How to write an effective resumé

Recruiters scan through dozens of resumes every day, aiming to find the ideal candidate in the shortest time possible. The fact is, recruitment generates costs and leaving roles vacant often leads to disservices and can create issues within companies.

On the other hand, we all know that for every active search – especially for certain positions – a huge number of CVs are sent in daily by aspiring candidates: competition is high, and this can be discouraging. Your only weapon in this “crowded” market is your resumé, whose primary purpose is to get you an interview and to help you distinguish yourself from the mass of applications that recruiters receive every day. Here are some tips for you to follow!

Basic information

In the very delicate screening phase, recruiters inevitably look for basic information to help them focus and move quickly: seniority, proximity to the workplace, the minimum skills required. Setting out this information clearly will guarantee you their attention and a few more minutes of their time.

Seniority

Your seniority level is useful for understanding your career expectations, but also for establishing whether your career path has had any ups and downs. For example, whether you graduated within the expected time frame for your degree program or if you have had very long periods of inactivity.

Proximity

Physical proximity to the workplace is something that is losing its value to some extent, as remote work is becoming more common – not least due to the Covid-19 emergency. The importance of the proximity factor often changes based on the type of job you’re applying for: a graphic designer could potentially be based in another region whereas an administrative manager should reside in the same country/city; an expenses-only internship isn’t viable for someone living on the other side of the country, whereas for a marketing director, coming from abroad could actually be a plus.

Skills

The minimum skills are those essential to be able to fill the position. These might be particular qualifications, specific knowledge of programs/tools and foreign languages,  or they might have to do with the sector of origin or years of experience in a given role.

Practical tips for writing an effective resumé

Read the ad carefully

Closely reading the job description is essential in order to pick up the essential information related to age/seniority, proximity/possibility of remote working and above all minimum skills required. If necessary, adapt your CV accordingly to what the company is looking for: remember, it is better not to always send out the same presentation of yourself.

Motives are important

If you graduated late because you were working, highlight that fact, clearly defining the dates in your CV; if you want a job and are willing to relocate, make that clear. Anything that can explain time holes or emphasize your motivation for change should be included, so that the recruiter does not have to struggle to understand your career path. That’s why it’s so important to attach a cover letter, in which you can go into detail about what specifically led you to apply for this position.

Pay attention to how you present yourself

The information you share with the recruiter must reflect who you are and the role you really play in the company: this coordinated image of yourself is also reflected in the graphic layout of your CV, which should be suited to your position. A professional and smiling photo is the finishing touch.

No typos allowed

Your resume is more than your calling card, it is your path to getting the job. So give it the attention it deserves, correcting any grammar mistakes and typos, working on the layout and using bold type where necessary. The care you take over this aspect will be evaluated on a par with your motivation for change.

Get straight to the point and don’t lie

Try to be concise and above all, don’t cheat when it comes to dates or the skills you claim to have.

Keep your personal life out of it

Remember that being the ideal candidate has nothing to do with the details of your personal life or marital status.

To evaluate new job opportunities, visit our website daily and sign up for our free job alert service. For more tips on the world of work, keep following us on our blog.