Before launching into a complete overhaul of your CV, it is always good to keep in mind that most recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds reading the CVs they receive. In other words, almost nothing. The CV is the employer’s first impression of you. It is therefore important to weigh every word when writing this document.
If you have already applied to different job offers but have received no feedback, your CV is not optimal. Or that you have sent the same one for each position you have applied for. This is the first rule for an effective CV: personalize it according to each mission and company…
1. Different information for each job
If you have worked in the same job in several companies, there is no point in repeating the same information from one position to another. The “catalog” effect makes it difficult to read and the recruiter will not bother to go into your application in depth. On the contrary, when you create a CV, you should highlight your experiences by focusing on the details of your missions and by presenting your successes in figures.
2. Sort out your experiences
It is clear that it is not always easy to distinguish what is crucial from what is superfluous in a CV, and after X years of working, the risk would be to want to indicate all your experiences. Do not list every single qualification, skill or project you have worked on. Your CV would quickly become indigestible. Instead, make a selection of the most relevant assignments for the position you are applying for. Also, after a certain period of time, your summer jobs will not necessarily be of interest to the recruiter…
3. The end… first
Anti-chronological! It may seem strange to start telling your career story with your most recent experience. But it is much more meaningful for the recruiter. The last skills and experiences acquired are indeed the most telling. Especially if you have already changed jobs several times during your career. Reminding them of your first job 10 years ago will not provide much information about you. Similarly, unless you are a young, very young graduate, do not start your CV with your training but with your professional experience…
4. A thematic CV
If the anti-chronological CV is strongly advised, it is sometimes more judicious to opt for a thematic CV. This way of presenting your experiences is perfect for atypical profiles or those whose career has “holes”. Rather than presenting all your experiences, gather those that are similar or in any case very close. This will give more coherence to your CV and will simplify the recruiter’s work.
5. Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes
You don’t really know what to detail or not? Imagine yourself in the recruiter’s shoes when reading your CV: what questions does he or she have? Is the information provided relevant and sufficiently developed? Or, on the contrary, is it useless? Note: if there are any “gaps” in your background, remember that the recruiter will notice them. Do not hesitate to explain them in your cover letter.
6. Do not attribute false skills to yourself
The temptation is often there to “inflate” the CV to differentiate yourself and show that you are made for the position, even if it means amplifying your role in the positions held, extending the duration of an assignment, or attributing a collective project to yourself. If they discover this little lie, they could question the rest of your skills, even if they are real!