Being a recruiter involves sifting through a lot of CVs every day. Have you ever wondered what makes a CV stand out? 🤔
Targeted Resume 🎯
As a recruiter, when I have a specific role to fill, I try to find the perfect match for the job. While nothing is perfect in this world, I search for as many common points as possible between the job description and the candidate's CV. It's essential to target your resume for every job. Though it takes more time than creating a general resume for all roles, it's worth the effort. Quality is more important than quantity. Respond directly to the job description and explain why you're the candidate for the role. The recruiter will see and appreciate the effort.
About You 🙋♀️🙋♂️
Begin with a summary of your skills and key accomplishments. Write three to four sentences about your professional background and what you're looking for in your next role. Don't skip this part, as it's an essential part for a recruiter to move forward with your resume. You want to make the right impression.
Experience 💼
Now, let's talk about content. Your professional experience is the most important part of your resume. Indicate your experience in reverse-chronological order. Your current or last job should be the first on the list. Add dates, your job title, company name, and city to every job you add to your resume. Emphasize results rather than responsibilities, and use numbers and metrics.
Clear Layout 📐
Try to keep your resume neat. Avoid too many columns, different visual effects, fonts, and other additional things that can be overwhelming for a recruiter's eye. Though your CV must be eye-catching, it's not the place to experiment with exotic typefaces and colors. Keep things neat, straight to the point, and easy to read. Use headings and bullet points.
Name of Your CV 📝
Do name your resume correctly. Add your first name and last name to the file you share with a recruiter. For instance, my CV would be called "Nina van Hulzen CV."
Format 📄
Always save and share your resume in PDF format. Other formats may open incorrectly on the recruiter's laptop or phone.
Photo 📷
Some people add photos to their resumes, while others don't. You can choose what suits you best. Research the region you're applying to. Check whether adding a photo would be preferable or not in that particular country. But if you do add a photo, add a professional one.
Length of the CV 📏
Keep it short and to the point. Remember, recruiters have a lot of other CVs to go through. One or two pages is more than enough. If you have more than 15 years of experience, you could potentially use a maximum of three pages, but I would still advise you to keep it short and sweet. My personal preference is two pages. Normally, I wouldn't go through a seven-pager. If I want to know more details about your professional experience, I will invite you for an interview.
Remove "References Available Upon Request" 🚫📞
...or names of people with their contact numbers. It's great that you can provide references, but be careful whose personal data you share in your CV; it's a sensitive topic. If I need your reference, I will ask for them separately! Use the extra space to add details about your abilities or accomplishments instead.
Proofread 📝🔎
You don't want any spelling or grammar mistakes in your resume. Period.
P.S. Don't forget to add your contact details. 📞📧🆕
Make sure you include your correct name, phone number with the country code, and email in your resume. You can also add a hyperlink to your LinkedIn page. In our recent article on LinkedIn, we taught you how to arrange a hyperlink.
That's all for today. Would you like to have more tips about resume content and structure or any other tips? Don't hesitate to message me! 💬
At #GrowCareerConsult, we can help you develop an effective job search strategy and provide guidance and support throughout the process. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your career goals. 🚀🌎💼