Tips on writing a great CV

Here are a few tips we’ve provided to help you create the best CV possible.

Define your goal

Your CV must combine your professional goals with the needs of the recruiter. Start by defining your main goal.

Analyze the job offer

When you apply for a job offer, your CV type should take into consideration the type of position. By accurately analyzing the job offer, you’ll be able to adapt your CV to the expectations of the recruiters and thus provide an effective CV. You therefore need to pinpoint the required areas of expertise and link them to your own expertise. Then accentuate your own experiences which are most compatible with the needs of the recruiter.

Choose a suitable CVtype

PrimoCV offers you 4 types of different presentations, so that your application can accentuate your areas of expertise:

Starter CV: a CVtype that is specially designed to highlight the career paths of entry-level candidates. It emphasizes your training and skills, as well as your areas of expertise.

Chronological CV: emphasizes the development of your career chronologically. Ideal for executives and managers who want to highlight their career progression over time. Warning: this CVtype organizes your professional experiences from oldest to most recent!

Thematic CV: emphasizes the skills you have acquired during your professional life, and is particularly suited to applicants who’ve occupied a variety of positions.

Classic CV: a classic CV retraces your career path and highlights your most recent experiences. This model is suitable for all applicants.

Selecting information

Select the most relevant and useful information that does not tire your reader. Be aware that the length of your CV has nothing to do with its quality! Too much needless information will betray your inability to synthesize ideas!

Highlight the points that enhance your skills for the job.

Avoid inexplicable “holes” in your CV that might risk arousing the recruiter’s suspicion.

CV title

Use this space to specify the position you’re seeking, or your goal. For example, if you’re a junior accountant, you can enter:

“Goal: to obtain an accounting position.”

If you’re an experienced accountant: “Accountant: 7 years experience.”

Your personal information. Your personal information. Make sure your CV is easy to read: list your telephone numbers with spaces in order to make them easier to retain.

Pay attention to your e-mail address!
The e-mail address that appears on your CV must be serious and professional. Avoid fanciful addresses! The ideal format for an e-mail address is: First [email protected] or Surname.First [email protected].
If you don’t have a serious looking e-mail address, you can create one free of charge with Gmail.

Your photo

If you choose to display your photo on your CV, make sure that it represents your professionalism! Prefer “ID photo” type formats with a white background. Avoid fanciful mug shots. Training This field aims to inform recruiters of your level of training. Be aware that you want to adapt this content with their expectations. It’s pointless to mention your college certificate if you subsequently obtained a Higher Technician Certificate.

Training

This field aims to inform recruiters of your level of training. Be aware that you want to adapt this content with their expectations. It’s pointless to mention your college certificate if you subsequently obtained a Higher Technician Certific

Watch out for acronyms! Recruiters will not necessarily know all training acronyms and titles. Spell out titles if you’re not certain an acronym will be immediately recognized.

Company info

Remember to specify figures for companies and businesses at which you’ve held a position: number of employees, annual turnover, etc.

Areas of interest

Don’t feel that this is a mandatory field. The aim of this section is to allow a recruiter to discover positive personality traits through some of your personal activities. Avoid mentioning traditional activities such as “reading”, “traveling” and “movies”, which are activities just about everyone takes part in. On the other hand, if you’re passionate about a specific type of literature, for which you can provide examples and whose merits you can discuss, then go right ahead!

Sending your CVs

CVs sent via e-mail must be carefully presented; salutations and expressions of politeness are welcome, just as in a cover letter.

We hope these tips have proved useful to you. All you have to do now is write your CV.