Job hunting is a challenge because applicants are often judged on first impressions. If the first thing a recruiter or staffing person sees from you is your Curriculum Vitae, you want to have spent ample time making sure it is in top notch shape and speaks well for you.

Distilling your professional career and development into a paper document can seem challenging, but with a CV you have the advantage that this document is intended to be thorough. Resumes are generally more brief, while a CV is for recruiters who expect you to have a full report of your academic, publishing, and leadership experience.

However, the skills you need to craft and put together a top quality CV are the same you need to assemble a good resume. In either case, you’ll have the most success in your job hunt if you exhibit:

• Diligence. Spend time ensuring you include all of the relevant information you can. It would be a shame to forget an item that could have gotten you an interview.
• Attention to detail. Proofreading is essential! Allow no mistakes in your CV, period.
• Confidence. Even in writing, your attitude toward yourself and your skills comes through to the person reading what you wrote. Build yourself up as you reflect on what you have to offer; it will make your CV stronger, too.

Impressing job recruiters with a CV can be challenging. With so many layoffs, there are more applicants for every open position than there were a year ago. Therefore, it is more essential than ever to have a high quality CV when you are aiming for a desired position. Whether this is your first job or your 50th, there are things that your CV should and should not be. Here are things to keep in mind as you prepare to impress the recruiter and get the job you deserve.

• 1. It’s okay to be thorough. To ensure you cover all aspects, again I cannot recommend enough webCV, the most extensive guide to creating the complete resume. Include everything that is appropriate and relevant (professional organizations, academic background, leadership, publishing, conferences, past positions, etc.)
• 2. It’s okay to take time on this. Because your CV serves as you in paper form, you had better make it good. It’s okay to spend hours getting your CV in tip top shape. Once it’s ready to go, you’ll be more equipped to respond to a job posting as soon as you see it.
• 3. Get a second opinion. When you’ve spent a lot of time working on your CV, you may not see obvious changes that could make it better. Get a fresh pair of eyes from a friend or even an employment professional. It will be worth it.

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