Category: Resume & CV Writing

Are you actively looking for a job? It may be particularly useful to register in a CV library to upload your resume. But for the process to be successful, it is important to know how to use this tool, which is available to all candidates on all job sites. To learn how to use the features of a CV library and increase your visibility with recruiters, follow these tips.

1. Targeting the right CV libraries

There are so many job sites on the web that it can be tempting to post your resume on as many platforms as possible. However, this process is not very relevant, especially since it wastes valuable time. It is recommended to look at the CV libraries most consulted by recruiters, i.e. those with a large number of CV / Resume. Register on two or three general job boards and one or two sites specialized in your sector of activity. That will be more than enough.

2. Propose a quality CV

A quality resume must be personalized and reflect your real professional skills. It is indeed on this point that the recruiter will focus all his attention. It is therefore essential to ensure that you fill in all the fields of the form carefully in order to optimize your visibility. Feel free to develop the skills that are most likely to interest companies, but also to indicate your availability, mobility, languages spoken and the software you master. Of course, take care of your written expression and avoid spelling mistakes or other clumsy turns of phrase. Indeed, before consulting your CV, recruiters first review these different criteria to ensure that your profile precisely meets their needs.

3. Choose the title of the CV correctly

This essential step makes it possible to improve the referencing of your curriculum vitae according to the keyword present in the title. This way, the title of your profile will automatically appear in the employers’ search results. It therefore seems clever to indicate a specific function, in order to immediately arouse the curiosity of recruiters and make them want to retain you.

4. Insert relevant keywords

CV libraries function as a search engine. Simply type in keywords to see the most relevant results at the top of the list. Mention the keywords that accurately define your position and experience, in order to qualify your CV and make it easy for recruiters to find you. To do this, use the most common business terms, name the software in their full title and highlight your area of expertise.

5. Choose the right format

To submit your CV, prefer downloading in PDF. These electronic formats ensure secure accounting and layout from any computer. Pay close attention to the weight of the document. A file that is too large will take too long to appear on the screen and will encourage the recruiter to switch to another, more accessible profile. The photos are to be banned. Also avoid writing your resume on a too recent version, as it is not certain that human resources will be equipped with it.

6. Write a simple and clear CV

In order to ensure that the search engine takes your CV into account, it is essential to keep it simple. Do not insert by table, images or flat color and prefer a classic font such as Arial, Calibri or Verdana. This will make reading easier and more enjoyable. Keep in mind that in this type of database, the curriculum vitae only needs to be optimized to be perfectly referenced.

7. Update your CV regularly

Updating your CV regularly is essential to stay at the top of the list of results. Indeed, after several months of inactivity, the CV database will eventually make it disappear under the other applications. In addition, this process is an opportunity to update your skills and experience. As soon as you have completed a new training course, internship or assignment, you must modify your curriculum vitae. The same applies if you have changed your e-mail address or telephone number. By intervening at least once a month or even once a week, recruiters will see that you are available and motivated to work.

When you apply for a job offer, your resume should reflect your professionalism. However, in an increasingly competitive environment, the level of education and experience does not always allow several candidates to be differentiated. In order to stand out and face young companies looking for specific profiles, giving personality to your CV becomes a necessity.

Extract skills from each experience

Any experience is good to take, and this is all the more true when you write your application. Do not neglect any experience, both professional and personal. You may have been the representative of your promotion during your school years, or responsible for communication for an association, which could be of interest to the employer.

Without going into detail, focus on any skills, even if you think there are gaps in your background; for example, being a stay-at-home mom for 3 years may have taught you organization, patience and the need to take charge of yourself in difficult times.

Have your personal experiences correlate with motivation, teamwork and organizational skills, see the responsibilities that are related to the position you are applying for.

Focus on areas of interest

As with your experiences, your interests can speak volumes about your personality. Even if you think that practicing yoga is not interesting, make this interest known by noting that you cultivate calm and well-being. If you paint, detail that you appreciate the concentration and detail. Finally, if you have an original interest, it will be noticed and show that you have personality.

Being positive

Being positive and presenting constructive qualities are important. Give a joyful and lively dynamic to your CV, so that the employer will want to meet you. While remaining professional, be warm and friendly. It is possible to note that you know how to work while bringing good mood to the team, that you want to, that you are capable and passionate.

In addition, qualities such as calm, kindness and respect are valued by employers who wish to work in peace and quiet.

Even if you need to introduce qualities such as organization, thoroughness and rigour, be careful not to abuse them by citing concrete examples and contextualizing them in situations in which they have been useful to you.

Create an eye-catching CV

Nowadays, it is very important to present a CV that stands out simply because of its appearance. Even this seems superficial, a CV must be attractive and seduce the employer at first sight. Ventilate and space, play with bold, italic characters, their size, but also by adding a little color will allow a much more fluid and pleasant reading.

The elements must be correctly listed, without any spelling errors. Expand your vocabulary and be precise but concise.

Finally, depending on the position and the company, connect your CV to your LinkedIn account or a QR code to add a touch of modernity and show that you master digital, essential in 2019.

If you are a recent graduate or have only recently started working, the question of dates on your CV will not be a problem for you. However, if you have 30 years of professional experience – and although any experience is interesting – all of it may not be contained on a page and may seem too long to read.

As a general rule

In general, professionals advise you not to go back more than 10 or 15 years, unless you have been on one or more posts for a long time. In this case, you will have fewer positions to list, which will allow you to integrate all your jobs, even the oldest ones.

It also depends on the offer you are responding to; try to select the jobs and skills that best match the employer’s needs.

Particularities related to the sector of activity

Depending on the position, you may go back more than a decade, which is why you should always personalize your resume. This is particularly applicable in technical or executive areas.

If you work in technology, an experience dating back a few years is already obsolete. However, this will not be the case for a job in customer service that requires timeless knowledge.

If, between two experiences, you have completed refresher, advanced or apprenticeship training with a new tool, do not hesitate to cite them to show your passion for your profession and your ability to evolve with it.

If you are applying for a job that does not specifically use your recent skills, do not hesitate to go back further in your curriculum to look for matching elements. If, for example, you are applying for a sales job while you have recently worked in IT, cite your summer jobs when you were a student as a waiter to promote your social skills. Do not describe this experience in the same way as the others, but quote it briefly, indicating the time you spent there, the year and some relevant details (size of the company, number of customers, etc.).

Finding the right balance

Depending on the skills you acquire, going back in time can testify to your mastery and practice but also respond to what the employer is looking for.

If you do not add to your CV, not quoting all your experiences may also reveal periods of gaps in your CV, which could be negative in the eyes of the employer. However, you can choose to describe your most recent experiences, and simply name the rest of your experiences, without detailing them.

Therefore, keep in mind that the most recent experiences will be most appreciated.

In order to find the right balance, it is best not to visualize your resume as a summary of your life, but rather to write it according to what the employer is looking for.