The first impressions are created with the CV, the personal meeting only confirms or rejects them
You have felt that time has come for change and you leave your current job. No matter whether you want to develop, or you have not got along with your last employer, switching to new workplace is an integral part of your growing up as a person and a professional.
The time has come to re-fill your CV with up-to-date information. In this article we will give you some guidelines on how to improve your CV so you can make a good first impression.
At the beginning of each CV is a well-known part with basic information: your three names, domicile, citizenship, date and year of birth, and your contacts: phone number and email.
You can add other ways employers can contact you, such as Skype name or other platform. Be outside the box, especially if you are applying for a more creative position. Present yourself with one or two sentences before the basic information about you.
Once you have provided the basic information about yourself, you should fill your education and qualifications. Fill in these fields correctly. Specify what disciplines you were studying at the university. Fill in what additional courses you have taken in addition to the qualifications already acquired or other additional courses.
Your experience is crucial in choosing whether you will be invited to an interview or not. Carefully describe your past experience with previous jobs. What was your assignment to this job position, what your responsibilities were, what results you achieved. Everything about your work experience is a must.
Tips & Warnings: When formatting your CV, choose readable fonts and avoid non-standard fonts. Synthesize the most important information. You can afford to specify in the cover letter in more detail.
Upon leaving your workplace, ask your former employer for a recommendation. Let someone talk about your work in an objective way, thus:
- You show that you have maintained a good relationship with your previous employer.
- The assessment of your competencies and experience is objective and the chance of exaggerating some of your qualities decreases.
The objective assessment by a third party would help the recruitment agent evaluate you. Leave the contacts of your previous employer on the recommendation. So the interviewer himself can ask additional questions about your performance and successful projects.
In section interests, hobbies and others, describe the things you like to do and how they help you unload and be more focused and productive.
Your skills and competencies are those that impress the employer. Identify them correctly by rating them on a scale that matches national or international standardization.
If the position requires a cover letter – write and submit. You can read more about the motivation letter in our article: “The cover letter and why it is so important in the job application“
The photo is an extremely important part of your CV, so it must be up to date. It’s not necessarily a passport, but a photo from the night party at the disco is not appropriate. Only you, without friends and celebrities, should be there. With such photos, you run the risk of showing unprofessional attitude and frivolous attitudes towards the position.
Choose a photo you look natural and bright enough around you. Smile is recommended.
In conclusion: CV is you before you are invited to an interview. Its purpose is to provide you with an invitation for an interview. Present yourself, your experience and competencies. Add recommendations and motivation letter and await the invitation for an interview.
