Shadowing Practice: HOW TO WRITE A CV IN 2026! | ATS Friendly Template + Best CV Tips & Words to Use! - Learn English Speaking with Video

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- Let me ask you a very quick question.
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Do you want to write a brilliant CV or resume that will get you hired.
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If the answer is yes, please make sure you stay tuned.
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Whatever you do, do not use artificial intelligence to write your CV or resume.
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Everybody has been doing this, and they are not hearing back from the employer.
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If you want to get hired, you need to follow this format.
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My name is Richard McMunn.
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I have been a hiring manager and recruitment expert for more that's, a brilliant CV.
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To achieve that goal, I am going to cover Four things in this lesson.
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Number one, I will tell you what a CV or resume is used for during the hiring process.
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Once you understand, what it is used for, it will empower you to get hired.
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Number two, I will tell you the seven mistakes you must avoid whenever writing a CV or resume.
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Do not make any of these mistakes.
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Number three, I will then tell you the 10 best words you should use on your CV
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or resume that will grab the attention of the assessor.
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And then finally, number four, I will tell you your CV or resume to ensure it gets noticed.
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Let's get started, take notes.
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Just very quickly, if at any point during this presentation,
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you would like me to personally write your CV or resume for you, you can go to my website, cvmadeeasy .co .uk.
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The link is in the top comment below this video.
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Okay, now a CV or resume is used to assess Which candidates have the following things?
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Number one, the skills to do the job competently.
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Number two, the knowledge to make a positive impact to the team.
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Number three, the qualifications to get up to speed quickly in the job role.
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And number four, the experience.
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Now all of these things will be used to assess your suitability against the job description.
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Now this is very important.
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you use keywords and phrases from the job description in your CV or resume.
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If you don't, you won't get offered the job.
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Always remember this: Those candidates that match the job description in their CV or resume will get invited to a job interview.
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Let me now move on to the next section of this lesson.
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The seven most common CV and resume mistakes you must avoid.
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Write these down.
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Mistake number one I want you to avoid is spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
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If there are any errors on your CV, Yeah to have a positive impact in the role.
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Mistake number two, is not making your CV or resume ATS friendly.
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What does ATS stand for?
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It stands for Applicant Tracking System.
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The majority of larger organizations now use ATS to filter CVs and resumes.
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You must make sure yours is ATS friendly.
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And if you hire me to write your CV or resume for
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Mistake number three is not tailoring your CV or resume to the job role.
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Make sure you have the job description next to you when you are writing yours.
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Which brings me nicely onto mistake number four that is often made when writing CVs or resumes,
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and that is not using keywords from the job description.
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Make sure you use keywords from the advertised job description.
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It will increase your chances Number five is an underwhelming personal statement.
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At the beginning of your CV or resume, you must include a personal professional statement.
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Do not be afraid to sell yourself.
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It is very important.
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And mistake number six is making the CV or resume too long.
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I recommend you keep it to a maximum of two to three pages.
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And finally, last but not least, is mistake number seven, and that is using an unprofessional email address.
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For example, coolguy2593 @gmail .com is unprofessional.
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Make sure your email address is professional.
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Okay, in the next section of this training lesson, I have something very valuable to share with you.
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That is, 10 best action verbs I recommend you use on CVs and resumes.
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What is an action verb?
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An action verb is a doing word.
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Action verbs are perfect for CVs and resumes because they demonstrate to the assessor that you are an achiever.
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All employers want to hire people who will achieve great things.
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Write these down and use a selection of them on your CV or resume.
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Action verb number one is achieved.
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This is a great word to use on your CV or resume because it highlights measurable accomplishments and success.
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For example, I achieved a 30 % increase in sales through creative upselling techniques.
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Now you will notice that I am using numbers.
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Again, this is a great tip.
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Where possible, use numbers.
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in your CV or resume.
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Action verb number two is implemented.
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The word implemented demonstrates the ability to put plans into action and achieve results.
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For example, I implemented an AI customer service chatbot on the company website,
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which reduced response times by 40%.
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There is another number.
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Word number three is resolved.
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This is another great one.
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The word resolved indicates problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
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Here is an example.
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I resolved 95 % of customer complaints during the first interaction, which led to an increase in satisfaction rates.
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Action verb number four, increased.
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The word increased demonstrates growth, improvement, and being able to have a positive impact in your work.
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Here is my example.
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five -star customer service reviews by 35 % through personalized customer engagement strategies.
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Word number five, generated, which demonstrates your ability to drive revenue, engagement, or new opportunities.
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Here is an example.
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I generated $75 ,000 in new business by recommending that the company advertise their products and services on social media.
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Now that, I is a high number.
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It does not have to be high.
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The important thing is you are having a positive impact in your role.
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Action verb number six is led.
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Now, you do not need to be a manager or leader to use this action verb on your CV or resume.
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The word led shows leadership, initiative, and the ability to guide a team or project to success.
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For example, I led a cross -functional complete a project seven days ahead of schedule.
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You can see how impactful numbers are when they use them on your CV or resume.
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Word number seven, optimized, which shows the ability to improve processes, efficiency, or performance.
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For example, I optimized the company office supplies ordering which demonstrates initiative,
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innovative, and leadership in projects or team and company changes.
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For example, I spearheaded the launch of a new marketing campaign that generated $50 ,000 in revenue for the company.
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Two more action verbs to go before we move on to those six sections you should use on your CV or resume.
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new strategies, solutions, or products.
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For example, developed a new training program for new company hires that improved efficiency by 20%.
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I love action verb number 10, streamlined.
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This shows efficiency, process improvement, and operational effectiveness.
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You could say this, average three days ahead of schedule.
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In the next section I will reveal the six sections you must include in your CV
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or resume to ensure it is ATS friendly.
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Let's go.
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Section number one right at the top of your CV or resume your personal details include your full name,
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Your contact phone number, make sure there is a professional sounding answer phone message.
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Your email address, make sure it is professional.
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And also optional, your LinkedIn profile.
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And finally, your location, city, state, or zip code, but avoid your full address.
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Section number one personal details section number two is incredibly important this is your personal
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or professional summary this is a brief keyword rich paragraph
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that summarizes your experience skills and key achievements do not use artificial intelligence
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or chat gpt so to help you here is an example
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Highly motivated and commercially aware professional with a proven track record of delivering excellent customer service,
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solving problems and contributing to business growth in fast -paced environments.
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Recognized as employee of the month for consistently exceeding expectations and introducing ideas that enhanced sales and overall business performance.
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excellent organizational skills and the ability to think creatively to overcome challenges committed to maintaining high professional standards
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while helping teams achieve outstanding customer satisfaction and commercial success.
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Section number three, work experience.
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Include job title, company name and location, and dates of employment, for example,
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month and year to month and year, or currently employed there.
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Make sure you use bullet points with key
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And make sure you use those action verbs and numbers and include keywords from the job description.
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Let me give you a quick example of work experience section number three.
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Customer service assistant, XYZ company, include the dates of employment,
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third 2024 to present, if you are still employed there.
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Responsible for delivering outstanding service to increase sales and customer retention achieved, there is that action verb,
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an 11 % increase in sales for a new company product launch.
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Section number four, your educational background.
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Here's an example of what include the qualification name, the university, institution, or school,
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or college name, and its location, and the graduation date or part in progress if you are still in your studies.
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Section number five of your CV or resume is your key skills.
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I recommend you list technical,
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optimize for the applicant tracking system.
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For example, let's take a look at some technical skills.
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First of all, here we go.
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Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
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Google Workspace.
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Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Project Management Methodologies, Agile, Scrum, etc. Digital Marketing, Google Ads or Meta Ads,
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Social Media Management, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Content Writing, and Copywriting, Graphic Design.
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Don't forget, these are just some examples.
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Video Editing,
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IT support and troubleshooting cloud platforms such as AWS and Google Cloud.
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And finally, some great examples of soft skills, if you have them, to include on your CV or resume.
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Problem solving and critical thinking.
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Leadership and team management.
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Adaptability and change management.
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Communication, both verbal and written.
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Collaboration and teamwork.
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Emotional intelligence is a great one, especially when you are interacting with customers and clients time management,
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prioritization, and organization skills, conflict resolution and mediation,
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decision -making and strategic thinking, which is great for management and leadership positions, customer service and client relations,
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and last but not least, resilience and stress management.
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And finally, section number six is certifications and awards.
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Include the certification or name, the issuing organization, and the date it was earned.
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Okay, now if you want me to write your CV
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or resume for you so it is ATS friendly and you increase your chances of getting hired significantly,
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make sure you go to my website cvmadeeasy .co .uk right now.
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The link is in the top comment below this video.
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Make sure you check out my website.
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Don't forget, invest in your be glad that you did.
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Make sure you tailor your CV or resume to every job role to significantly increase your chances.
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I will see you on that website.
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Thank you very much for watching, and I wish you the very best for getting hired.
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Have a great day.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will learn the essential techniques for writing an effective CV or resume that stands out in today’s competitive job market. We will explore the purpose of a CV, highlight common mistakes to avoid, and share key phrases that will capture the attention of employers. Through this practice, you will not only enhance your CV writing skills but also improve your English pronunciation and confidence in speaking. This is especially helpful for those preparing for job interviews or IELTS speaking practice. Let’s dive in and make your CV shine!

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS) - Software used by employers to screen CVs and resumes.
  • Keywords - Specific terms from the job description that you should include in your CV.
  • Personal Statement - A brief introduction at the beginning of your CV that summarizes your career objectives and skills.
  • Tailoring - Customizing your CV to match the requirements of the job you’re applying for.
  • Competently - Performing job tasks effectively and efficiently.
  • Qualifications - Your educational and professional credentials relevant to the job.
  • Punctuation Errors - Mistakes in the use of symbols in writing, which can negatively affect your CV.
  • Impact - The effect you can have on a team or organization based on your skills and experience.

Practice Tips

To truly benefit from this lesson, consider using the shadowspeak technique. This involves listening closely to the transcript and mimicking the speaker's tone and pace. Since the rhythm is vital for clear communication, practice shadowing every sentence, paying special attention to your pronunciation. The video’s speed is ideal for beginners; take your time and repeat phrases until you feel comfortable. This method not only aids in improving English pronunciation but can also significantly enhance your confidence in speaking during job interviews. Utilize shadowing sites to practice with varied accents and speaking styles, further enriching your learning experience.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itis used · is often made · is achieved
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingpeople who will · thinking, which is

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →