Increase your chances of getting hired with an outstanding CV
Creating a CV is the first task to do when looking for a job. It is the gateway to hiring companies, so the CV must be concise, clear and simple so that recruiters can read it quickly, almost at a glance. How to make a successful resume, step by step.
First: organize the information and present it in a nice layout
The first question to ask yourself when putting together a CV is what our strengths and weaknesses are. If our strong point is experience, the CV should highlight the most important work experiences for the position to which we are applying. If, on the other hand, our strong point is training, the CV should highlight this point.
In either case, the order of the information must be reverse chronological. That is, the most current should be the first to be read. Remember that all this data must be honest and verifiable. The company may ask for your degree certificate or certificates from language courses and exams, so it is not a good idea to overdo it.
Regarding design, the key word is: readability. Make sure it is not an overloaded design that is difficult to understand. You can use graphics to represent skills such as languages or computer skills, but always try to make the information clear in detail. For this you can use a resume creator , there are several online options that allow you to make a CV in ten minutes with a preloaded template.
Making a resume that is liked by all recruiters and suitable for all companies is quite difficult. Another way to create your CV is through Europass, a free service provided by the European Union to create, store and share your CV in 30 languages.
Depending on the country and the field, it may be more common for the CV to include or not include some information such as social networks or photos. That is why it is advisable to have several formats according to the types of positions to which you can apply based on your experience.
Second: make sure it is clear, concise and up-to-date
Even for the most experienced or the most trained, it is not advisable to go overboard with the number of pages. A one-page resume is better than a two-page resume. For this it is necessary to know how to choose very well the information that will appear in it.
If your experience is extensive, choose the most recent job and two more at most. Under the job title and hiring period, make a short description of the duties you performed in that position. If you have received awards, published books or any accomplished goal that you want to highlight, this is the place to do it.
If your CV is based on training, try to include the most relevant information for the position. Again, under the title of your studies you can make a description of the skills that each academy or university has taught you.
All information included must be relevant and there for a specific reason. If you find yourself putting in irrelevant data, delete it. Recruiters are short on time and will appreciate it if you are concise and clear. The one-page CV rule forces us to respect this advice.
The data must be up to date. It seems unnecessary to clarify this, but when we are in periods of moving or stress due to changing jobs it is easy to overlook that, for example, our CV has an old telephone number or an email that we no longer use.
Third: pay attention to spelling and formatting
Checking your CV for spelling, grammatical or typing errors can be the difference between receiving a call from the recruiter or not. Failures of this type show little interest and make a bad impression.
Whatever the design choice, make sure it is a PDF file. These types of documents are readable by almost all computers and mobile phones. Furthermore, the PDF cannot be accidentally altered: once it is shared, it is captured almost as if it were a photo, unlike Word-type files that can be accidentally modified when opened in the editor.
Other tips: put together a cover letter and check social media
Many companies allow you to send a cover or motivation letter to accompany your resume. Whenever you can, attach it. This document serves to introduce yourself and give your value proposition to the company. Focus on describing what you could offer that company. It is a laborious process but it adds some points because it shows greater interest on the part of the candidate.
Another important issue is social networks . Far from being something virtual far from our lives, everything we do on the networks can affect our real lives. Don’t think that the company is not going to Google your name, so if you have offensive or off-color comments on the networks, maybe it would be a good idea to set your profiles to private or simply delete that history.
Get mentally ready for the interview
It is very difficult to manage expectations when looking for a job because there are several psychological aspects that come into play. Anxiety and insecurities can play tricks on us. That is why it is best to prepare in advance for the interview, especially considering that sometimes companies call their candidates from one day to the next.
To be ready, it is key to be clear about your skills and abilities. Having thought about your CV has probably already given you a clue as to what you can offer the future employer. Use this information to put together a speech that you will give to the recruiter when they contact you. This way, you will never be caught off guard.
