Many of you, in order to show how many responsibilities you have, try to write out a whole list of them. What is missing are the specifics that we are waiting for.

In the case of managers who manage teams and budgets, you should first describe these two facts: how many people you report to and how much money you are responsible for. A sales manager, for example, does not have to write out his or her detailed responsibilities. It is obvious that such a person manages sales, conducts negotiations, etc. A much better solution is to describe in points the projects carried out and to boast about successes with concrete numbers, e.g. an increase in sales in the „from – to” period of several percent, or exceeding the assumed sales plan by several percent. For example, the Financial Manager can boast about cost reductions or process optimizations that have resulted in concrete savings. Facts, data and specifics – this is what recruiters expect from people in managerial positions.

It is also crucial to remember about one very important issue. CVs of such candidates often end up on the desks of people at the highest levels in companies, and they simply do not have time for a detailed analysis of each document that comes across their desk. They focus on the general outline and if they like certain facts, they engage in a conversation with the candidate.

Therefore, it is worth highlighting important facts and data so that they are the first to catch the eye and encourage further analysis of the document. Underline and bold fonts are sufficient. You can also include links to websites that demonstrate your achievements.

The key to a CV is to keep the document in perfect typographical order and to standardise the fonts used so as not to create too much chaos. A CV is a reflection of your personality, so a cluttered CV is the first clue to a recruiter as to who you are. And no one likes a messy person.

Even 10 years ago, using coloured backgrounds or paper other than white was perfectly justified, as it allowed your CV to stand out from the pile of printouts on recruiters’ desks. Today, no one asks for a hard copy anymore, so this type of action is completely unnecessary. If you want to show your creativity, do it efficiently by using your writing skills to be specific and to the point about who you really are!

It is very important to state your language skills in a way that everyone can understand. A universal method is the European grading system from A1 to C2, where A1 means basic knowledge and C2 means proficient. Do not base it on grades from a few years ago if you do not use the language regularly. In such situation it is better to lower your grade by at least one point to avoid appearing bad during the interview. Nothing is more damaging to a candidate’s image than a lie on a CV.

Training is a very important part of your resume, and very often it is taken „off the table”. Every employer wants to have an employee for whom they will not have to spend extra money to prepare them for work. This is especially important when your job has nothing to do with the education you received. Therefore, it is a good idea to list chronologically (just the year and duration) from the most recent to the oldest, all courses and trainings you have taken, stating the subject and the company that conducted them. If you have a certificate of completion of a training or course you should indicate this and have it with you at the interview, so that you can show it if necessary.

Many people ask why they should write about their interests in the CV because nobody reads it anyway. A CV is a reflection of your personality, so presenting your interests or passions will show the recruiter what is hidden in you. Just remember to include your real interests and not those that seem relevant to the position you are applying for.

It is wrong to list interests that you don’t have much to say about. Remember that recruiters have time to read your CV, are able to prepare for an interview on this particular topic and will quickly spot a lie. On the other hand, candidates who are passionate about something are extremely valuable employees, because this way they prove that they strive for something in life. And this is an extremely valuable trait that sometimes cannot be discovered by a recruiter when discussing a candidate’s work experience. Passion can be your important asset when choosing between several candidates with very similar evaluation parameters.