How to write a resume that doesn’t suck and at least gets you an interview

Throughout the years of my career, I met many talented individuals and qualified candidates, who were doing their best to obtain their positions. However, I met tons of freaks who were doing the same thing. Do not insult anyone, but that is a reality. Every time you need to hire someone, be it a marketing manager, personal assistant, creative team, salesperson, or accountant, you get hundreds of resumes that honestly suck.

I mean, literally, they are so bad, or so off topic, that you don’t even want to read them. And you do not. Sure, there are a lot of good choices, but let’s not talk about them.

Did you decide to make your CV? Good start.

You went through all those online posts from leading influencers like “How to write a perfect CV”, “How to get an interview”, “10 tips for the best CV” etc. You googled some “free resume templates” or even “the highest paying resume templates.” Nice job! You have just wasted your time on an investigation that will never bring you anything new.

CV templates.

If you decide to use a template and just fill in your details, that might work for some positions. But what about individuality? If I receive two CVs made with the same CV template, I just don’t look at them and take the following ones in my hands. Even if you are a great talent and I need to hire you, will I know if your CV is just copy / paste someone’s creativity? I suppose not.

Do not use templates. Show me that you worked on your CV at least a little bit. OK, at least it changes the colors of a template.

Many of you will not agree with what I said above, but many will. Using a resume template can save you a lot of time and land you a position you dream of. It really can, if the content is relevant.

Relevance.

It’s about who you are and why you are applying for a position. I’ve seen hundreds of resumes where my first question to an author was “what are you good at?”

Make sure your CV is straightforward and represents your best qualities for a current position. Stop being lazy and spend some time adjusting your resume to a position you are applying for. If I see “Looking for a role in marketing or sales” on a CV for a senior position, I am asking one thing: “Did you know that marketing is not sales and sales is not marketing?” Lack of relevance can lead to nothing, and even if you are a master in both areas of expertise, the hiring manager will simply pass your profile and go to a candidate with a better focus on the position offered.

Including your key benefits and proven results tracking is one of the most important points. No HR wants to read blah blah blah in your three-page creative writing (it may work if you apply for the position of writer only). Be specific, include industry-specific terms. But again, only if you understand the meaning of them. If not, better think about taking another approach.

Keep it short and sharp.

I love one page resumes. Okay, sometimes it takes two pages, but for the sake, don’t make five of them.

Trust me, a CV page is enough to show your key values ​​if you are an expert in your industry. I can accept more time only if that is a junior position.

Get straight to a point. Nobody wants to know about your typing skills if you apply for a position that will deal with advertising management. Just like nobody cares if you worked as a waitress when you apply for a content marketer position. It sounds rude, but it’s true. I care what I am looking for, and wasting time reading nonsense from one CV is making me look for another.

If you lie, be brief.

Who never lied on a CV? Oh, come on! They all did. Don’t write too much about something you never did. Remember, the more you write, the more questions you will get during the interview. And you don’t want to be in a situation where you just don’t know what to say.

Tell the truth. Even if you are inexperienced, show that you want to get it.

I hired people with no experience whatsoever, because of their honesty and passion in a position. If you are ready to learn and want to learn, why not give it a try? The question is if you accept that challenge and if it shows that my decision was not a mistake.

Experience. Should you show it all?

Let’s get back to relevance. Yes, you should include anything that you think might keep you up to date with other candidates, but keep it short and relevant. Don’t add in your part-time college jobs that you were doing just to get some extra cash. Tell the recruiter only what you think will be helpful and something that you are willing to listen to.

A photo on a CV.

That is a tricky part. Including an image on a CV is illegal in some countries and is also considered unprofessional in some places. Well, I can’t tell you to include your photo or not. It all depends on a position. Sure if a position is for a hostess or a model, a photo is a must, but if not, then you should think twice. There are many discussions on this part and many pros and cons of having an image on a resume … I am confused to advise. All I can say, if you made the decision to put it up, please make it professional looking and not a half page size (trust me, I had CV with full page photos on hand).

Contacts and social media accounts.

Be sure to include your phone number and email. It is a must. Some do not remember it.

Including social media profiles can be an advantage in a single situation if your social media activity is relevant to your position. If not, you better not do it. Sometimes it can damage your reputation when the hiring manager opens his Facebook and sees a naked body with chocolate and a comment “it was a great party.” Or a post that insults your former / current employer in a rude way and with bad language. I’m not making it up, I’ve seen things like that from candidates for managerial positions.

Go ahead and do it.

If you think too much, it means you have nothing to say. Just highlight all of your key accomplishments, review your work history, and write it down on paper. Just like sounds.

Take it easy and remember, it is just a CV … But yes, it is the first impression on you. Do not forget this.

Good luck with your CVs!