How to write the qualifications section of your CV


The style and format of the qualifications section on your CV will tend to vary depending on where you are in your career and your employment history. For example, a recent graduate with limited employment experience will have a different CV structure to a more seasoned professional with 20 years of experience behind them.
It can be tricky to figure out how to structure your CV when there is no set style for everyone. This is why we’ve pulled together the four main categories that you could fall into. Use this practical guide to work out which approach is best for you and you’ll be able to plan and design the qualifications section of your CV in no time.
1. For limited employment experience
Graduates or school leavers will mainly fall into this bracket. The key is to think about what will best sell your skill set to a recruiter. So, if you don’t have much employment experience, focus on your education at the top of the CV.
For example, if you’re a recent graduate, highlight your degree or course and then break down the modules you have covered that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you completed a project or thesis, demonstrate what you gained from this and how it relates to the potential position.
Additionally, look to identify any transferable skills that would be beneficial to the role. For instance, if you’re looking to apply for an analytical position, you will need to demonstrate analytical skills that were used in your course or through your education.
At this stage of your career, the focus needs to be on your qualifications, so use them as an asset to sell your core skill set to the recruiter. Alongside this, make sure you highlight the key areas where you will thrive in work even after education.
2. If you’re applying for a technical position
These types of positions usually require technical training, so your CV will again need to focus on your education. List every course and qualification that’s necessary for the role and highlight the date that you completed these. If there’s a part of the course that specifically applies to the role, remember to mention this to show you have the knowledge to succeed in the position.
If you’re an experienced professional, but still need a technical CV, it may be best to feature your education and qualifications section after your employment history. However, if you’re looking to change careers entirely or do not have much experience, put this section near the top of the CV to grab the attention of the reader.
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3) Experienced professionals
When you have a solid history of professional experience, the employment history section of your CV should always precede your qualifications section. A recruiter will want to view your previous positions first to see if your experience matches their requirements. You can then use the qualifications section as support, rather than use it as the main area of focus.
However, unlike the previous example, you don’t need to go into too much detail about your education as it’s likely that you will have completed it a long time ago. This means your employment experience is more relevant and requires more of a focus.
Space can be tight on a CV, especially when you have a lot of experience, so you can afford to summarise each qualification to a line detailing the qualification or certificate title, the grade, the institution and the year.
4) When writing an academic CV
If you work in academia, your education and qualifications section of your academic CV can look very different to other CV types. Quite often, it will be longer, with more detail and will list publications and papers that are important to the position. In addition, you should think about adding hyperlinks to work that is published online. This will save valuable space and demonstrate your credentials at a glance.
Again, where this section will go on your CV will depend on your employment experience. But, remember the importance of this section and how it should factually back up your application.
Whatever category your CV falls into, it’s important to tailor your experience and skills for the role in question. The key is to see yourself as the recruiter will see you, and think about what they will want when recruiting for the role. Remember to think about this before you add content to the CV. Once you have the correct design in place, it will be easier for you to write a winning qualifications section and help you stand out from the crowd.

Is your CV in great shape?  Send your CV today to iwritecvs@outlook.com  for a CV makeover.

SOURCE: https://www.cv-library.co.uk

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