In order to improve your chances of getting a job interview and landing a job, you need to write an impeccable cover letter and a perfect CV. In this article, we are going to focus on how to build an effective CV. This latter is more important than the cover letter to the extent that it is the very first document the recruiter will see. If it does not meet their expectations, they will not pay attention to the other elements of your job application. So, here are some tips and tricks to succeed the creation of your curriculum vitae.
You should adapt your CV to Each Company
A common mistake that applicants often make is to send the same resume without bothering to personalize it to all jobs they apply for. This means that you must have as many CVs as the type of position (commercial, salesperson, technical-commercial for example) or type of business (SME, Large Company, associative sector for example) for which you are applying. The ideal is to start from a basic personal curriculum vitae explaining your skills, experience and education, and adapt it to each application to best suit the position sought or the targeted company.
To do this, the first thing to do is to analyse the job offer to which you are applying or to find out about positions in companies as part of a spontaneous application. Next, you need to note the job title and keywords used by the company and then reuse them in your document. By sending a personalized CV tailored to the company, you will have a better chance of standing out from the other candidates. In addition, many companies use software that analyses keywords in order to select the applications received. Thanks to online CV generators, you can create a cv now so that its both form and content match the recruiters’ expectations.
How about the CV design?
Adopting a sober look makes it possible to please the greatest number of head-hunters. For this purpose, you can for example put the title of your CV and your personal data in a box or separate each section with a horizontal or vertical line. To structure your content, have better clarity and thus make your document easier to read, we recommend that you use bullets. As for the colour, it must be consistent with the intended position and be readable both on the screen and in print.
Write a Clean and Well-Structured Curriculum Vitae
If you really want to be contacted by the recruiter, then your CV must be clean and well-structured. It should be well-written. Summarize your training, skills and your professional experiences. You have to select the most relevant ones, those which are the most related to what you are applying for. If you make a structured resume, you will have every chance of getting a job interview.
Choose PDF Format for your CV to catch the recruiter’s attention
Whatever the initial format of your document (.doc, .psd, etc.), always opt for PDF format when sending by email. Indeed, this format has several advantages including that of giving a more professional aspect to your curriculum vitae. However, some CV databases or companies require a CV in .doc or .docx format.
Don’t use Pictograms on your Curriculum Vitae
You should avoid using pictograms and other graphics on your resume. As a matter of fact, it is better to send a sober document. However, if you really want to use pictograms, make sure these might interfere with proper reading of ATS. Also, don’t opt for an extravagant font and garish colours