How can I improve my CV?

Feedback on your CV/Resume: In general, resume composition is crucial because it serves as a key tool for job seekers to showcase their qualifications, experiences, and skills to potential employers. A well-crafted resume can significantly impact the success of a job application for several reasons such as:

1. First Impression: Your resume is often the first interaction a potential employer has with you. It creates the first impression, and a well-organized, professional resume can grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

2. Efficient Communication: Employers receive numerous resumes for each job opening. A well-composed resume efficiently communicates your qualifications, making it easier for employers to quickly understand your suitability for the role.

3. Customization for Each Job: Tailoring your resume for each job application demonstrates a genuine interest in the specific position and company. It allows you to highlight the most relevant experiences and skills for the role.

4. ATS Compatibility: Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage and filter resumes. Ensuring your resume is ATS-friendly, with relevant keywords and a clear format, increases the likelihood of passing the initial screening process.

5. Showcasing Achievements: Resumes provide an opportunity to showcase your professional achievements and quantify your contributions. This helps employers understand the impact you've had in previous roles.

6. Highlighting Transferable Skills: A well-composed resume highlights transferable skills that are applicable to the job you're applying for. This is particularly important if you are changing industries or roles.

7. Demonstrating Professionalism: The way your resume is presented reflects your professionalism and attention to detail. A clear and error-free resume conveys that you take your job search seriously.

8. Differentiation in a Competitive Market: In competitive job markets, where multiple qualified candidates may be vying for the same position, a well-composed resume can help you stand out from the crowd.

9. Preparation for Interviews: Crafting your resume requires reflecting on your experiences and accomplishments. This process not only helps you prepare for potential interview questions but also ensures that you can speak confidently about your qualifications.

10. Alignment with Company Culture: Tailoring your resume allows you to align your experiences and skills with the specific needs of the company and its culture, increasing the likelihood of being perceived as a good fit.

In summary, resume composition is a critical step in the job application process. A carefully crafted resume not only opens doors for interviews but also serves as a marketing document that positions you as a strong candidate for the desired role.

Following the aforementioned reasons on why your resume needs to be well-crafted, you can find some suggestions below: 

1. Make your CV/Resume clean and professional: Keep the format clean and professional, use a simple font and maintain consistent formatting throughout. If your CV has way too much information included, to the point where it makes it difficult for the HR reps or even the ATS programs to go through, then you automatically lower your chances to be seen. Keep in mind that recruiters/HR reps typically spend 10 - 30 seconds per CV. Focus on the important parts of your work experience, achievements, and background.

2. Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

3. Self-images in the CVs: It is common in the "modern" way of applying to not include self-images into the CVs while applying for jobs as this may lead to discrimination and disclusion. Most of the resumes are submitted without any reference on how the candidate looks like or what their gender is. By all means, if you feel like this must be considered as important in the market or employer you are applying for, then feel free to keep your self-image.

4. Education section: It is better to just have a basic overview of your educational background, simply for reference.

5. Training and Certifications section: State your certifications and qualifications in a way that it will not take too long for the ATS or the HR rep/Hiring Teams to go through the information. You can also provide a link that showcases the validity of the provided information.

6. Software & Integration Skills section: As before, keep it simple, clean and professional, so that anyone that wants to get a high-level view can immediately extract the proper information.

7. Work experience section: It is important here to highlight your relevant work experience, focusing on accomplishments and quantifiable achievements. 

7a. Keep a reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job, and make it clear when it comes to dates.

7b. Use numbers to quantify your achievements whenever possible. This makes your impact more tangible. For example, describe a project or initiative you had and how this impacted the progress of the job: This X initiative helped to save 30k in the operational costs or this W initiative increased 30% the productivity. Or this Y task saved Z amount of time. 

7c. Try to avoid unnecessary information and keep the bullet format but make your impact measurable and comprehensive.

8. Keywords and ATS Optimization: Include a skills section (e.g. "key skills" section) with keywords relevant to the job descriptions you are applying for. Also, it is suggested that you use terms that are included in them. ATS scans for matches with job requirements. Make sure that the main job title (the one you are looking for) and alternative keywords are part of the CV. Popular processes, names of platforms/tools and known industry processes should be part of the CV. The main reason is that ATS automatically detect keywords and will filter out a CV that does not contain those keywords.

9. Formatting and design: It is important to avoid complex formatting, graphics, or images that may confuse ATS. 

9a. Stick to a straightforward and modern layout. If the format and design of the CV is quite old-fashioned and messy, it will take too long for HR reps or ATS to go through this information and it might be misleading for them.

9b. Use a tool like https://resume.io/ to create a better design that will look good to the recruiters or HR reps. 

9c. Submit your resume in a standard format like .docx or .pdf to ensure compatibility with most ATS.

9d. Spell out acronyms the first time and include the abbreviation in parentheses. This ensures ATS understands them.

9e. Thoroughly proofread your resume for errors. ATS may reject resumes with spelling or grammar mistakes.

Remember, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you, so make sure it accurately reflects your qualifications and suitability for the job. Best of luck!

***Links for your reference on how to compose your CV (design and content wise):

1. zety.com

2. canva.com

3. cvdesignr.com

4. novoresume.com