How do I create a professional CV?
A professional CV is the evolved version of the 'standard' CV, that is to say that it is often a basic CV that has been refined, reworked, and redesigned to be more appealing to recruiters, and to capture their attention in a limited time.
The professional CV is like an advertisement of yourself and your career, while the basic CV is more like a shop window.
What is the purpose of the professional CV? Sell yourself, and use words, as well as the presentation and design, to highlight all of your qualities. Focus on the professional CV and create one step by step.
How do I create a professional CV? The added value of the professional CV
A professional CV is usually intended for two employee profiles: those who have a lot of experience and expertise in one or more particular areas; and those who have an atypical profile such as a creative talent, a rare ability, or who are looking for a unique job (for example: a curator, singer, sculptor, big cat trainer, etc...).
Also, the professional CV is intended to demonstrate that from now on, you play in the big leagues, that you are capable of big things, and that you intend to show that to the recruiters, without being presumptuous. This model of CV must therefore stand out by the structure of its presentation, attention to detail, design, and for atypical profiles, its originality.
How do I create a professional CV? Which topics should be included?
- The 'Objective' section: it consists of a brief presentation of yourself and an explanation that displays that you have a grasp on the position's challenges. Do not hesitate to consult our page dedicated to this section « Objective ».
- The 'Education & Training' section: This section presents your educational background. You must mention the various degrees obtained, and any preparations for examinations or competitions you have participated in, specifying the dates, institutions, and results. It should be focused on, if you don't yet have a lot of professional experience (less than 10 years). Do not hesitate to consult our page dedicated to this section « Education and Training ».
- The section 'Professional experience': it consists of listing chronologically or thematically the different positions you have held, in which companies, what challenges were involved, and what outcomes were achieved. Don't forget to include your references, or place them in a small insert at the bottom of your CV. Do not hesitate to consult our page dedicated to this section « Professional experience ».
- The 'Skills' section: this section is extremely important in a professional CV. The 'Skills' section outlines, in different keywords, your professional and personal skills, that is to say your hard skills (differential calculations, mastery of the Adobe suite, etc...) and your soft skills (conflict resolution, empathy, managerial skills, etc...). Do not hesitate to consult our page dedicated to this section « Skills ».
How do I create a professional CV? What format should be used for a professional CV?
It is essential to adapt your CV depending on your skills and specialities. For example, if you have received several masters degrees, highlight the 'Education & Training' section by using presentation techniques: make it more central, with stronger colours etc...
If, on the contrary, you have a extensive professional expertise, then it will be the 'Professional Experience' section that will need to be highlighted. Many CV templates on the net offer tempting designs that are quick to highlight certain qualities over others. Feel free to get inspired or download one.
Titles, subtitles, and categories should be concise, readable, and make the recruiter want to see the rest, i.e, your CV should not be 'cluttered', everything should be clear, and the reader should be able to easily refer to the specific topic that he or she is interested in rather than another.
Finally, a beginner's professional CV should only be one A4 page, however the CV of a seasoned professional with 15 or 20 years of experience can easily take up 2 pages.
How do I create a professional CV? Our tips for a faultless CV!
While recruiters are prohibited from requesting a photo on the candidates' CVs, adding your portrait is nevertheless advisable. Indeed, recruiters prefer to put a face to a name.
And even if it's not always fair for everyone, it's the reality. However, don't shoot yourself in the foot; provide a picture of yourself (usually it should be located at the top right, top left, or top centre of the CV).
If you are applying for an post in the creative sector, you could also put a drawing of yourself, either a self portrait, or created by the software that you know the best.
Use striking keywords that are clearly visible to the recruiter, and especially readable by the software that some recruiters use to scan CVs without having to read them, when there is high demand. The machine will pick up the words, and because of that, you may be eligible for an interview.
Marc, recruiter.