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How To Write an Effective Resume

Writing a CV is a real drag, especially for young candidates with no experience in the field. Understanding that you have fewer chances to gain a job position compared to older and more skilled applicants does not build enthusiasm. You might be looking at a blank page for hours and fail to find the right words or ideas on how to write an effective CV. If you’re reading this, you’re probably at the start of your career, so it is essential for you to impress your potential employer. A killer resume can cement your status as a super professional, help land a new contract or get a job of your dreams! In other words, it is a real life-changer! If you don’t know how and where to start or experience a writing slump, don’t panic! Bookwormlab has prepared 6 top tips for writing a successful CV.

Resume Design

Design does play a vital role as it should be eye-catching and attention-grabbing. However, avoid overly bright or extravagant formats as it should look professional. The structure must be clear with an emphasis on essential details in the text. Sections need to be separated from each other so that the person reading your resume will be able to find the necessary information quickly.

It is a good idea to highlight keywords, such as skills, qualities, the place of work or the name of your university. But don’t go overboard with italics, bolds, and caps as your CV will turn into an eyesore. The best option is to make your resume look appealing both on screen and on paper. Experiment with different styles and choose the one, which will best fit your target audience. On

this website

, you will find 41 templates for your resume: choose the one you like and go with it! Also, it would be better to try printing the CV beforehand to ensure that it looks good.

Put Important Information on the Top

The top one-third of your CV is like real estate in the city center – it is valuable! Make sure that your employer sees only noteworthy information when he opens the document. Put your name and contact information at the very beginning. Experienced recruiters advise adding your LinkedIN profile instead of an email address. The majority of professionals use LinkedIN as the primary communication channel with their colleagues. It is not only convenient but also user-friendly and informative. So, make sure that your profile is robust enough to inform the reader about your experience, skills and educational background.

Include Keywords in Your CV

The majority of top-rated companies, especially multinational ones, do not have time to look through hundreds of resumes, which they receive during the day. Approximately 75% of applicants are excluded from the list of candidates a long time before a manager even sees their CVs. Bots scan documents to shortlist people with a particular set of qualities, skills, and experience that match with a specific position. The best way to beat the bot is to include keywords in your CV so that it will definitely get to an HR-manager. How can you do this? It’s easy! Read a job advertisement posted by an organization on various platforms and select the main skills and qualities necessary for the job. If you still experience difficulties, you can use

a special application

, which will compare your CV with relevant job descriptions and suggest keywords to improve your resume.

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Select Only Relevant Information for Your Resume

If you’re a great dancer or a professional gardener, it’s fantastic! It will surely help you find common ground with colleagues. However, your hobbies and private information are not the primary interest for your employer. Of course, a manager might ask you about your spheres of interest, but he will be more interested in your professional skills and qualifications. Therefore, structure your CV appropriately so that it would present you in a positive way. Tell about your education, experience, and core competencies. Think about your key accomplishments and include them in the top of your document.

Don’t Be Too General

What is the most common mistake of all young job-seekers? Right, too many general statements. Being brief is a talent, so try to be as concise as possible. The goal of your CV is not to tell your biography, but to prove that you are the best fit for the position. So, to attract the recruiter’s attention, you need:

use numbers (“my success rate is 99%”,“I’ve completed 156 projects”, “ I managed 1000 employees in my previous position”, etc.). They immediately draw the reader’s attention and look impressive;

briefly describe your main responsibilities. You do not need to mention all of them. Choose the ones that will be interesting for your employer;

list your previous places of work. It will help a recruiter understand whether you’re familiar with the field or not.

include your education and any extra qualifications you have, which are relevant for the job. If you apply for a position of an HR manager, a course in recruiting will be an excellent addition to your description. However, an International Yoga Teacher Diploma is not the best point to include in your resume.

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If you still feel lost and don’t know how and where to start, there is an example of a resume,which will definitely get a job:

Jack Smith

835 High Street Ave, NJ 08904

Phone Number: 555-78-69

LinkedIN Profile

Professional Summary

Responsible sales manager with excellent communication skills demonstrated by 7 years of work experience in the retail and wholesale spheres. Motivated and enthusiastic employee with a strong desire to reach corporate goals and show exceptional performance. A team player, who easily collaborates with colleagues and works together to achieve excellent results.

Qualifications

sales generation;

excellent budget and report writing skills;

territory management;

operational management;

basic knowledge in logistics;

project management;

complex negotiations.

Experience

Costco Wholesale Corporation – Sales Assistant (2012-2013)

supervise all activities of sales representatives;

set and maintain sales targets for the whole team;

develop effective sales strategies to meet company’s goals and objectives;

oversee stocking and inventory processes;

monitor performance of sales representatives and write regular reports analyzing their results.

Kroger Company – Sales Manager (2013-2016)

managing a sales team;

maintain company’s mission and vision among employees;

motivate sales representatives to reach their targets;

develop and implement sales strategies;

expand customers’ base and ensure strong presence in the market.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc – Sales Manager (2016-2018)

develop sales plans;

recruit and train sales staff;

coaching and mentoring team members;

writing regular reports on team’s performance;

assessing strengths and weaknesses of employees and providing regular feedback;

developing and implementing new sales initiatives and programs.

Education

California State University, LA

Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) (2009-2011)

California School of Business Administration (2011-2014)

MA in Management Studies

Additional Skills

Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, CRM systems, Microsoft Project

Proofread

Will you hire a person in dirty clothes? Surely, no. Think of your resume as if it is your face. If you have mistakes in your CV, you look unprofessional. A successful company is unlikely to hire a person, who pays little attention to his look. So, before you send your resume to the company, proofread it several times. You must be sure that it will convey the right image to your readers.