Your curriculum vitae, or CV, is essentially an extended business card for introducing yourself to potential employers. Since this is the first moment they meet you, it is naturally important that you make a good impression right away. Sometimes you may want to apply for a position where you do not yet have direct work experience. Especially then, it is crucial that your CV convinces the employer to choose you, as a person. Not as someone who fits perfectly and seamlessly into the framework of the position. In this article, we will give you a few tips to help you do that.

MAKE SURE YOU STAND OUT IMMEDIATELY

At this moment, the demand for staff is high, and it is less likely that your CV will end up at the bottom of a tall stack of applicants. Still, you want your CV to stand out immediately and not be forgotten. One way to achieve this is by ensuring your CV looks visually appealing. Use color, a neat layout, and attractive icons. Many examples of striking CVs are available online for purchase. However, be aware that these formats are used by multiple people. If you can create an original design yourself, you give yourself an advantage.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Although a CV is primarily meant to showcase your professional skills and experiences, it is advisable to also show a bit of yourself as a person. The easiest way is by placing a nice photo of yourself on your CV. But also by briefly mentioning your hobbies, family composition, or perhaps volunteer work you have done, the reader gets a better sense of who you are as a person. On CVs, you also often see people listing several core characteristics of themselves. Especially when applying for a position where you do not have much work experience, this can be extremely helpful.

EMPHASIZE YOUR TALENTS

Of course, your CV should display what education you have completed and where you have worked. But instead of a dull list of dates and workplaces, you can also use each work experience as an example of your specific talents. So, do not write:

2015 – 2017 – Snackbar ‘t Kaasplankje
sales assistant

but write:

2015 – 2017 – Snackbar ‘t Kaasplankje
Responsible for sales and customer service. In this role, I demonstrated that I am patient, responsible, and flexible. I also further developed my ability to quickly and effectively solve problems.

FINALLY: BE HONEST

As much as you want the job, lying on your CV to come across better will not help you. The likelihood that it will be discovered is high and it makes you unreliable. Be yourself and trust in your unique talents.