How to make a good curriculum vitae?

The curriculum vitae, commonly known as CV, is a key document that summarizes your professional background, skills and training. It plays an essential role when applying for jobs requiring specific know-how or expertise. The CV is your first impression with recruiters, which encourages them to call you for an interview.

But how do you design an effective CV that highlights your skills and experience, while respecting the current standards and expectations of the job market? What are the essential elements to include or avoid in your CV?

How can you adapt your CV to the job offer and target sector? How can you make your CV compatible with the application tracking systems used by recruiters?

In this article, we give you practical advice and real-life examples of how to create a CV that will set you apart from the competition. We’ll explore the basics of an effective CV, writing and personalization strategies, adapting your CV to make it compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and conclude with some final tips. Follow our guide!

What are the key elements of an effective CV?

Before you start writing your CV, it’s essential to choose a format and layout that suit your profile and career aspirations. Here are a few tips to guide you through the process.

Choosing a format and layout

There are three main CV formats: chronological, functional and combined. Each format has its own advantages, depending on your career path.

Chronological CV

This format presents your professional experience in chronological order, highlighting the progression of your career. Ideal if you have a solid, coherent career path.

Functional CV

This format focuses on your skills and achievements, rather than your work history. It’s ideal for people who are experiencing periods of inactivity or considering a career change.

Combined CV

As the name suggests, this combines the features of the chronological CV and the functional CV, highlighting skills and experience. Recommended for profiles with diversified experience.

The importance of visual appeal

Whatever format you choose, a clear, airy presentation is essential. Here are a few tips:

• Choose a simple font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman);
• Adapt the font size according to the importance of the information (12 for text, 14 for headings);
• Structure your CV by spacing sections and using bulleted lists;
• Limit your CV to one or two pages, depending on your experience;
• Ensure adequate margins (2 to 2.5 cm);
• Prefer PDF format when sending your CV by e-mail or on recruitment platforms.

The visual aspect of your CV must attract the attention of recruiters and reflect both your personality and your professionalism. Here’s how to do it:

• Choose sober, harmonious colors, avoiding sharp contrasts;
• Adopt a clean design, using lines or boxes to delimit sections;
• Add a professional-quality photo if it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for;
• Personalize your CV to suit the company and the position you’re applying for, using the company colors, for example.

Essential sections to include

Your CV must include certain key information to effectively present your profile to recruiters.

1. Contact details: these should appear at the top of your CV and include your surname, first name, telephone number, e-mail address and city of residence;
2. Title: summarize your professional objective in one sentence, mentioning the position you are applying for and your specialty;
3. Summary: in a few lines, present your strengths, key skills and motivations;
4. Skills: highlight your skills by categorizing them and giving concrete examples;
5. Work experience: describe your previous jobs, citing companies, periods, positions and assignments, starting with the most recent;
6. Training: list your diplomas and training courses, specifying the institutions, periods, titles and levels obtained.

You now have the keys to creating a structured, punchy CV that meets the standards of today’s job market. Follow these tips to write and personalize your CV, and make sure it’s ready to pass through the filters of applicant tracking systems (ATS).

How to write a good CV?

Choosing the format and layout of your CV is essential, but it’s the content that really presents your profile to recruiters. Instead of simply listing your experience and training, it’s essential to highlight and personalize them according to the job you’re applying for.

What’s the right catchphrase for your CV?

Located just below the title of your CV, the catchphrase or professional profile is a concise summary of your key skills, strengths and motivations. Like a business card, this section should arouse the recruiter’s interest and encourage him or her to read on:

• Adopt a positive, dynamic tone, while avoiding stereotypes;
• Highlight your strengths and achievements, using figures and specific examples;
• Tailor your message to the position and the company, demonstrating your interest and suitability for the job.

Example of an effective catchphrase:

“Experienced accountant specializing in payroll management and social declarations. Having managed the payroll of over 200 employees in an SME in the construction sector, I am recognized for my rigor, organization and versatility, always respecting deadlines and legal standards. I would like to contribute to the success of your company, renowned for its opportunities for development and training.”

How to highlight professional experience in a CV?

Your professional experience, at the heart of your CV, illustrates your expertise and added value. List your previous jobs, mentioning the name of the company, the period of employment, the position held and describe your missions.

• Present them in chronological order, starting with the most recent;
• Use action verbs, in the past tense for previous positions and in the present tense for the current position;
• Highlight your results and achievements with figures or performance indicators (KPI);
• Tailor your experience to the job offer, highlighting the most relevant skills and achievements.

Example of an experience description :

“January 2020 – Today:
– Marketing Manager at ABC, Paris
– Development and implementation of marketing strategy, in close collaboration with general management.
– Supervision and coordination of communication, promotion and loyalty actions.
– Managed and analyzed digital campaigns (SEO, SEA, social networks, e-mailing).
– Increased sales by 25% in one year thanks to improved customer experience and new product launches.”

How to highlight training and skills in a CV?

Your training and skills complete your CV, attesting to your knowledge and expertise. Indicate your diplomas, certifications, continuing education courses or internships, specifying the name of the institution, the period, the title and the level obtained, in chronological order.

To highlight your training and skills :

• Select those that are most relevant to the position you are aiming for;
• Organize your skills into categories and illustrate them with concrete examples;
• Evaluate your skills using level scales or recognized certifications, particularly for languages and computer skills.

Example of a presentation of training and skills :

“Training 2018 – 2020:
– Master’s degree in management of cultural organizations, XYZ University, Lyon
– Honors
– Dissertation on cultural patronage in France
Skills:
– Project management: design, planning and follow-up of cultural projects
– Communication: writing of communication materials and management of social networks
– 6-month internship at DEF, cultural strategy consulting agency
– English: level C1 (TOEIC 950/990)
– Spanish: level B2 (DELE B2)
– IT: proficiency in Pack Office, Photoshop, WordPress, Mailchimp”

Should interests be included on a CV?

Interests, although optional, can enrich your CV by showing another facet of your personality, your passions or your cross-disciplinary skills. They can also serve as a starting point for a job interview.

• Choose activities related to the position or the company;
• Detail your interests, specifying the level, frequency and associated achievements;
• Diversify your interests to cover different fields.

Example of centers of interest:

“Hobbies:
– Theater: amateur practice, with participation in various festivals and competitions
– Reading: great interest in fantasy literature, active member of a book club
– Travel: exploration of 15 countries on three continents”

By following these tips, you’ll be able to effectively write and personalize the content of your CV, so that it accurately reflects your profile and potential. The next step is to optimize your CV for the ATS, to maximize your chances of being selected for an interview.

How to write an ATS-friendly CV?

Writing a clear, relevant CV is essential, but to land an interview, it also needs to be optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These recruitment software programs filter CVs according to specific criteria.

Definition: what is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) enables employers to process large numbers of applications efficiently by searching CVs for keywords related to skills, qualifications, job titles and software requirements.

Each CV receives a score based on the relevance of the keywords identified. The highest-scoring CVs are reviewed by a recruiter, while those with a low score are automatically discarded.

Used by many companies, ATS optimizes time and reduces costs, despite certain drawbacks such as dependence on keywords.

The right keywords for the right job offer

Keywords are essential for optimizing your CV, and must correspond to the skills and qualifications mentioned in the job offer. They must be integrated naturally into your CV and adapted to each application.

• Study the job offer carefully for important keywords;
• Add these keywords consistently to your CV;
• Customize your CV for each vacancy, adapting the keywords to the employer’s specific needs.

Example of keywords for a web developer job:

“Junior Web Developer
Junior web developer with a passion for innovative technologies and projects, looking to join a dynamic team.
Profile required:
– Degree in computer science
– Skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL
– Experience with React, Laravel, Bootstrap, Git, WordPress, Photoshop
– Ability to work in a team
– Fluent English”

How to structure a CV?

A clear, methodical structure for your CV improves its readability for both ATS and recruiters. Follow these recommendations for optimum readability:

• Choose a readable format such as .docx or PDF ;
• Organize your CV into clearly defined sections (professional experience, education, skills);
• List important elements using bullet points for greater clarity;
• Space your CV, leaving spaces between sections;
• Limit your CV to one or two pages, depending on your experience.

Example of a CV optimized for ATS :

“John Doe: Junior web developer
06 12 34 56 78
john.doe@email.com

Professional experience:
Junior Web Developer at ABC, Paris – September 2023 – Today
– Development of websites and mobile applications
– Skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, React, Laravel, Bootstrap
– Use of Git, WordPress, Photoshop
– Team work

Training:
Computer Science DUT, Grenoble IUT – 2020 – 2023
– Specialization in web development
– Final year project on a web application using React
– Graduated with honors

Skills:
– Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL
– Frameworks: React, Laravel, Bootstrap
– Tools: Git, WordPress, Photoshop
– Fluent English (TOEIC 900/990)

Interests:
– Video games, music (piano), travel”

By following these tips, you’ll increase your chances of passing the ATS filters and landing a job interview.

This article has guided you through the steps involved in creating an effective curriculum vitae (CV), with a view to applying for your dream job. You’ve explored the essential parts of a compelling CV, discussed how to write and personalize its content, and learned how to make it compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Concrete examples and practical advice were provided to help you design a CV that enhances your profile and attracts the interest of recruiters.

Now is the time to put these recommendations into practice to perfect your CV. Take the time to polish it, correct any mistakes and ask a friend or specialist for advice.

Present yourself with confidence, highlighting your background and skills. Pursue your objective by sending your CV to job offers that motivate you, and prepare yourself for the next step: job interviews.

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