We are facing a very demanding labor market and, although it may seem like a simple piece of paper, The curriculum vitae is the document that will serve as a presentation and it can lead us to success… or failure.
Therefore, it is essential know what are the keys to improve a resume which although technically correct and has all the necessary information, does not make us stand out.
If something characterizes resumes, it is that they present a lot of information about a person from a very limited space. This need to compress data into just one and a half pages can lead to making many wrong decisions and giving an image that does not correspond to the type of candidates that the company we aspire to join is looking for.
The resume is the first thing that companies that are offering a job that we want usually look at. This means that simply preventing yourself from stopping reading halfway through the text is a challenge. According to research by “TheLadders”, it takes a recruiter approximately 6 seconds to decide if you are suitable after looking at your CV.
But How to create a successful resume? What information should our resume contain? In this text we have set out to unravel the main keys that prevent a CV from going directly to the trash can.
10 fundamental points to make a good CV
Next, from Psychology and Mind we present all the information necessary to prepare a resume that will seduce the recruiter and that will help you maximize your chances of getting a job.
Improving your CV can only bring you positive consequences The job is much closer with a powerful resume that highlights your professional and personal virtues.
1. Build your CV based on the position you aspire to
You’re selling yourself on a piece of paper, so you need to tailor your information to reflect what the company is looking for. Try to research the company and visit its website to find out the objectives or values it promotes Try to capture the philosophy of the company and the position in your resume. Create your personalized CV and use a format that best suits the industry you want to work in.
For example: If you are a graphic designer, make a CV that demonstrates your mastery of that field. If, on the other hand, you aspire to a manager’s job in a multinational, stick to a more classic resume model.
Regarding which CV template to use, I recommend that you read this article:
2. Highlight your qualities, but never lie
You must be honest as your CV will be used to structure the interview if you are one of the selected candidates. Don’t include false information because it can cause problems later in the process. Use your resume to highlight your skills and strengths
If you lie, keep in mind that the chances of them realizing the deception are quite high, and your image will be permanently damaged. It’s not a good idea. I recommend that you be honest, with the truth you can go much further than with lies.
3. Decide if you want to include a goal
There is some disagreement among experts on whether or not you should include an objective on your resume. A recruiter may reject your application if he or she believes that you have very high expectations for the position. If you want to work, skip it On the contrary, if what you want is a job that is not below your expectations, you can include it.
It all depends on the type of job you aspire to, and the image you want to give as a professional.
4. Your CV should not be as long as your years of experience
This can be difficult if you have a lot of experience and are proud of your career history, but you should only include information relevant to the position. If you’re in your 20s, you should probably stick to a single page. Even if you have accumulated many years of experience, It is not advisable to use more than two pages (a sheet written on the front and back).
It is much better to prepare a single page that is powerful and attractive to the eye, than not to use five or six pages of endless resume. The brief, yes good, twice as good.
5. Use white space to direct the recruiter’s gaze to specific points
Try not to include so much information that it could end up distracting the recruiter. Create a resume that’s easy on the eyes and use white space to draw the recruiter’s eye to those important aspects of your profile.
Keep in mind that human resources staff may spend a few seconds evaluating your resume, so make things easy for them and choose a design that highlights your most relevant skills and experiences.
6. Use bullet points to highlight roles, responsibilities or achievements
Under each job done, Specify functions or achievements with no more than four or five bullet points Do not use entire sentences, you should limit yourself to writing what is just and necessary. This space will help the recruiter have a fairly clear idea of the functions and tasks you have developed in each of your previous work experiences.
Remember: just the right information, don’t go overboard detailing all your functions.
7. Include academic information briefly
Includes only academic information relevant to the position : name of the center, title and year of graduation. Workers with a lot of experience should list education at the end of their resume. If you are a recent graduate, you can include final degree projects or dissertations that include significant aspects for the position to which you aspire.
Academic training is important, but some companies give it relative importance. It is your obligation to know to what extent you should emphasize more the aspects related to your work experience, or your training.
8. Don’t include your hobbies
Recruiters only care about what you can do for the company, so If you can’t connect your hobbies with the job you want to get, it’s better not to include them on your CV If you consider that your hobbies or hobbies that you do have to do with the position, you can include them at the end.
Improve your CV by recording only that information relevant to the company that may require your professional services.
9. You don’t need to mention references
If your future employer wants to talk to your former bosses, don’t worry: they will let you know so you can give them the contact. Do not provide that information unless they ask for it this will give you time to notify your former manager and be able to update him or her.
Don’t forget to talk to your old boss and explain why you are calling him and what you think would be a good way for him to explain your skills and competencies to the company that is interested in you. Be careful, don’t force him to say according to what, give him a little freedom and confidence.
10. Use a chronological CV
Depending on the way the information is organized, the curriculum vitae can be of several types. This is one of the keys when it comes to improving your resume
The chronological CV, which consists of ordering the data of the curriculum vitae from the most recent to the oldest , is the most used format and the most accepted by recruiters. On the other hand, the functional resume, which consists of organizing the resume into thematic blocks, is recommended when the experience is very dispersed or when there are large periods of time in which work has not been done. This can cause the functional CV to be understood by the most expert recruiters as a way to dress up the CV.
Other points that you should take into account to improve your CV
Remember that a good resume cannot do without some basic characteristics in its aesthetic composition:
If your CV has impressed them…
If you have followed the steps that we have indicated, you have submitted your resume to a company and they have called you… Congratulations! You have passed the first test. But now you have to overcome another one: the interview
In this article of Psychology and Mind Called “The 10 most frequent mistakes in job interviews” we review what are the things you should never do in an interview, so you can go and show that you are the candidate they are looking for. Good luck!
