How to craft a professional and clear CV

The professional summary is a brief statement that summarises your key skills, experience, and value to potential employers. This section should be no longer than three to four sentences and should be tailored to the job you're applying for. Your professional summary should be captivating and entice potential employers to keep reading your CV.

Example: 

Highly skilled and safety-focused Shipbuilding Engineer with over 10 years of experience in ship design, construction, and project management within the FPSO and LNG industry. Proven expertise in developing innovative solutions for shipbuilding processes, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring compliance with international standards. Strong leadership abilities with a track record of successfully managing cross-functional teams in high-pressure environments.

This is where you list your previous work experience. Start with your most recent job and work backward. Be sure to include your job title, the name of the company, role location, and the dates you were employed. For each job, list your key responsibilities, achievements, and any notable projects you worked on. Quantify your achievements with metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact. 

Example:

August 2017 – Present 
Senior Shipbuilding Engineer 
China State Shipbuilding Corporation
Qingdao, China

•    Led the design and construction of various types of vessels, including cargo ships, FPSO & LNG, 300,000 DWT crude oil tankers, and container ships.
•    Conducted detailed structural analysis and performance evaluations to optimize vessel design.
•    Supervised a team of 15 engineers and technicians, ensuring adherence to project timelines and budget constraints.
•    Collaborated with international clients to customize ship designs according to their specific requirements.
 

Make sure you list your academic qualifications and any relevant certifications or training programs you have completed. Start with your most recent qualification and work backward. Be sure to include the name of the institution or training provider, the qualification obtained, and the date of completion.

Example: 
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute
2011

This is your time to shine – it’s time to highlight your key competencies and strengths! In this section, you can include technical skills, such as operating heavy machinery, and soft skills, such as interpersonal communication. Take the time to align your skills with the job requirements and highlight your strongest skills first. 

Example: 
•    Ship Design and Construction
•    CAD Software (AutoCAD, Rhino, ShipConstructor)
•    Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS, NASTRAN)
•    Quality Assurance and Control

Finally, depending on the application requirements, having 2-3 professional referees in your back pocket who can vouch for your skills and work experience is always good. Where possible, use a current supervisor or someone you’ve worked closely with. Remember to always ask for permission before providing someone as a reference.

Note: You may choose to leave this portion out of most of your applications until prompted to provide.

General Information Needed for Reference Check: 
•    Name of referee
•    Position of referee
•    The Company you both worked together
•    Contact number
•    Email 

Avoid using too much industry-specific jargon in your CV, especially if it is not widely used. Using too much technical language can be confusing for employers and make it difficult to understand your achievements and skills. It's best to use straightforward language and highlight your accomplishments in simple terms.

Example: 

Utilized finite element analysis (FEA) to perform hydrostatic and hydrodynamic stability calculations, ensuring compliance with IMO SOLAS regulations and optimizing the ship's metacentric height (GM) for enhanced seaworthiness.

Fix it: 

Used finite element analysis (FEA) to check the ship's stability in water, making sure it meets international safety standards and is balanced properly for better performance at sea.
 

Don’t pack your CV full of cliches and buzzwords. If you do, you run the risk of creating a CV that sounds generic and forgettable. Instead, use descriptive language that demonstrates your skills and achievements.

Example: 

Results-driven team player with excellent communication skills and a strong work ethic.

Fix it: 

Collaborated with colleagues to achieve team goals and consistently exceeded performance targets. Demonstrated clear and effective communication skills in challenging situations.

Including unnecessary information can make your CV appear cluttered and detract from your professional achievements. Avoid including information that’s irrelevant to the job you are applying for – your potential employer doesn’t need to know about your after-school job at the local mum and pop shop 20 years ago!

Example: 

My hobbies include wakeboarding, going to the pub with friends, and watching movies with my partner and kids. 

Fix it: 

I’m passionate about professional development and growing my knowledge of the renewable energy sector. 

As a rule, it’s best practice not to include a photo of yourself on your resume. While it might be tempting to include a picture that showcases your professionalism or skills, it can make your resume look unprofessional, and it also exposes you to the risk of unconscious bias. 
 

Fix it: 

If you’re wondering whether to include a photograph on your resume, delete it. Let your skills, experience and qualifications do the talking.

A simple and well-designed CV can make a strong first impression on potential employers. Use bullet points and short sentences to deliver important information. Choose a clear and professional font (e.g. Verdana, Arial) and utilise white space to break up the text.

Did you know?
A recruiter takes an average of 10 to 30 seconds to scan through a resume/ CV for the relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and projects.

Tip
There are thousands of free CV templates online – choose a simple, minimal template and use it as a starting point.

Once you’ve nailed your design, it’s essential to proofread your CV. Take the time to carefully review your work, checking for wording mistakes and grammatical errors. Ask a friend or family member to review it as well, as they may catch something you missed. A polished and error-free CV shows attention to detail and professionalism.

Finally, it’s vital to keep your CV updated. This is particularly important when you complete additional training, take on a new role, or switch industries. Keep a record of any training you complete, and regularly update your ‘career history’ section to highlight your most recent roles and accomplishments. An up-to-date CV shows that you're committed to your career growth and development.