How to write a good CV

The CV is your most important marketing tool for your self-promotion and the first chance for a recruiter to get to know you. By seeing your résumé they will make the decision whether to reject your application or invite you for an interview, so it is of high importance. But how to write a really good CV? In this article we will point out to you the most important parts, so your résumé will impress your future boss of your internship.   

1. Layout

First of all, let’s talk about the general layout. Of course, there is not ONE correct layout. It depends on your wishes and in some cases on your field of studies. Some prefer a very minimalistic layout and some marketing or graphic design students invest much time in it, as it is part of their brand. The most important thing is, that it is clearly arranged and all the important information can be found within seconds. Try not to make it too full and leave enough spaces between different topics. In general, your résumé should be one page long so that all the necessary information can be found by recruiters on the first view in a short time.

In Europe it is quite common to put a photo of yourself in your CV, whilst for example in America it is unusual. In the USA they try to make as neutral résumés as possible to avoid stereotypes or bias. Depending on the industry and job position you can also leave out a photo, if you want to. But for positions with client contact and representation tasks, you should always attach a professional picture of you.

2. Relevant information

You should put the most relevant information at the very beginning of your CV. For applications abroad, it is significant to put your nationality directly after your address and phone number. That way, recruiters will be immediately informed if there would be any visa issues coming along with your profile.

As a student, the most important information, you have to offer, is your field of studies and your university. So this should come directly after your contact details at the very top of your résumé.  
Secondly should come your previous work experience in chronological order – starting by the most recent one. While naming your job history it is important to also list the tasks, which you had to execute in your position. Especially when you send your CV to companies abroad this part is of extra importance, as a company which is know very well in your country may be unknown in another and so the recruiter has no idea in which kind of business field your experiences were.

3. Skills

Apart from your working experience, the different skills you have to offer also play a big role in the decision-making process of the recruiters. Make sure to include in which languages you can communicate, your computer skills, whether you have a driving license and – if you want – your relevant soft skills.

4. Extra experiences

If you still have space on your resumé, you should also include some extracurricular experiences. You work voluntarily in a social organization? Great, make sure to include it! Social commitment always is a great plus in CVs and tells a lot about your personality. If you want, you can also include your hobbies. But please, just do so, if these activities bring with them certain soft skills. For example, if you do some kind of competitive sport it shows, that you are able to pursue something with dedication. You should NOT put on your résumé “hobbies” like Netflix, Instagram, reggaeton music, clubbing, etc. (I have read all these interests in résumés before). This kind of activities, either are very general (who doesn’t like watching movies and listening to music?) or show your not so professional side (when someone puts Instagram on their CV I imagine a person, who is constantly taking selfies and on their phone). If you don’t have any “special” hobbies, then it’s not a problem at all, just don’t include them on your résumé.

5. Adapt the CV to the position

Last but not least, you should not just make one universal résumé. Try to adapt your CV to every different position you are applying for. Some of your experiences might be more relevant for a certain kind of position and completely irrelevant for another. In order to keep your résumé to only one page it is sometimes necessary to exclude some activities, which is no problem at all, as long as these experiences are not of importance for the position you are applying for.

If you have any more questions what and what not to put on your CV, we from PIC Management are happy to help you.
Our only goal is to help you get the perfect internship – and a badly created résumé should not be the reason you didn’t get the position of your dreams.