8 ingredients for the “perfect” CV recipe
Keeping your CV up to date is never a bad thing.
With face-to-face networking indefinitely, it will become an even more important tool for setting yourself apart and seizing opportunities.
THE RECIPE FOR THE "PERFECT" CV
The CV that charms a recruiter can be the same that is collected in someone else's basket at first glance.
It is therefore not an exact science and we cannot please everyone. Ideally, it is adjusted and personalized according to the desired field and job.
The following tips offer some food for thought, but it should be remembered that there is no magic bullet.
If employer feedback is scarce, all you have to do is revise the formula. It is also best to seek the advice of loved ones before you start submitting it.
1. THE LAYOUT
Unless you have design talents or aim for a position that requires them, now is not the time to develop your graphic design skills.
Generally, it is better to opt for sobriety and clarity in the layout. We can start from a pre-existing model, but a design that is too loaded and poorly executed can make the person opening the file want to move on to the next.
2. THE EXPERIENCES
If you want to focus on your career progression, presenting the jobs in descending chronological order with a concise description of roles and achievements is usually the most effective approach. Ditto for training.
Volunteering and relevant life projects are right there, but the little summer job of ten years ago, hobbies, and the savvy caretaker course can take the edge.
If your course has large holes or if you are targeting a job for which your experiences are not relevant at first glance, it is better to choose the presentation by skill.
You present 4 to 8 key skills and abilities that you can bring to the organization. You accompany them with examples that demonstrate that you have applied them concretely in your previous experiences.
3. THE OBJECTIVE
There is no harm in including a goal at the top of the resume. For example, it can be used if you are reorienting your career to give context to the application.
But if it is only to write a generic paragraph without flavor, we leave it aside.
A cover letter is usually a better way to explain your motivations and sell the strengths of your application.
And the mention "References on request" at the bottom of the page should be avoided. If we want references, we will ask you for them.
4. PERSONAL INFORMATION
They should only be used to communicate with you. Your social insurance number, marital status, and date of birth are only useful for fraudsters.
We must remember that a CV can circulate a lot.
5. LANGUAGES
No need to make a paragraph. Stuff like "completely bilingual" or "French mother tongue, functional English" is doing the job in droves.
The important thing is, to be honest. Being able to order una Cerveza while traveling in the South is not enough to boost your talents in Spanish on paper.
6. HONEST DEVELOPMENT
You have to find the balance between highlighting your journey and staying true to reality.
"I managed a team with unrivaled expertise and delivered invaluable results for the organization." It's a little too pompous.
"Team leader." It lacks context and punch.
7. THE PHOTO
With Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the company, the photo on the CV is a little too much!
The photo in the CV is a more common practice in some countries, but you can do it without the vast majority of jobs in Quebec.
If recruiters want to know what your pretty face looks like, they are probably spoiled for choice in a few quick searches.
Which brings us to ...
8. ONLINE PRESENCE
When you are called after consulting your CV, the chances that the person on the other end of the phone has already examined your existence online are very high.
Obviously, the profile picture with drinks in both hands is not ideal when you are looking for a job, but it goes further than that. A tweet that has aged badly or a slightly overwhelming comment are the kinds of things that can come up.
Don't go crazy, but a little cleaning up of your history or a tightening of the confidentiality settings of your accounts can be of service.
On LinkedIn, on the other hand, it's worth talking about keywords and skills to match as many potential search criteria as possible for recruiters.
With the CV and online presence, job hunting is not a matter of perfection, it's just a matter of putting the maximum of chances on your side!
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