Chartered Accountant and career coach Dickson Assan has shared what he describes as his professional template for writing an effective curriculum vitae, urging job seekers to tailor their CVs to each specific role.
Many applicants miss out on opportunities not because they lack the qualifications, but because their CVs are poorly structured or not aligned with the job they are applying for.
In a Facebook post on February 16, Dickson Assan wrote,
“Since 2021, I have reviewed and revamped 700+ CVs from entry-level to C-suite, including some Members of Parliament. Some of these CVs have landed jobs as far as AFDB and admissions in Ivy League schools like Cornell. I have therefore understood so well what a good CV is and what a poor one looks like.”
He added, “For avoidance of doubt, let me share my professional template with you.”
Dickson Assan stressed that there is no need to begin a CV with the words Curriculum Vitae, and described it as unnecessary.
“There is no need to start with ‘Curriculum Vitae.’ It’s a waste of space; the employer is already aware of this.”
His recommended CV structure
He outlined key sections every strong CV should contain, beginning with a clean header that includes full name (in bold and larger font), professional title, phone number, professional email address and location (city and country only).
He cautioned against including date of birth, marital status, religion or full home address.
On the professional summary, he noted that it must be tailored and compelling, describing it as a critical section that determines whether recruiters continue reading.
He further advised that core competencies should be presented in bullet points rather than paragraphs to make the CV easy to scan and compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems.
Describing work experience as the most important section, Dickson Assan recommended listing roles in reverse chronological order and focusing on measurable achievements rather than simply outlining duties.
“Best formula: Action verb + task + measurable impact.”
He also advised listing education and professional certifications in reverse chronological order, excluding senior high school details unless specifically requested.
On referees, he recommended simply stating, “Available upon request.”
In conclusion, he emphasised that, “You cannot have one CV for all; one job application, one CV!”
