Want to write a powerful CV? Here we go!

Do you often not receive a response from Human Resources? Is your CV not catching the attention of recruiters? Can’t get your first interview? Don’t worry, you are not alone in this situation. The recruiter will spend a few seconds reading your curriculum vitae, 6 on average.

You have understood, it is not long at all and your document must therefore be the most impactful and the clearer as possible to mark the spirits. Before you completely redo your CV, you can make some small changes that can have a big influence on the reader’s perception of your document.

We have decided to give you a boost and help you improve your resume by giving you the 10 essential tips for a powerful application!

• Use the anti-chronological method

For the headings of your CV such as professional experience or studies and training, you must mention the most recent first and then go back in time. Thus, the recruiter has direct and easy access to your latest activities, your latest diplomas, or your latest successes. Remember to apply this rule to all sections of your curriculum to respect the consistency of the document.

• Do not repeat the same information

This may seem logical, but sometimes the candidate wants to show off so much that he will rewrite the same information differently. Clearly, to give you a concrete example, if you have held two different but almost similar positions during your career, when you describe your tasks, try to highlight different responsibilities for each of the jobs held.

This way, the recruiter can see the various tasks that you had to perform, without feeling like they were reading the same thing twice. The same goes for your skills. Of course, these should be highlighted in the CV, but they should not be repeated multiple times.

Firstly, this would give HR an impression of gaps or lack of qualities on the part of the candidate. And secondly, the recruiter could quickly get bored reading the curriculum vitae and that’s not what you want!

• List your essential professional experiences

When your career is rich in experience, it is better to focus on the most recently held positions, but also those which are most relevant so that you do not create a long list. For example, it is not necessarily necessary to register for an internship carried out 10 years previously, unless it is particularly important for the position in question of course.

• Take care of the design of your CV

At first glance, the recruiter will judge your CV. The appearance of it is therefore crucial. You can take a look now at our sample CV designs. Depending on the field you are applying for, communication, marketing, or sales, for example, your CV might even be a little more original to get noticed. Check out our article now on the creative CV to stand out!

This may seem obvious, but it needs to be remembered. Indeed, the candidate may tend to want to embellish reality to access the first interview. Be frank with your accomplishments, your qualifications, but also with your previous skills, education, and experience. This is information that is verifiable and that the recruiter will be sure to check before receiving you or even during your interview. You thus demonstrate professionalism and transparency towards the company in question.

• Proofread or have your CV proofread

Here is a key point that is often overlooked! We urge you after you have finished writing and laying out your resume, to proofread it later today or even the next day if possible. The even more effective solution would be to have it proofread by a professional or an acquaintance. Thus, you avoid grammar errors or spelling mistakes. In addition, if you call on a CV pro, they can advise you on the structure or even the design of your document.

• Submit your application correctly to human resources

Of course, there is the substance, but there is also the form. When you send your application by email, you must present your file in the content of the email. Note that this is just as important as the rest of your file because these are the first words that recruiters will read. If you are sending an application by mail, your cover letter will be the first document to place so that human resources know what is going on as soon as they open the envelope. In both cases, the presentation of your file must be flawless.

A CV does not have to be the same for every application. You must indeed adapt the information put forward according to the employer or the position concerned. For example, the skills highlighted for one job may not be relevant for another job. Even the look of the CV can be revised to use, for example, colors in which the company can recognize itself. More generally, your CV should remain airy and modern.

• Write a compelling and concise objective

At the top of your CV, the objective career is one of the first things a recruiter will read. Written in a few lines, it should be clear and concise. Not all applicants add it to their CV, which could set you apart from the rest by crafting a clear idea of ​​what you really want in your professional career.

• Add a “miscellaneous” section: yes, but…

In the section we call “miscellaneous”, we prefer to call it “Other information” for example. It is used less and less, but it can nevertheless bring relevant elements to your CV if it is used correctly. If you have taken language trips to improve your language level or if you have volunteered, these life experiences are a real added value for your curriculum vitae. However, hobbies that do not add value to your file should not be included.