Refresh your resume in less than 30 minutes

To apply for a job, you need to send recruiters a summary of your academic and professional background: this is the classic CV.

Throughout your career, you will be reinforcing and developing your technical and interpersonal skills, therefore it is essential that you update your resume regularly with the latest information on your skills. Overhauling your resume will enable you to seize every opportunity that may come your way in time. We do not ask you to redo your entire CV, because you can refresh it in less than 30 minutes. A resume is an invitation to meet with recruiters, so it is imperative that it meets their expectations. Do you want to apply for a position but your CV is not fully updated? Here are our tips for reviewing it in under 30 minutes.

Update your personal information

Your CV must contain updated information. As a first step, update your contact details and make sure you check the personal information you provide to recruiters. Add a link to your LinkedIn profile: recruiters have a strong presence on this professional social network and can consult your profile in greater detail.

Make sure your career path can be read in a few seconds. Organize and date your professional experiences and education in chronological order. You can also mention any awards you have received during your career, such as honors, valedictorian, etc.

Recruiters receive numerous applications, therefore they need to consult a large number of CVs. It is important to attract recruiters’ curiosity, so we recommend bolding important information to make it stand out. Fill in your skills with relevant keywords to make your resume easier to read. 

Enhance your presentation

 To attract the attention of recruiters and make them want to look at your CV, it is important to take care of the presentation of your document. Once you have updated your information, pay attention to the size of your fonts and your choice of typography. Opt for standard choices: it is better to offer a professional CV that includes all the necessary elements than one that is too original. Your professionalism should come across in your document, beyond the skills listed. Use a vocabulary and tone suited to a professional environment. 

Get to the point

Many applicants overload their CVs by listing all their experience in detail. This is a mistake: concentrate on the skills that are directly relevant to the job you are applying for.

If you want your resume to stand out from the crowd, you need to avoid overloading it and make sure it is readable and understandable at first glance. Recruiters spend an average of just 34 seconds reading a CV, which is why it is important to keep it concise and communicate only the information you consider essential.

Use keywords to highlight your technical skills. Do not forget to mention some of the soft skills you possess, as this gives recruiters an indication of your personality and whether your profile would be a good match for the company’s culture. Also indicate the tools you master, along with your level of expertise in them. 

Refreshing your CV means you are ready to send it out as soon as an opportunity interests you. Throughout your career, you need to update the information on your CV and LinkedIn profile. Make sure you emphasize your technical and interpersonal skills, to show recruiters that your profile corresponds to the opening and the company. Pay particular attention to the care you take with your document, using short paragraphs and beware of spelling mistakes. 

Fed Finance is a recruitment firm specializing in finance, accounting and payroll positions. Based in Geneva, the firm covers the whole of the lemanic arc and supports companies of all sectors and sizes in the recruitment of their temporary and permanent resources. If you are looking for a new professional opportunity, do not hesitate to consult our various job offers, or to send us your spontaneous application. If your profile matches one of our clients’ search, a Fed Finance expert will contact you to set up an interview. During this interview, you will benefit from their specialist advice on topics such as optimizing your CV.