Six seconds. This is the average time a recruiter spends on a CV before deciding to reject it or take a closer look at it. This is a good reason to check your resume very carefully before sending it.
It is quite normal that after spending many hours preparing application documents, we no longer have a distance to them. However, it is worth making the latter effort and checking them carefully before sending them,' advises Joanna Żukowska, an expert on the MonsterPolska.pl job offer service.
No doubt, we also need a second, fresh look - let's ask a friend or family member for help. The following list of questions prepared by MonsterPolska.pl will also be useful. If the answer "yes" is predominant, you can send your CV to your dream employer.
First impression
Does the CV look original and not as if we have pasted the content into a ready-made template?
Does it encourage reading: has a clear division into sections, enough light between paragraphs?
Does the summary of the most important achievements show what function we performed in the previous company?
Does the length and overall appearance of the CV reflect the scale of our professional experience?
Appearance
Does the biography resemble a pleasing and refined presentation?
Is the font suitable?
Do the graphic elements (dots, bold, underlining) guide the reader through the document and highlight its most important elements?
Are the proportions between the text and spaces not distorted?
Are the margins equal on both sides of the document?
Are the font and spacing between the graphic elements identical throughout the Curriculum Vitae?
Does the other page (if the CV is longer) contain a header?
CV sections
Is each part clearly marked?
Were they placed in such order that emphasizes our strengths?
Has the employment history been written in reverse chronological order (last job on top)?
Professional goals
Was the CV written under a specific job offer and not as a general document matching each offer?
Does it contain details from previous experience that will be useful in the new place?
Achievements
Does the CV clearly present our professional achievements?
Have they been reinforced with numbers, percentages, amounts and other measurable signs of success?
Do the sentences of achievement begin with strong verbs that mean action?
Are achievements separated from responsibilities?
Relevance
Does the information contained in the CV meet the needs of the employer?
Does the resume contain key words, popular phrases and industry abbreviations?
Have we not forgotten about additional information (awards, certificates) and have not added unnecessary private things (age, marital status, nationality)?
Style
Does the content form a logical and easy-to-read whole?
Are there no typos, spelling mistakes and factual errors?
