The Curriculum Vitae is your letter of introduction to the world of work. Therefore, it is your best advertising tool.
Think that you only have a few seconds to attract the attention of the recruiters and make them decide to review your CV or not.
This idea is so true; “There are no second chances to make a good impression because the first impression says it all.”
The more attractive the design, with clearer and more organized information on your resume/ CV, the greater opportunities you will have at being recruited.
Various presentation options have become a trend: online CV, using Pdf format, a visual design, online presence, use of links or QR code, and video curriculum.
We are going to review everything you need to know about how to write a good CV in 2023.
How To Write A Good Resume In 2023
The latest trend is the evolvement of the curriculum vitae. Therefore, if you want your resume to make an impact in 2023, you must incorporate the following trends.
#1: Create An Online CV
The paper CV has gone down in history. Recruiters prefer digital documents that can be arranged in folders and sent to their email.
Therefore, focus on creating a resume model that looks good on screen, and not so much on paper.
Also, see it from this angle,
Put yourself in the position of the recruiter, in this situation you are likely to receive lots of CVs from different prospects and I bet you will want to settle with the best.
Hence if your goal then is to motivate him/her to read your CV and to be remembered, you need to dare the difference.
Would you write it the usual way or go pro with your work? Here's a sample to show you want we mean.
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With a more visual, modern, and attractive CV format. Your document stands the chance to be chosen and preferred because it incorporates the necessary details, which we will teach you later in this article.
#2: Save Your File In A Pdf Format
Here's why;
Since you don't know from which device your resume will be opened (PC, Tablet, or mobile phone), this is the way to make sure that the document you send looks good on any of them.
Our recommendation is to create the document with a text editor like Word on your computer or download the Google docs app and then convert it to PDF before sending it.
Pro tip: save it to your mobile phone to always have it at hand.
#3: Online Presence
A professional online presence is more of an obligation than a trend. Do you know that 80% of job offers today are not published?
That's how it is! More and more recruiters are doing online searches to find the ideal candidate.
Therefore, you must be visible, especially in the professional network par excellence which is Linkedin.
If you don't have a Linkedin profile yet, set it up now.
You can also choose a website, or blog, or use Facebook or Twitter for professional use.
Whatever it is, the important thing is that you take advantage of it to create a solid personal brand, which will help you promote yourself, and create a good network of contacts.
Don't forget to include links in your CV. It is one more opportunity to stand out, show what you are capable of doing, and get to know you better.
Direct the recruiter to your professional social networks, your blog, samples of your online portfolio, or articles you have published. This is one of your greatest touch points.
#4: Make Use of the QR Code
Another option to differentiate yourself in addition to your call to action is to put in a QR code. Who does not know this technology in this Gen z era?
It can be very useful to send the employer to your blog, your Linkedin profile, or your other contact information or social networks.
If you dare, there are a lot of free platforms to create your QR code that is very easy to use.
After creating it, you just have to download it to your computer and put it on the upper right-hand side of your CV, as you see in the example.
#5: You can use Video Resume
This is the most innovative trend of the moment.
An option that generates a great positive impact among the selectors. It will help you promote your professional profile and personal brand in the workplace.
Remember that it should not exceed three minutes and that these must be justified with the value of its content.
Note: If you get it done, include it in your Linkedin profile, upload it to Youtube, send it to your target companies, or show it to your potential employers when you consider it appropriate.
How to Make your Resume/CV More Attractive and Effective?
1: Choose your format
Depending on your experience or training, It can be a chronological, functional, or mixed curriculum. Find more information about the format that suits you here.
Choose a professional and current design
The time has come to modernize.
You can contact us to choose the one that suits you best.
Normally for more traditional professions (banking, politics, law, or medicine), we recommend a simple CV template. And for more creative professions (design, architecture, marketing, or communication) we encourage you to choose something more innovative. But in the end, it depends on more factors: the type of company, the personality of each one and your tastes.
2: Be brief
Brevity is perhaps the most important component of your CV. No HR recruiter is interested in reading pages and pages of endless paragraphs.
Therefore, on a single page, you should be able to present a summary of yourself and what you have achieved in the professional field.
Focus on using that one page to make an impact. Distribute the information in columns.
The columnar structure allows you to optimize space, very important because you only have one page to write all the information.
Additionally, columns better organize information, helping the recruiter find what they are looking for more quickly.
Note: Organize sections with headings, and respect margins and white space. You will get a more pleasant CV to read.
3: Include colors and icons
It breaks the monochromatic monotony of the other CVs. The use of color in the CV is essential to make that first good impression and be remembered more easily.
It is about choosing two or three colors and distributing them appropriately throughout the document, without going overboard.
As for the icons on your CV, they will make it even more visual and aesthetic. And they will also save you space.
What Should I Include In My Resume
1. Expert Title
This section refers to a title for your CV. It must include the keywords of your specialty or what defines you as a professional: "SEO Specialist", "Financial Consultant", "Digital Marketing Director", etc.
And if you are applying for a specific offer, make sure that the title you choose matches the title of the job offer.
It may also be interesting to include a professional profile. It will help you highlight your career strengths and achievements, and show your suitability for the vacancy. If you are interested and want our company to get your CV done for you, do reach out to us.
2. Photo
Very important to include it. You have a 50% higher chance of being called if you have put a suitable photo on your CV.
3. Personal or contact information
Nowadays it is used to put your contact information. Data such as marital status, your full address, ID, social security number, or even date of birth, are unnecessary.
With your name and surname, mobile phone, email, and links to professional social networks, that's it.
Only if you think that adding your address brings you some benefit, if you live near the place of work, for example, you should put it. If not, you know, just your city or zip code.
Regarding email, use a serious address that shows maturity and professionalism. If necessary, create an email, especially for business use.
And above all, remember to put the contact information in a visible and important place on your CV to facilitate the job of the recruiter.
4. Education
You don't have to take a tour of your entire educational journey.
Only higher education, equivalent, or the highest level is achieved.
You can also include other complementary courses you have taken if they are related to the vacant position in reverse chronological order.
5. Professional Experience
More than tasks themselves, describe your achievements or contributions to the companies in which you worked.
And if you present them with figures, much better.
For example: "I worked for 2 years as Director of Sales in the northern area of Laboratorios Pharmax, where I achieved an annual sales increase of 10% in traumatology surgical instruments"
You can mention how long you were in the position, the number of people you supervised, relevant billing data, the number of courses taken and people trained, etc.
Highlight only work experience that matches the job description you are applying for.
If your work experience is very extensive, consider only the most recent and relevant jobs (jobs less than a year old are usually skipped and can be discussed during the job interview).
Start with the most recent work experience.
Remember that you have very little space, so you have to make the most of it, being very concise with the information you present in the curriculum.
6. Skills
Evaluate if you have some of the most sought-after soft skills or skills for the target position: negotiation, problem-solving, assertive communication, creativity, and flexibility among others do take advantage of highlighting them on your CV.
Here we leave you more information and examples on how to demonstrate communication skills in the CV.
Also add your technical skills, including specific tools and knowledge that may be important for the position: computer programs, project management programs, design programs, and so on.
7. Languages
Indicate the level of language proficiency in the CV.
If you have a certificate or diploma, in a foreign language, for example, indicate the date and the mention obtained— You can
Indicate your skill level with a star or level bar system to give the recruiter a first idea.
But if you want to eliminate any doubt about your language level, you can include Certificates and courses, or you can even mention stays in other countries or working with foreign clients.
8. Other information of Interest
If you think that highlighting your qualities beyond the work environment can benefit you, you can create a section for hobbies, interests, or other information of interest.
For example, if you belong to an association related to your industry, or if you have done volunteer work, it will add points to the recruiter.
To do so, you can use icons, which are very attractive and require little space.
What To Do If I Don't Have Work Experience?
If you are in your first job search you can highlight your skills.
You can also include extra-curricular activities during your university education. If you were a member of the student council, the soccer team, a member of the debate club, etc.
The internships or volunteering work you did at some companies also count as experience, even if it was not paid work. Or the personal projects that you are developing, work in the family business, or some type of volunteering, whether or not it is related to your career.
It is about showing how valuable you can become with all the preparation you have, even if it is not formal work.
How Do I Write A CV/Resume for My First Job
1. Be honest
There is no point in lying or exaggerating about your abilities and experience because in the end they will be confirmed or not during your performance. Also, the world of work can be very small, so if you get caught you may be hurting your career in the long run.
2. Watch your spelling
Spelling errors make a bad impression. And from the outset, they are already indicating to the recruiter that you do not take care of the details, which reduces your chances of being selected for the position.
3. Lean on templates
The appearance of your CV is an important aspect that you must take care of to make a good impression and differentiate yourself.
If you don't know how to make a good CV using design programs such as Canva or if you don't want to complicate yourself, make use of the resume templates that we have shown you.
They will help you maximize your chances of being selected. And surely there is one that suits your style or the job you are applying for.
4. Use action verbs
Using action verbs to present your experiences and skills on your CV will make it more dynamic! Avoid conjugating verbs: to keep the reading simple, put them in the infinitive or use a noun.
5. Avoid negative expressions
It is generally not recommended to use negative expressions in your CV. Above all, do not mention your shortcomings and only list the skills you have and which you can justify mastering.
6. Prepare a version of your CV for each job offer
It is not advisable to send the same CV for different positions, even if they are in the same field.
Prepare each resume according to the requirements of the job offer and highlight those aspects that they value most in each offer.
Also personalizing with keywords. They can be keywords related to your skills, the title of your profession, required computer programs, other skills or experiences, etc.
To find the keywords, you just have to analyze the description of the offer and locate the skills, knowledge, or experiences that match you.
And if you go all out, prepare a different CV template depending on the company you are applying to.
7. Be careful with what you post on your social networks
Yes, be very careful with what you post on social media.
Many recruiters like to check the candidate's social networks to get to know him more in-depth since it gives them details of his personality that they would not discover otherwise. So choose carefully what you are going to share and block the content that you consider inappropriate.
8. Personalize your content
Your CV is not your skills report or a history of your professional and academic career. It must therefore be personalized to meet the expectations of the recruiter corresponding to the profile defined in the published job offer. In the case of an unsolicited application, research the company to personalize your CV as much as possible.
Also, make sure that your CV is in line with the type of CV that the recruiter is used to receiving. If, for example, you are applying to a foreign country, it is not enough to translate your CV into the language of the country. If you need help, get closer to the employment assistance organizations in the country!
9. Review the final product
In addition to reading the content of your CV yourself several times, ask other people to do it.
This will allow you to identify errors that you may have missed.
10. Add a cover letter
Although some recruiters do not require a cover letter, it is strongly recommended that you include one with your application. Indeed, a personalized cover letter can allow you to stand out from other candidates by creating this little "extra" that will highlight you.
Conclusion
Remember your perfect resume in 2023 must be innovative, with a good design or attractive CV template, that attracts attention, and that is effective.
And if you want a successful resume, customize it to each offer and company, include keywords, and highlight your professional achievements.
You already know how to write a resume in 2023. Now, go for it!