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CV Critique Checklist

By Monster Contributor
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By Kim Isaacs, Monster CV Expert

CVs normally get less than a 15-second glance at the first screening. If someone has asked you to review his CV and you want to help him ensure it gets read -- or want to know if your own is up to par -- be sure you can answer yes to the following questions:

First Impression

  • Does the CV look original and not based on a template?
  • Is the CV inviting to read, with clear sections and ample white space?
  • Does the design look professional rather than like a simple typing job?
  • Is a qualifications summary included so the reader immediately knows the applicant's value proposition?
  • Is the CV's length and overall appearance appropriate given the career level and objective?

Appearance

  • Does the CV provide a visually pleasing, polished presentation?
  • Is the font appropriate for the career level and industry?
  • Are there design elements such as bullets, bolding and lines to guide readers' eyes through the document and highlight important content?
  • Is there a good balance between text and white space?
  • Are margins even on all sides?
  • Are design elements like spacing and font size used consistently throughout the document?
  • If the CV is longer than a page, does the second page contain a heading? Is the page break formatted correctly?

CV Sections

  • Are all CV sections clearly labeled?
  • Are sections placed in the best order to highlight the applicant's strongest credentials?
  • Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)?

Career Goal

  • Is the career objective included toward the top of the CV in a headline, objective or qualifications summary?
  • Is the CV targeted to a specific career goal and not trying to be a one-size-fits-all document?
  • If this is a CV for career change, is the current objective clearly stated, along with supporting details showing how past experience is relevant to the new goal?

Accomplishments

  • Does the CV include a solid listing of career accomplishments?
  • Are accomplishments quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts or other concrete measures of success?
  • Do accomplishment statements begin with strong, varied action verbs?
  • Are accomplishments separated from responsibilities?

Relevance

  • Is the information relevant to hiring managers' needs?
  • Does the CV's content support the career goal?
  • Is the CV keyword-rich, packed with appropriate buzzwords and industry acronyms?
  • Is applicable additional information, such as awards and affiliations, included, while personal information like marital status, age and nationality unrelated to the job target omitted?

Writing Style

  • Is the CV written in an implied first-person voice with personal pronouns, such as I, me and my, avoided?
  • Is the content flow logical and easy to understand?
  • Is the CV as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or spelling, grammar or syntax errors?

Check and Upload Your CV and Let the Jobs Find You

Monster has thousands of jobs to explore and it's quick and easy to apply. Just sign up for a free profile, make sure your CV is optimised by using the checklist, and then upload your CV to our database. Over 14,000 employers are looking for stand-out CVs like yours on Monster.