How to prepare a CV?
For most candidates, an integral part of the job search involves creating or editing a CV. Trends in the appearance of this document change, as does fashion, but there are a few constant elements that should be included in every CV.
A well-prepared CV should be clear and legible, divided into relevant sections, describing the experience and selected strengths of the candidate.
Online you can find many sites offering ready-made templates that are waiting for you to complete them. If you want to stand out and like to be creative, creating your own unique template is also a very good idea.
When creating a CV, remember that its recipients are people who do not know you and who have limited time to find the information they are interested in.
Focus on the most important information and try to match your CV to the relevant position the employer offers – this shows your commitment and motivation to work in a particular place.
Below is a brief description of the information that recruiters and future employers look out for when reviewing applications from candidates.
Put your personal/contact information in a prominent place on your CV:
- First and last name
- Phone number
- E-mail address
A link to your LinkedIn profile and/or portfolio (for selected positions) is always welcome.
Private information such as your exact address or date of birth is not necessary.
The inclusion of a photo in your CV is optional, and its absence does not result in the rejection of your application. However, a document with your image is much more likely to be remembered by the recruiter and future manager. A well-taken photograph can highlight your qualities, making you stand out more easily from other candidates.
However, if you do decide to include a photo, make sure it shows your professionalism. A holiday photo or a photo with a pet is not a good choice.
The section most commonly referred to as the Professional Summary or About Me has become more popular in recent times. It is not required, but if you want to show your specific achievements and write about who you are and what kind of job you are looking for, it is the perfect place for this type of information. A good summary should be up to date and tailored to the company and job you are applying for.
Experience is the most important section, which is the first thing a recruiter checks when reviewing your CV, particularly for specialist and senior-level positions. This allows the recruiter to determine whether your previous experience is likely to be useful in the position you are applying for.
Remember to rank your experience in order from the most recent (current) place of work to the earliest. It is also important to describe the most important tasks next to each job (up to 5 items) and provide a time range (month and year).
The CV should include a section dedicated to Education. However, this should only include the place of education you most recently graduated from (or are currently in) and the schools/universities relevant to the position you are applying for (e.g. post-graduate studies in your chosen field). Once again, the information should be provided from the most recent to the oldest one.
Do you know foreign languages and/or software/tools that are useful in your new job? This is very valuable information for your CV! Mention the things most relevant to the role you are applying for (if specific software/languages are mentioned in the ad), and be precise. Specify your level of competence – for foreign languages, it is best to use a standardised scale from A1 to C2.
Have you completed training, courses or certificates that might be useful in your new place of work? Be sure to show this off, but focus only on the essentials and do not include information on training or courses that are no longer relevant to your professional development.
Do you want to present your private life and show us your hobbies? We’d love to know more about you! Hobbies are not a must in a CV, but they certainly add value to your entire professional self-presentation. This section is not subject to a recruiter’s assessment; treat it as a place to comprehensively tell your story.
In order for us to process your personal data for recruitment purposes, we need your consent to do so via an appropriate clause. GDPR-related legislation is subject to change, so be sure to include the current consent. GDPR-related legislation is subject to change, so be sure to include the current consent.
Apart from creating the CV, pay attention to its file format.
You can create the document yourself in different types of software, but remember that files saved in editable formats may not look right on different devices.
The .pdf format is best, so you can be sure that the recruiter sees your CV just like you do. Also, use clear file names, such as ‘First_Name_CV’, especially if you are sending more than one appendix.
Before sending your CV, remember to verify that all the necessary information has been included and that you have added an up-to-date personal data processing clause. Your CV should evolve with you to match your current professional situation.
We hope that these few tips will help you to create your own professional CV, which will bring you closer to getting an interview and your dream job offer.