Top Tips for an Effective CV that Gets You Hired

When you apply for a position that requires the use of the English language, it is a good idea to submit a CV or resume that uses that language professionally. You might believe that a direct translation is sufficient. However, a word-for-word translation usually does not convey the same information or feel that a naturally written one does. This is due to the structural differences between Japanese and English CVs. The sections that summarize you as an applicant, and that list your work experience are quite different.

Summary

After your contact information, at the top of the CV is the summary. This section is akin to an article that covers all of your job history and yourself. This gives recruiters or potential employers a good first impression of who you are and how you might help their company. Its importance cannot be ignored. The summary gives you an opportunity to impress whoever sees your CV.

You get approximately four, five, or six sentences to cover your personality, skill sets, and work history. Make these sentences powerful and strategic. For best effect, consider using bullet points to separate them.

Begin by giving an overview of your career.

Some examples include:

• Private banking consultant with five years’ experience in risk mitigation.
• Seven years as a top manager for a telecommunications program.
• IT business support analyst for six years at a premier houseware company.
• Senior software developer at a leading insurance firm for six years.

Next, include all the important skills that indicate your ability to successfully do the job. Do not include general skills that are not tailored to the job you are applying for.

For example:

• Extensive delegation and prioritization of tasks during the management of a twelve-person team.
• Flexibility and a creative approach to any demand in a dynamic project environment.
• Clear and concise communication as a project manager responsible for vision and maintaining precise deadlines.
• Strong networking and communication skills to facilitate negotiations between departments and independent contractors.

Work Experience CV Section

This section of your CV in English depends more on how the information is presented than your Japanese one does. This requires more than just a simple list of companies that you worked for and the duties you performed for them. On your new CV, include that information as well as everything you were responsible for and what you achieved while working there.

Again, use bullet points to make the work experience section easy to read. This also helps the recruitment manager or potential employer understand the information you are sharing. Always use active words to create a more dynamic and energetic feeling.

Some examples include:

• Analyzed multiple report types for computer security and incident management.
• Communicated regularly with both local and foreign stakeholders to facilitate various tasks and financial systems.
• Facilitated and mediated discussions with other business owners, tracked and analyzed the collected data, and crafted workable solutions.
• Oversaw a cybersecurity team responsible for developing IT methodologies with internal and global experts.

After listing what you actually did at each job, it is time to share your achievements or any accolades you received while doing them.

For example:

• Saved 22% over three years on marketing costs while maintaining lead generation.
• Boosted productivity to maximize ROI by facilitating new practices in manufacturing.
• Exceeded sales targets 100% of the time and earned top sales position for months running.
• Overhauled the company’s customer service strategy, which resulted in an overall improvement from 3.5 stars to five stars in the target business directories.

When you look at the research that indicates potential employers spend approximately seven seconds on each CV that comes across their desk, it is more important than ever before to make a quick and positive impression.