English M.

I: chapter 4

How to write a resume |cv|

what does a recruiter want from a CV?

A CV does not get you a job, what a CV actually gets you is a job interview.
And it's so important that you remember this when you write one.

Applicants often feel pressure to fit absolutely everything they have ever done or achieved
into their CV, when it's often considered better to prioritise and highlight just a few things.
It's claimed that employers look at a CV for around seven seconds.
So when you're writing one you should keep this in mind.
Some of the first things that will jump out at them are any mistakes.
There is absolutely no excuse for a mistake on a CV, you need to check it over until you
know it word for word, off by heart.
If you struggle with the language or spelling in general then you absolutely must get it
proofread and checked over by somebody else.
The next thing that recruiters look for are skills and experience.
The relevant skills and experience, with the key word here being relevant, need to stand out.
It's likely that they will be scanning or skim-reading your CV rather than reading everything
on it.
Finally recruiters will try to find out a bit more about your personality and your character.
You can't show so much, but you need to show enough to get you through to the interview
stage where they'll try and find out a lot more.
Now we should ask ourselves, which type of CV we should write.
There are two main types of CV, the chronological CV and the skills based CV.
There are some other types as well.
It's important for you to choose the right type of CV for the job that you're applying for and
for your own circumstances.

Let's talk about the chronological CV. As the name suggests this type lists your experience
and achievements chronologically, starting with the most recent.
You can use this CV type if you really want to show how well or how quickly you have
progressed in your career or studies.

Now let's talk about the skills-based CV, which is also known as a functional CV.
This type shows off your skills and personal qualities as opposed to the history of your
employment and education.
Underneath the headline of each skill you can write the roles in which you achieve them and
develop them.

You can use this type to mask gaps in your employment or if you've had lots of short-term
roles like internships and volunteer work.
The best part about this type of CV is that you have much more opportunity to make it
relevant to the job that you're applying for.
Another option is to use a combination or hybrid of both CVs where you stick to the
conventional chronological order but you emphasise the skills developed within each role.
Another sort of CV which is becoming more popular is the creative CV.
This CV is all about presentation and can help you show off your design skills and stand out
from the crowd.
Using infographics is a great way to display a lot of information in a simple and engaging
way. You could also consider a video CV, which can be a good idea for customer facing roles
or an add-on to a traditional CV.
Academic CVs for those applying for research posts in academia.
They are usually much longer than other CVs and recruiters are more likely to spend longer
timr reading them.
These should emphasise your education, research, publications and experience.
Finally we have the technical CV

which is much more directed towards IT roles. Alongside all of the traditional information
found on a CV you'll need to highlight your technical skills such as programming languages
systems and platforms.

Now let's discuss tailoring the CV.

The biggest piece of advice that I can give you is tailor your CV to each job application.
Work on creating a CV template and then create a separate CV file for each individual
company.
If 100 people apply for a role, which is not unrealistic, and only 10 people get chosen for an
interview, is a one-size-fits-all CV really going to be in the top 10% of all of the applicants?

You want the recruiter to see your CV and think wow, this person could be a perfect fit for
our company.
By tailoring your CV you're showing that you're proactive and motivated. It takes time and
effort.
It also shows that you're not just applying to 50 roles in the hope of getting one back.

Now let's address gaps in your CV.

Recruiters don't want to see long periods of unemployment but sometimes circumstances
can't be helped. Gaps are a red flag.
They can suggest that you were fired or that you quit and employers want you to work hard
and stick around for a long time. You really need to minimise their impacts.

Here are some things that you can do. Use your summary statement at the top of the CV
to briefly and positively explain why you decided to change roles.
For example after spending five years in the finance industry in 2017, I decided to change
career paths.
Another thing you can do is use a skills-based CV.
If you've got loads of gaps and you can't explain them all, you really should consider ditching

the chronological employment timeline.

Lastly you just need to prepare to talk about it during an interview.
Even if you don't list the gaps on your CV you might be asked about inconsistencies in your
work history and they need valid explanations.

If you're in a CV gap at the moment, start doing something immediately.

Get some relevant freelance work, start a blog, take a course.
You can refer to this if gaps come up in interviews.
Now lots of people ask if they should ever be creative with the truth and I think that you
should absolutely not.
You need to sell yourself but you don't want to lie.

Bear in mind that they will probably call your references and if they find out that you've been
exaggerating or lying you'll be at the bottom of the pile.

You could also consider including URLs to portfolios, especially for applicants in the creative
industry.
You can use a link shortener to create a memorable link that is easily copied or typed into a
web browser.

Always submit it as a PDF file. It will work with all operate systems and the format will stay
consistent.
You could consider making your CV fancy and adding a layer of design.
My last tip is to make sure that you use the right language.

10 Resume (cv)Writing Tips

Employers use resumes throughout the hiring process to learn more about applicants and
whether they might be a good fit. Your resume should be easy to read, summarize your
accomplishments and skills, and highlight relevant experience. Below are 10 tips to help you
write a great resume.

Resume writing tips

While there are a few commonly used resume styles, your resume should reflect your unique
education, experience and relevant skills. You might consider having multiple versions of
your resume tailored to the jobs you’re applying for. Here are a few key resume writing tips
that will help you organize and design your resume.

1. Look for keywords in the job postings

The best place to start when preparing to write a resume is to carefully read the job postings
that interest you. As you apply for different jobs, you should study each job description for
keywords that show what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. Include those
keywords in your resume where relevant.
 Pay particular attention to anything listed in the sections labeled “Requirements” or
“Qualifications.” If you have the skills that employers are looking for, you can add these same
terms to your resume in the experience or skills sections.

2. Review resume examples for your industry

there are three main takeaways you should look for:

• Make it simple and easy to read. Resume samples are simple and straightforward.
This is because employers have a minimal amount of time to review your resume, so
readability is key. This also means selecting a professional, clean font.

• Make it brief. You’ll notice that each section of the resume sample is short and to-
the-point, including the summary and experience descriptions. Including only the most
key and relevant information means employers are able to consume more information
about you, and more quickly understand your fitness for the role.

• Include numbers. You might also notice that there are often metrics included in the
experience section of resume samples. This is because employers are highly
responsive to measurable proven value. Numbers allow them to better understand the
value you may bring to the position. For example, one bullet point under the
experience description for an administrative assistant reads, “Executed processing of
vendor contracts and implemented a standardized process, reducing contract
discrepancies by 90%.”

When using resume samples, you should keep in mind that these are not meant to be copied
exactly. While you should avoid using them as a template, samples are useful as examples of
high-quality resumes in your industry and job title.

3. Use a professional font

Because employers have only a short time to review your resume, it should be as clear and as
easy to read as possible. You should use a basic, clean font like Arial or Times New Roman.
Keep your font size between 10 and 12 points. Selecting a clear, readable font will help make
your resume appear more professional.

4. Include only the most relevant information and put the most important
information first

While you might have extensive work or educational experience, it’s important to keep your
resume as brief as possible without leaving out key information. Hiring managers don’t spend
a lot of time reading each resume. Research has shown that hiring managers tend to spend
only 6 seconds per resume. If your resume includes old or irrelevant information, such as jobs
held over 10 years ago or minor degrees and achievements, it may distract from key
information.

Try to include only work experience, achievements, education and skills most relevant to the
employer. You can find the most relevant attributes by closely reading the job posting. You
should prioritize important information higher on your resume to draw attention to key skills
and achievements.
5. Use active language

Your resume should be written using active language without extraneous words. This means
using power words, such as “achieved,” “earned,” “completed” or “accomplished.” If your
resume is too long or seems hard to read, you might consider making sentences shorter or
ideas more concise.

For example, you may have a job description that reads:

“During my time at Freedom Inc., I ran multiple team-based projects and helped each team
member with various tasks associated with each project.”

This example could be shortened and strengthened in the following way:

“Led multiple team-based projects and effectively coordinated group tasks.”

The revised version communicates the same ideas about your accomplishments while
reducing the number of words and including more active language.

6. Call attention to important achievements

Instead of listing your job duties under the experience section, select your top three or four
most important achievements in each role you’ve held. Where possible, include numbers that
measure your success for that particular goal or achievement.

You might also consider including a separate “Achievements” or “Skills” section to

specifically highlight relevant achievements in your education, career, volunteer work or other
experiences.

7. Only include subheadings and sections you need

Whether you’re using a resume template or creating your own, you may find there are some
recommended sections you do not need.

For example, you may need a resume summary or a resume objective, but you should not
include both. If you are just graduating from college or high school and have not yet held a
professional position, do not include an empty work history section. Instead, you might
replace the experience section with relevant coursework, academic achievements and other
experiences like internships or extracurricular projects.

You may also find it useful to combine sections if you are having trouble filling a section with
more than two bullet points.

8. Choose appropriate margins

Typically you should use a one-inch margin size on all sides of your resume with single
spaces between the lines. If you have too much white space, you might consider making your
lines spaced by 1.15 or 1.5. You can also increase your margins if you find it is difficult to fill
your resume, but they should stay below two inches.
9. Proofread and edit

Before sending your resume, you should undergo several rounds of proofreading to ensure
there are no spelling or grammar errors. While there are several proofreading programs and
tools you can use, it is also helpful to ask trusted friends or colleagues to review your resume.
It is helpful for an objective third party to look at your resume as an employer might to find
ways you can correct or improve it.

10. Decide whether you need a unique resume for different jobs

Before submitting an application, you should ask yourself, “Have I made it as easy as
possible for this employer to see that I’m qualified?”. If you’re applying for a job that has
unique requirements, you may need another version of your resume to fully demonstrate your
qualifications. Decide on a case by case basis which resume to use.

Your resume is often the first step to getting an interview with an employer. Make sure you
include the most relevant information on your resume, organize it to highlight the most
important information and carefully review for errors. Once your resume is polished and
finalized, it should help you get more callbacks, interviews, and job offers.

H.BRAHIMI