Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Get ideas for your resume
• Part 2 of 3: Writing your resume
• Part 3 of 3: Putting the finishing touches to your resume
• Tips

A company you would like to apply to has asked you to send them your resume and now you think, "wait ... my what?" Do not panic! Curriculum vitae (CV) means "life course" in Latin, which is exactly what it is. A resume is a document that summarizes in a concise way your past, your professional skills, your qualifications and your experiences. The purpose of a resume is to show that you have the necessary (and a few extra) skills for the job you are applying for. By means of your resume, you are actually selling your talents, skills, abilities, etc. To create a good resume, follow the steps below.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Get ideas for your resume

1. Make sure you know what normally is in a resume. Most resumes contain your personal details, information about your education and diplomas, your work experience, your professional achievements, your hobbies, your skills and a number of references. Furthermore, it is a good idea to adapt your resume to the job you are applying for. Use a contemporary but professional layout. On the other hand, there is no single standard format for a resume. Ultimately, you decide what you want to include and what not.
2. Consider the job you want to apply for. Gather information about the company. A good resume is tailored to the company and the specific job you are applying for. What does the company do? What is their mission? What do you think they are looking for in an employee? What skills are required for the specific job you are applying for? These are all things to keep in mind when writing your resume.
3. Search the company's website for additional information that could be helpful for your resume. See if there is any specific information they would like you to include on your resume. The jobs section of the website may contain specific instructions. You should always check this.
4. List the jobs you have had. These can be jobs you have now as well as jobs you have had in the past. Include the start and end date for each job.
5. Think about your hobbies and interests. You will stand out through special hobbies and interests. Be aware of the conclusions a potential employer can draw about you based on your hobbies. Try to incorporate hobbies that portray you as someone who likes to work in a team and not as a lonely, passive person. Companies are looking for people who can work well with others and who can take responsibility if necessary.
   • Hobbies and interests that paint a positive image are, for example: Being the captain of your football team, the fact that you organized a charity event for an orphanage, or that you were secretary of the student council of your school.
   • Hobbies that indicate a passive, solitary nature: watching television, doing puzzles, reading. If you want to write down such hobbies, give them a reason. For example, if you are applying for a job at a publishing house, add something like: I like to read books by well-known American writers like Twain and Hemingway because I believe they have a unique take on the North American culture of their time.
6. List your relevant skills. This often includes computer skills (for example, are you very good with Wordpress? Excel? InDesign? Etc.), the languages ​​you speak, or certain skills the company is looking for, such as specific, hands-on skills.
   • Examples of practical skills are: If you apply for a job as an editor at a newspaper, mention that you always score high in the Groot Dictee. If you are applying for a job as a computer programmer, please state that you have experience with JavaScript.

Part 2 of 3: Writing your resume

1. Determine the format of your resume. Are you going to add a space after each part? Are you going to place each part in its own frame? Are you going to list all the information? Try out a number of different formats and see which format makes the most professional impression. Try to make sure your resume is no longer than 2 A4s.
2. At the top of the first page, put your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. It is important that you put your name in a slightly larger letter than the rest of the text so that it is clear to the reader who it is about. You may also know which format you use for this information.
   • According to the standard layout, your name will be placed in the middle of the page. Your home address will appear in block format on the left side of the page. Put your phone number and e-mail under your home address. If you also have another address (such as the address of your school or student house), put this address at the top right.
3. Write a personal profile. You are not required to include this section in your resume, but it is a good opportunity to give the reader a better idea of ​​you as a person. In this section you sell your skills, experiences and personal qualities. It must be original and well written. Use words that sound positive such as "flexible", "confident" and "determined".
   • Example of a personal profile for a resume for a publisher: Enthusiastic, newly graduated academic who is looking for a junior position in the publishing profession in which I will be able to use the organizational and communication skills that I gained during my summer internship at publishing house Stadslicht.
4. Create a section for your training and diplomas. You can include this section at the beginning of your resume, or you can choose to have it come after the other sections. You can decide for yourself in which order you include the parts in your CV. List your courses in reverse chronological order. Start with college if you have attended or are studying at a university and work back in time from there. State the name of the university at which you studied, the start and end date of each study program, the average of your final grades and / or the grade of your graduation thesis.
   • Example: University of Amsterdam, Dutch Language and Culture and History (2009-2013), including the following subjects: Medieval Literature, Modern Literature, Poetry Criticism and Dutch History. My average exam mark in the second year was 7.5.
5. Create a part for your work experience. In this section you should include all of your relevant work experience. State the name of the company, the place where the company is located, the number of years you have worked there and what you have done there. Start with your most recent job and then work back in time. If your list of previous employers is very long, only include experiences relevant to the job you are applying for.
   • Example: Edito Magazine, Amsterdam, March 2012-January 2013. Checking information for facts, writing articles for the magazine's website, helping to research material for articles.
6. Create a section for your skills and for things you have accomplished. In this section, you should include the things you have accomplished in previous jobs and the skills you have developed through your experiences. In this section you can also record any publications, lectures and / or lessons you have given, etc.
   • Examples of things you have achieved are: I have successfully published a manuscript; I have obtained the certificate Final editing of texts at the Hogeschool Utrecht.
7. Create a section for your interests. Try to include any relevant interests that will make you stand out in the most positive way.Choose a number of different interests from the list you created while getting ideas for your resume (in Part 1).
8. Create a section for other relevant information. If there is a noticeable gap in your resume or if there is any other information you would like to share, include it in this section. Here you can mention, for example, whether or not you quit your job temporarily to take care of your children or to do voluntary work in Ghana.
   • Example: I took a two-year break from my official career to teach English in Brazil through the TEFL program. Teaching English as a second language has helped me better understand the subtle details of that language.
9. Create a part for references. References are people you have worked with in the past such as teachers, previous employers, and the like, who have seen you at work and who can put in a good word for you and substantiate this in a credible way. The company you are applying to can contact these references to find out more about the work you have done before. You should always get in touch with the person you want to reference as a reference before actually including him or her in your resume - it is also best to check whether they still have the same phone number, or whether they are okay with it to give a reference about you, and whether they still know who you are. Write down their full name and contact information (including their phone numbers and email addresses).

Part 3 of 3: Putting the finishing touches to your resume

1. Check your resume for spelling and grammar errors. A resume with spelling mistakes is the fastest way to get rejected. If your resume looks sloppy or is full of errors, potential employers won't be impressed. Check twice (or three) times that you have written the company name correctly, as well as the names of companies you have worked for in the past.
2. Read your resume to see if it contains sentences that you could formulate more succinctly. A resume that is concise and well written is usually better than a long-winded resume that repeats a lot of information. Avoid repeating yourself - it is better to incorporate many different skills than to repeat the same skills over and over again.
3. Read your resume pretending to be the company you are applying to. What do you think of the format and the information it contains? Do you make a professional impression?
4. Have someone else read your resume. What do he or she think can be done or what needs to be added? Would he or she hire you if he or she worked for the company?
5. Read the jobs section of the company's website. Check if they would like you to enclose additional documents with your resume. Most companies also expect a cover letter or samples of your work (such as any articles you have written).

Tips

• Be honest. If you have the capabilities to do the job, you shouldn't have to lie to get the job.
• Write clearly and concisely. A potential employer does not make sense to have to read a whole series of pages of nonsense first to find out what your most striking qualities are.
• You are supposed to adapt the content of your resume to the job you are applying for. For example, if you apply for a job as an IT technician, it is not interesting for the company to know that you have worked in different cafes earlier in your career. And if you are applying for a job at a call center, a prospective employer will be eager to learn more about the skills you have gained in previous jobs in customer service.
• Write passionately about your work and hobbies.
• If you want to use bullet points in your resume, keep in mind that bullets or bullet points on one, uncluttered level look more pleasant than bullet points on multiple levels.
• Don't waste all your hard work submitting a well-written resume printed on cheap paper. Print your resume on good quality paper, preferably with black ink.
• Always try to sound positive, even if you have received negative criticism.