Ten seconds is the average time it will take for a recruiter to determine if your CV matches the profile of the position sought. So while you have the right training and all the skills you need and a flawless career path, if you can't get a job, your CV is most likely the problem! Here's how to turn a resume that misses the mark into a resume that will grab the attention of recruiters.
Refine the first page
The first part of your CV should be neat, as its content will allow employers to determine whether they want to continue evaluating your application or whether they prefer to move on to the next candidate. Make sure the employer you're sending your CV to will find all the info they're looking for at a glance on the first page of your CV. You are bilingual, a member of a professional order or have a certification sought by employers, make sure this information is clearly visible at the top of your CV.
Go straight to the point
A resume should, in most cases, be no longer than three pages. Avoid long paragraphs and use short sentences instead. Choose an easy-to-read font. Have you been in the job market for 20 years? Don’t hesitate to eliminate your student jobs from your resume and only keep positions related to your current field. Have you made a career change? Consider writing a summary of your career, trying to include keywords that employers are looking for.
Choose the chronological CV
As well as being the most popular, it is the one that is usually favored by recruiters and human resources specialists. Write down the jobs you have had, from most recent to oldest, and don't forget to present the tasks you completed as well as your main accomplishments.
Be clear and opt for an airy presentation
Use the same vocabulary as the employer by adding in your CV the same keywords as those present in the job posting. Don't hesitate to use bulleted lists and put the most relevant information in bold. On the other hand, avoid multiple colors and artistic fonts that will make everything difficult to read and have the opposite result of what you expect.
Don't make mistakes
Do you have a lot of great professional qualities, but you are not good at French? Ask someone to correct your mistakes to avoid being systematically eliminated by recruiters who will see you as someone who doesn't care about the details.
Show your personality
Of course, the CV is not the place to describe how your last weekend with friends went, but sometimes showing the employer your human side and your interests can help them decide between several people who have substantially the same professional background, the same training and the same skills. For example, if you are applying for a job as an engineer in a company that manufactures snow cannons and you are a great downhill ski enthusiast yourself, you can include it at the end of your CV. It's a safe bet that this will be seen as a positive point for the employer !
