considerable distance from where you live.
Some choose to show their achievements. You can highlight any notable achievements or accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and experience.
Tips and tricks on how to write a CV - do you want to know more?
AU is running a workshop focused on how to write a CV and prepare for the job-hunting process. You can find the next date for the session and sign-up in the event calendar.
