Write the perfect CV in no time
Let’s face it: writing a resume can be daunting. And the pressure to make it attractive can stress out more than one. But writing the perfect resume shouldn’t scare you. It can be easy if you know how to do it.
This is the subject of this guide. We will explain all the essential steps to writing this professional document, starting with how to structure its different sections, and avoiding spelling mistakes.
We promise you that after writing it, you will be proud to show it to the world. Which you can do on Glassdoor, by the way. Just add your resume here and you’ll be ready to apply immediately for your dream job in our job postings.
What is a resume?
Let’s start at the beginning and define what a CV is. A CV (curriculum vitae) is a summary of your work history, skills, and education.
There are two types of CV: one covering your entire career, and one covering a more limited period (10 years for example). Some resumes will be tweaked and tailored to each specific job posting you’re applying for, and will only be one or two pages long.
Common Resume Types
The three basic categories of resumes, according to most professional resume writers, are chronological, functional, and combination resumes.
Chronological CV
A chronological CV is a format you are probably most familiar with. This is a CV that concentrates on your most recent work experience.
List your posts in reverse chronological order, with the most recent posts at the top and the oldest at the end. Ultimately, the goal is to show how your positions have perfectly led you to the job you’re applying for today.
Functional CV
A functional CV emphasizes the relevance of your experience. To create a working resume, you’ll put forward a summary of your professional background, your skills, and a section about your experience. This format is ideal for those who want to minimize their gaps, or who are starting a new line of business.
Combined CV
As you might guess, a combined CV is a hybrid version that builds on the two previous formats. You will connect the professional background and skills section of a functional resume with the work experience section of a chronological resume.
This format is a very effective way to stand out by highlighting your experience and skills and is useful for many types of job seekers.
How to structure your resume
Professional Summary
The professional summary is a section with one to three highlighted sentences to briefly describe who you are, what you do, and why you are the ideal candidate. Unlike the largely outdated goal statement (a line describing the type of career opportunity you’re looking for).
professional resumes aren’t there to describe what you want. Instead, they focus on the value you could bring to a potential employer. It should be noted that a professional resume is not strictly essential.
If your resume doesn’t have one. it probably won’t kill you, but it can be a great way to give time-pressed recruiters a quick, detailed look at why you’re the right person for the job.
Skills:
At one time, this information was relegated to the background of resumes, but a skills section has come back with a vengeance as recruiters increasingly seek candidates with specialized backgrounds.
Rather than asking people who read your resume to skim through all the sections to find your skills, it’s best to list them. If they see right away that you have the ability to do the job, they’ll be much more likely to take your resume seriously.
Professional experience
This essential section of a resume allows you to detail your professional background in a consistent and compelling format. The Work Experience section should include company names, locations, periods of employment, roles and titles you have held, and most importantly, bulleted list items containing action verbs and data detailing the relevant accomplishments of each position.
This part is essential for recruiters looking to assimilate information about your professional experience and match your skills with what they are looking for in the context of potential recruitment. Recruiters are often overwhelmed with resumes and must carefully source and identify quality candidates in an overcrowded environment.
Education
Since many jobs require some level of education, it is important to mention your educational qualifications on your resume. This portion, however, should not take up too much room. In most cases, indicate the establishments attended, the dates, and the diplomas obtained.
Complementary Experience
An optional, but potentially very useful section is Complementary Experiences. This is a catch-all section at the end of your resume that allows you to highlight volunteer experience, awards, and hobbies. Again, this shouldn’t be too long, as it shouldn’t overshadow your skills or work experience, but it can be a good way to paint a fuller picture of your personality.
Layout tips and format
- Use an easy-to-read font, at least 11 points.
- Provide margins of at least 1.5 cm.
- Make sure there is enough white space between sections.
- Don’t go overboard with intricate design or decoration. A little color is fine, but avoid overdoing it so as not to detract from the visual impact.
- If you plan to print your resume, invest in quality paper and use a high-quality printer.
- Do not save your CV in PDF format unless the application specifically states that it accepts PDF files. Some Applicant Tracking Systems scan PDFs as one large image, which doesn’t capture your information in text format.
- Do not exceed 2 pages, unless you are in a field such as academia or the medical sector and need to cite publications.
