6 Tips for Creating an Attractive CV

To get an employer to notice you, you need to stand out from the crowd with a polished CV. With these five tips, you can achieve just that while also creating a clean structure that shows why you are the right fit for the job you're applying for.

1. Informative

   A CV should always be informative, and it should clearly reflect your previous work experience. Include everything you've done in your previous jobs and anything that could be considered valuable. For each experience, provide detailed descriptions of what the job involved and what you learned from it. Also, mention what you have brought with you to future jobs or the results you achieved—this is important for the employer to see all of your qualifications.

   
   

2. Keep it short and concise

   Although your CV should be informative, it's also important that it's short and concise. In order for the employer to quickly see your qualifications among the many CVs they likely have to go through, as much as possible should fit on a small space. Ideally, the CV should be around 1-2 A4 pages. Make sure it’s not too short, and find that sweet spot that includes everything necessary. Use clear headings so that it’s easy to “scan” your CV.

   
   

3. Check your grammar!

   One thing that immediately leaves an impression on the employer when reading your CV is the grammar in your text. Always double-check and read through your CV before sending it to an employer. Typos can give a negative impression and make you seem careless. A good tip is to ask someone else to read through it to get a fresh perspective on your text. It's easy to become blind to what you've written after working on a text for a while.

   
   

4. Use design templates and subheadings

   It’s important that your CV is stylish and visually appealing. In Word, there are ready-made templates you can use. To make your CV clearer and easier to read, a great tip is to use subheadings. This makes it easier for the reader to structure the content and locate different sections more easily. Instead of long, clumsy paragraphs, subheadings make your CV more aesthetically pleasing.

   
   

5. Dare to stand out

   No one remembers a coward! Don’t be afraid to stand out with your CV by offering something unexpected. Why not choose a cool design for your CV, illustrate your skills with graphic elements, or start your cover letter with a poem? Doing something unexpected makes the employer pay extra attention to your CV and shows that you've put in that extra effort—something that is always a plus when applying for a job.

   
   

6. Don’t forget a picture of yourself

   Finally, make sure to include a picture of yourself in your CV. This gives the employer a first impression of who you are and is nice to have. It’s important that the photo is professional and clearly shows your face. A blurry or unclear photo is not appealing to include.