How to write my CV?

There are certain rules that you should follow when writing a CV. Continue reading to learn how to write a CV that will attract all recruiters!

If you want to make a first good impression on your future employer, it is important that you write an attractive CV. You probably already went through many websites and blogs, so we understand that it can be confusing what to do. In this blog, we gathered all the tips and tricks from recruiters and websites. So here you will find how to structure your CV and what to write in each section, to deliver a good resume. 

The content

These are the most important items that you need to have in your CV. 

• Your first and last name
• Your address or location where you currently live
• Your email address
• Your phone number
• Your date of birth OR your age (indicating both does not make more sense)
• If you have your driver's license (if you don't, no mention is necessary)
• A photo of you (if you wish, it is not mandatory)
• Your diplomas and training (obtained and/or in progress)
• Your professional experiences
• Your skills
• Your qualities 
• The languages ​​spoken

Recruiters spend an average of one to two minutes reading a resume. It must be accurate, clean, and structured in such a way that the recruiter can read your resume quickly and smoothly. Obviously, the more experience you have, the longer your CV will be. So try to write as concisely as possible and the relevant information for the job offer. Generally, the CV should fit on one page. 
 

This list is only a condensed summary of what must appear on your CV. Now, we are going to detail of some parts of your resume. If you follow our advice, your CV will certainly appeal to your future recruiter! 

Your picture

Most people put a photo in their CVs, but it is not mandatory. So don't just add a random photo of yourself. Also, be careful about the country to which you are applying. There are some countries where it is mandatory to put the photo, while in others it is even forbidden by law!

 Make sure the photo is professional, and that it does not take up too much space on your CV. The photo you put should have a neutral background because it should not take away from the attention from your face. 

Please remember that your CV is the first impression you give to the recruiter, so if you decide to include a photo be careful (don't use Instagram filters or photos of you at the beach with friends).

Your diplomas and education

Depending on your age and your studies, this section of the resume will be longer or shorter. Be sure that you add your studies in reverse chronological order. So, start with the latest diploma you got and continue in that order. 

If you just finished high school, be sure to describe what major you chose and the most important subjects you took. 

If, on the other hand, you have one or more degrees, describe what you specialized in, what projects you did, and indicate the courses you took (particularly those in which you excelled). If you had the opportunity to do a university exchange (Erasmus) write it down!

We suggest you add as many projects you did: sports activities, with cooperatives, or on a personal level, it all counts! These items can highlight your personality, skills, and qualifications that you obtained by doing these projects. It is important that you write them because they are proof of your commitment and the variety of what you did.

Your professional experiences and internships 

In this section, mention the various professional experiences or internships you have completed so far. Just like for the previous section, make sure to indicate your experiences in reverse chronological order. In this part, employers want to have as much information as possible about your experiences to see if your profile can meet their expectations and needs for the position. Therefore, you should write:

• The title of the position previously held
• The location of the position, and the country (if some are abroad)
• A description of the tasks and missions carried out. Try to quantify your tasks when possible.

You can phrase this part any way you want, whether it is in paragraph form or list form is up to you. But make sure it is clear to the people who will read your CV.
 

Here is an example:

Sales Manager at H&M

London, UK

• Answer customers’ questions
• Increase turnover by 3%
• Organise and restock shelves
• Take care of the inventory
• Cash customers
• Manage a team of 5 people
   

Don't worry if you don't have significant work experience to list, you will gain experience over the years. For this reason, if you have yet to gain work experience, you can always list projects that have trained you or taught you a new skill. Show that you will be a driving force in your future team.

Your skills/ hobbies

There are two types of skills called Hard and Soft skills. Hard skills are those skills that you have learned over the years and can demonstrate doing. For example, knowledge of computer software or programs, skills that can be demonstrated with certificates, or use of specific machinery. Whereas soft skills are skills that depend on your character, education, and experiences. Some examples are resistance to stress, knowing how to work alone or in a team, etc. If you need some ideas, just look them up on some sites to help you define your soft skills. 

In this section, you can also add your hobbies, which are related to the job offer you are interested in or the company's industry. Don't lie about this information, because our Yobbers recruiters may ask you questions about it, and you don't want to affect your credibility and thus your future hiring negatively.

Languages

The first piece of advice we can give you is: don't lie about your abilities, and also don't underestimate yourself! To provide your language level, you can simply write if you are a beginner, or at a more advanced level. In case you have already done a language certification, you can indicate whether you are an A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2 level. You can always add the name of the certification (IELTS, TOEFL...) and the score you got. 

Tips that makes all the difference

Have your CV proofread by those around you to be sure to avoid spelling and typos. Spelling mistakes are not well seen so double check. So don't rush your work: quality is found in the details. You won't see what to improve or change by working on it alone. This is another reason why it is very interesting to have an external point of view. 

 Also, don't forget to keep your CV up to date and delete information that becomes too old over the years. Leave only experiences that are significant for the position you are applying for.

Now it's your turn! You have all the information you need to start writing your resume. For the structure and the visual aspect, we advise you to browse several sites so that you can find a visual that you like. The visual aspect and the structure are very important because they attract, or not, the eye of the reader in a few thousandths of a second. Find a visual that looks like you but avoid using too much color or a design which is too distracting.

👉 Now that you have written your CV, apply for our job openings in the country of your choice!