If you are looking to get hired, one of the main requirements is a strong Curriculum Vitae. Whether your application is approved or rejected depends directly on how well your CV is built. There are many platforms like Jooble, where, if you have an optimized CV, you can easily get the job that you desire.
Unfortunately, most people make mistakes while creating their CV, and this often leads to being ignored or outright rejected by potential employers. But what makes a resume become outstanding and truly shine? In this article, we will delve into this issue, as well as give you some useful tips to create your best possible CV:
#1. The devil is in the details
Carefully research the type of job you are looking for. Examine relevant job descriptions and highlight frequent phrasing, culture clues, and anything that resonates strongly with your professional background.
#2. Do not worry if you lack some of the required skills
Do not give up if you discover that you do not have all the necessary skills. Companies know all too well, that there is no such thing as the perfect candidate, with all the right skills and characteristics.
Moreover, they receive a lot of applications from absolute beginners, all the time. So, it is no big deal if one or several skills are missing. It all comes down to how valuable you can be for your employer, based on the contents of your CV.
Try to focus the recruiter’s attention on your personal and broad application skills. Experience is always valuable, whatever it might be: additional projects, volunteer experience or academic work.
#3. Keep it nice and short
Your resume is not a personal diary, so you don’t have to write down every single detail about your past positions and responsibilities.
Imagine that your CV is a short description of your current career and of your potential for the future. While recollecting your previous jobs and what you have learned from them, select and write down the most important aspects only. Remember, brevity is the soul of wit!
#4. Showcase your personality
Your resume should reflect the most interesting aspects of your personality. Successful people usually have a variety of exciting hobbies and interests.
Recruiters often pick candidates for an interview, simply because something from the resume stands out and sparks their interest.
It can be anything from sports to books, to movies, personal projects, or volunteer work. Some hobbies can showcase that you are proficient in the skills related to your job – archery teaches focus, drawing increases creativity etc.
Feel free to reference the sports you play, places you’ve travelled, or the clubs and societies that you are a member of.
#5. Always try to “sell” your CV
A good resume must make the recruiter want to “buy” it. For them, a resume is one of the main tools of their trade.
For example, if you care about app interface or the design of websites that you are working with, you will tend to avoid interfaces that you do not like. The same thing happens with a recruiter: if they do not like the design of your resume, their desire to read through it will decrease exponentially.
An experienced recruiter who appreciates the contents of your resume might redesign it for you to make it more sellable, but would be an exception, rather than a rule.
#6. Look for advice
Read articles from trustworthy sources and pay attention to the advice they dispense. For example, notorious magazines like Forbes and The Guardian publish extremely helpful articles to help you create your resume.
Pay attention to these summaries from specialists and recruiters. Here are some more additional articles where you will find tips for improving your CV to make you stand out from the crowd and 15 helpful resume writing tips articles.
#7. Respect the structure
There are many types of resume structure and information sequences out there. We think that the ideal sequence for placing information on a resume is the following:
- Last and First Name.
- Photo
- Contact information (phone and e-mail)
- Purpose – the position that you are applying for. Do not use stereotypical phrasing, such as “to find a company where I can realize my potential, with maximum benefits for the employer, as well as for myself.” Nobody takes this kind of phrasing seriously.
- A short summary of your key competencies and experience. Recruiters may not want to go through the entire resume, but they will certainly take a look at the key competencies. You need to showcase your professional knowledge and achievements, as well as several of your personal qualities.
- Work experience – in chronological order, starting from newest to oldest.
- Education – same as with work experience. You can indicate your academic achievements (grades, diplomas etc.)
- Trainings.
- Additional information (language proficiency, software skills, certifications and accreditations, driver’s license).
#8. Share your achievements
Listing your various achievements immediately adds value to your resume. The recruiter is simply unable to interview every single person who has submitted a resume.
Therefore, the candidates who list all of their achievements are usually the ones to peak the recruiter’s interest. Achievements represent your measurable success, expressed in numbers, terms or significant qualitative changes in the company. They must be specific, quantifiable, outstanding and appropriate for the position.
#9. Additional information
You can include this section on your resume only if you feel like you have something very important to add – for example, to explain a long break in employment due to travel or family reasons.
This can also include other skills that may be useful, such as having first aid training or knowing a foreign language.
#10. Use references
Contact all previous employers or colleagues who can recommend you for a position. A good reference can sometimes make the difference between getting rejected and getting invited to an interview.
Final Words
Following these tips will definitely help you build your resume. And remember, honesty is always the main rule.
Be open and transparent on your resume, do not attempt to write down skills or experience that you do not have. The recruiter will appreciate your straightforwardness. Good luck!