Crafting a Compelling CV: How to Write Your Experience

When it comes to writing your CV, the experience section is often the most critical part. It’s where you showcase your skills, accomplishments, and the value you can bring to a potential employer. However, many job seekers struggle to effectively convey their experience in a way that stands out. In this article, we’ll explore four key points to help you write a compelling experience section on your CV, complete with examples.

1. Add Data When You Write How You Executed Your Duties and Responsibilities

Using specific numbers and metrics can help demonstrate the scope and impact of your work. For example:

• Instead of saying “managed a team,” say “managed a team of 10 people, resulting in a 25% increase in productivity.”
• Instead of saying “increased sales,” say “increased sales by 15% within 6 months, resulting in a revenue growth of R100,000.”

By adding data, you provide concrete evidence of your accomplishments and show potential employers what you can achieve.

2. Add Successes When Writing Duties and Responsibilities

Focus on the achievements and successes you’ve had in your previous roles, rather than just listing your job responsibilities. For example:

• Instead of saying “responsible for customer service,” say “consistently received positive feedback from customers, with a 95% satisfaction rate.”
• Instead of saying “managed social media accounts,” say “grew social media followers by 500% within 3 months, resulting in increased brand awareness and engagement.”

By highlighting your successes, you demonstrate your ability to deliver results and make a positive impact.

3. Add Business or Departmental Impact When You Write Your Experience

Explain how your work contributed to the overall goals and objectives of the company or department. For example:

• Instead of saying “increased website traffic,” say “increased website traffic by 20%, resulting in a significant boost to our online sales and revenue.”
• Instead of saying “improved process efficiency,” say “streamlined our production process, resulting in a 15% reduction in costs and a 10% increase in productivity.”

By highlighting the business or departmental impact, you show potential employers that you’re a strategic thinker who understands how your work contributes to the bigger picture.

4. Add Benefits When Writing Your Duties and Responsibilities

Emphasize the benefits of your work, such as cost savings, improved customer satisfaction, or increased efficiency. For example:

• Instead of saying “implemented a new software system,” say “implemented a new software system that reduced errors by 20% and saved the company R50,000 in costs.”
• Instead of saying “developed a new marketing campaign,” say “developed a new marketing campaign that increased brand awareness by 30% and resulted in a 25% increase in sales.”

By highlighting the benefits, you demonstrate your ability to drive value and make a positive impact on the organization.