7 Tips for Writing a Good Resume (CV)
7 Tips for Writing a Good Resume (CV)
When applying for a new job offer, your resume is like a ticket that will help you stand out from other candidates and increase your chances of being selected for a job position.
Writing a good resume is not difficult when you know how to do it. When writing it, you need to mention all your skills and experience and apply them to the job you are applying for. What does it take for a resume not to look ridiculous in the eyes of a prospective employer and make a good impression on him?
During my successful recruitment career, I had to do a lot of job interviews and read even more resumes. I created this article to share tips to help you create a good resume and take a solid step toward dream work.
- Choose the right CV format
When writing a resume, you can choose from a variety of resume formats to suit your needs. Some are suitable for drawing the potential employer’s attention to personal experience, others to education and theoretical knowledge.
The most popular CV format in Europe is Europass. It is convenient in that it helps employers to list their skills, knowledge and qualifications clearly and consistently. The Europass-Curriculum Vitae brings together information such as personal and contact details, education and qualifications, work history and experience, relevant work skills, hobbies and achievements.
- The photo is still a relevant part of the CV
When applying for a vacancy, the question often arises as to whether you should submit your photo with your resume.
The job requirements for a job candidate depend on the country in which you work. Suppose this practice is not popular in England. Modern trends encourage not to attach a photo. It is believed that the employer is thus better focused on your abilities rather than your appearance. In some countries, such as Germany, companies are generally not allowed to request a photo in a vacancy notice due to privacy laws. However, the reality is different – employers in Germany still expect to receive not only a CV but also a photo of the candidate.
Therefore, my answer is unequivocally YES! You won’t lose anything by adding a photo. A CV with photo provides a more complete picture of the candidate and makes it much easier for the employer to make contact with the person. And if the employer doesn’t care about your appearance, but your abilities or hobbies, he or she just won’t pay attention to the attached image of the candidate.
- Keep on the right track
It is often the impression that writing a resume is an ideal opportunity to boast of everything you have achieved in your life and list all the jobs you have had before. However, this is not always necessary.
If you are looking for a job in a job that requires specific skills, there is no point in mentioning or at least expanding your CV to describe experiences that are not related to them. For example, if you are looking for a plumber job, a librarian’s work experience is unlikely to impress a potential employer, and vice versa. Thus, an expansion to describe an irrelevant experience or trait in your resume will look like worthless nonsense.
- Less is more
Employers receive dozens of resumes every day. A good resume should be clear and concise. You do not need more than two A4 pages. More does not necessarily mean better.
If you’re writing a resume, you’re probably looking for your text to impress not only with its content, but also with its appearance. In this case, we advise you not to overdo it – a neatly composed curriculum vitae that is not overloaded with signs of different styles will seem more aesthetically pleasing than variegated and overflowing with intricate details. We recommend that you choose one of the classic, well-known fonts, such as Ariel or Times New Roman, and do not change it unless your chosen resume format requires it.
To make the text easier to read, we recommend avoiding unnecessary words and naming facts in paragraphs whenever possible. This will show the prospective employer that you are specific, organized and able to plan.
- The feedback makes a positive impression
If you, like most people writing a resume, have a question about devoting a day more to this and inserting feedback, I can assure you that time will not be wasted.
While previously a couple of feedback was required by every employer, now it is not necessary. It is said that a frequent employer spends on average about half a minute reading one CV. However, not every employer is the same and inserting 1-2 sentence reviews is definitely worth it.
When discussing with someone who will write you a review, you need to properly emphasize what issues are important. This will make it easier for the writer and both will save you a lot of time and effort. Questions worth considering are: what is the candidate’s attitude to the job; whether he is active in teamwork; how to work under stress and urgency; or open to new ideas; what are the greatest strengths of the candidate. Choose the questions or topics that are most relevant to the specifics of the job position.
True, never forget to thank the person who wrote you the positive feedback.
- Don’t lie
In order to intrigue a future employer, thoughts may arise to beautify reality. But these days, lying to a prospective employer is much harder than it used to be.
In the age of the Internet and social networks, it is enough to enter a person’s name on Google or Facebook, and a lot of facts will be known about him. For example, if you lie that you take great photos and are infinitely communicative, and a potential employer visits your social networking accounts and makes sure the opposite is true, he or she will realize that you are self-confident and untrustworthy. Therefore, lying in a resume is not wise. It is better to emphasize your positive qualities as much as possible.
- Read it a few times
Already written a resume for your long-dreamed job? Don’t click the “send” button yet! Now take a short break or move on to the next activity, and after a while, go back to your text and re-read it. I recommend doing this three times.
As the eyes become accustomed to the text, it becomes difficult to evaluate it objectively and read it as another person would read it. Therefore, only when the mind rests will you notice your mistakes. When reviewing a text after a break, try to read it through the eyes of someone you do not know and think about whether you would hire such a candidate yourself. If you have the opportunity, give the resume to a relative or close friend to read.
