A good CV, or resumé, contains all the relevant information for the job you’ve applied for Creating a resumé may seem cumbersome, but if it’s successful, it’s worth it. A CV is the first information provided, on the basis of which interviewers and recruiters form their first impression of a job-seeker.
Certain basic information must always be present in your CV – for example, contact information. Mentioning this may seem strange to some, but for many job-seekers, the contact information is missing or incorrect. So always remember to add your contact information to your resumé and also check the accuracy of the information.
Word's .doc format also works well, but a .pdf document is more stylish, more functional, and more commonly used today. Before sending your CV, it is a good idea to let someone else read the resumé, because you become blind to your own typos, especially after spending a great deal of time revising the resumé.
The most important thing in making a resumé is knowing who and what kind of job it is for. You should always adapt your CV according to the job you are applying for. If you have not yet gained work experience and the resumé is weak in terms of content, you can describe your previous work in more detail and highlight other qualities that would be useful in the position you are applying for. Remember, in many cases, attitude matters more than experience! If the situation is the opposite, i.e. there is extensive work experience and competence documented, it is worth trimming the CV so that the most important and essential work experience and competence can easily be seen.
When making a resumé, it is worth noting that its style may vary depending on the field. In the creative industries in particular, visually appealing CVs are valued more than in the construction industry, for example. When applying to the creative field, a visual CV is usually used.
A good resumé includes a profile text, or introductory text, that gives an overall picture of you in a nutshell. It is therefore worth investing time in the content of the profile text. A good first impression is already made in the profile text and it should arouse the recruiter’s interest and make them want to get to know you, as well as read your resumé in more detail. The length of a good introductory text ranges from a few sentences to around one paragraph. In it, you can tell prospective employers about yourself and summarise your skills, your education and your interests.
Example profile-/introduction text
“A social, enthusiastic professional who specialises in profitable sales, with a particular focus on customer satisfaction. During my free time, I participate in various networking events, travel and explore new cultures, and actively engage in physical activity, including football. An innate team player looking for exciting new challenges in a working life.”
Choose the work experience and training that is relevant to the job you are applying for. Explain work experiences and training for a few sentences narratively; that is, using the self-form and expressing things in verbs (I did, answered, maintained, developed, drafted, introduced, sold, studied, etc.). This allows you to be seen as an active and self-motivated person. By explaining more about your work experience and education, the recruiter will get a better idea of your skills, training and achievements. They will also be given a good idea of your role in the workplace, team, and work community.
It is always worthwhile to explain your education, for example, your courses and/or various projects, so that the recruiter gets a better idea of your educational background. If you say you are a BBA, it will not divulge much about you and it will not differentiate you from other BBAs. So explain in more detail which field you specialised in, whether you have been involved in a student exchange, what kind of projects you participated in, did you belong to the student organisation, did you work as a tutor, etc.
Always include your language skills on your CV, even if there are no specific requirements. If you wish, you can differentiate oral and written language skills if needed. Usually the scale that is used to express language skills is: native speaker, excellent, good, moderate and elementary. The scale may also be the CEF or the CEFR, in which language proficiency is indicated according to level: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. In this case, A1 and A2 mean mastering the basics of the language and C1, and C2 mean a skilled and high-level language user. You can read more detailed definitions of the levels here.
Possessing a variety of software and IT skills is essential today. Especially when applying to the IT industry, it is important to express your experience with different software applications so that the recruiter knows at a glance if you have the required skills to perform the job. Office work usually requires experience in various MS Office software programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc. The creative field usually mentions Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Premiere, among others. In the IT field, you can mention Java, JavaScript, C ++, SQL, HTML, CSS, etc. Sometimes the decision to invite you to an interview will only be made based on your program skills, so make sure you share all the essential experience for the job you are applying for.
What are referees? Referees are people who know you and your competences in work. They can confirm your skills and tell the recruiter what kind of employee you are. Recruiters are very keen to hear their views on a job-seeker's performance in previous jobs.
If you can't find a referee for your resumé, feel free to ask your old co-workers or supervisors if any of them are willing to be your referrer. Most often, people are happy to be referees.