Are you looking for an internship or a first job? Do you have a lot of applications but no interviews? Chances are that the problem comes from your CV, the first contact with the person in charge of recruitment. We are giving you these tips to write a perfect CV and land an interview for sure!
Don’t lie
According to a study, about 75% of resumes are “misleading”. Indeed, it is sometimes tempting to lie, or at least to embellish one’s resume, especially for young workers with little experience or people who have to justify “gaps” in their career.
This is a very bad idea! Whether you lie about a date, a diploma or a skill, it will be discovered and will come back to bite you sooner or later. If in the “best” case scenario your application is simply not accepted, keep in mind that you can be fired for gross misconduct and sentenced in court.
Be 100% honest when writing your resume.
Go through an online CV site
Writing a CV, a cover letter and then the application email, all of this takes time, especially if you are not perfectly familiar with computer tools and/or if you are out of inspiration.
To fight against the anxiety of the blank page and save precious time, you can directly create your CV online. Numerous specialized websites allow you to quickly and easily obtain a personalized, modern and design CV. You can find many CV examples to download in those resume builder websites.
Some websites go even further by offering additional tools:
- help in writing cover letters
- templates for emails to recruiters
- follow-up of applications
These online CV sites are free of charge and usually have a premium package giving unlimited access to all the templates and advice sheets.
Adapt your CV
Just like the cover letter, your CV should be adapted to the position you are applying for.
Read the ad carefully and note down the key words in order to integrate them into your summary. This starts with the title (yes, your CV must have a title) and continues with your professional experience and academic background.
For example, if you are applying for a job as a web marketing manager, make sure that this term is present, as well as all the associated words, in order to convince the recruiter that you have the right profile.
Focus on the essentials
Did you know that? A recruiter spends an average of only 40 seconds on a CV. It is therefore essential to give them the main information in that time. Be direct and concentrate on the essential points related to the position you are applying for.
There is no need to mention your 2-month temporary assignment when you were 18 years old if you are planning to be hired as a computer manager.
You CV must also fit on one page. For young people looking for an internship or applying for a master’s degree, for example, this should not be a problem. For experienced or “senior” profiles, and given the evolution of the job market, it is becoming more and more complicated to respect this “norm”.
Have your CV proofread
We don’t need to tell you that your CV must be impeccable in terms of spelling and grammar…but when in doubt, we prefer to remind you: your CV must be impeccable.
To avoid any eliminatory error, have it proofread by someone you trust.
After spending a lot of time on a document, it is normal to no longer detect mistakes or typos. By giving it a fresh look, you reduce the risk of sending a document with a horrible oversight or awkward wording.