Over the course of my career, I have met many talented people who are skilled candidates and were determined to achieve their goals. But I also met a lot of people who did the same. This is a fact, and I don’t mean to offend anyone. You get hundreds of CVs every time you need someone to work for you, whether it’s a marketing manager, personal assistant or creative team member, or accountant.

Literally, they are so terrible or off-topic that you don’t want to even read them. You don’t. There are some great picks out there, but let’s not get into them.

Are you a CV writer? Okay, great start.

You read all the online posts by top influencers, such as “How to write a perfect resume,” “How do you get an interview,” and “10 tips for best resume”. You also Googled “free CV templates” and “best-paid resume templates.” Good job! You wasted your time doing research that will not bring you anything.

Templates for CV

You could use a template to fill in your information for certain positions. What about individuality? I won’t even look at two CVs made from the same template if they are both identical. I will simply ignore them all and go to the next one. If your CV is simply copied/pasted from someone else’s creativity, even if you have a great talent, how can I tell if I received two different CVs? No.

Use templates only. At most, show me that you have worked on your resume. Okay, let’s change the colors of the template.

While many of you may not agree with my statements above, many wills, a template for your CV can help you save time and land you the job you want. If the content is pertinent, it can.

Relevance.

It all comes down to who you are and why your application for a job is being considered. I’ve seen hundreds of CVs in which my first question was to the author: “So what are you good at?”

Your CV should be clear and reflect your best qualities for a job. Don’t be lazy; spend some time adjusting your resume to the position you are applying for. If I see the words “Looking for a position in sales or marketing” on a resume for a senior job, it asks me one question: “Did I know that sales are not marketing and marketing is not selling?” A lack of relevance can make you lose everything. Even if you’re a specialist in one of these areas, HR managers will pass your profile to someone with a stronger focus on the position.

One of the most important things is to include your key strengths and track record of success. No HR will read through three pages of your creative writings. It is possible to work if you are applying for a writer’s job. Include industry terms and be specific. Again, this is only if they are understood. You might consider trying another approach.

Keep it brief and to the point.

One-page CVs are my favorite. Okay, sometimes two pages are necessary. But, for the sake of simplicity, keep it to five pages.

If you’re an expert in your field, a single page of your CV will suffice to highlight your key attributes. If it’s a junior job, I will only accept a longer resume.

Get straight to the point. If you are applying for a job that involves advertising management, no one cares about your typing skills. No one will care if you were a waitress before you applied for a job as a content marketer. It sounds a bit rude, but it’s true. I care about the things I look for. I don’t waste my time reading CVs that are nonsense.

Do not lie if you are lying.

Who has ever lied on a resume? You’re right! Everyone did. Do not write about things you have never done. Don’t write too much about something you have never done. This will make it harder for you to get questions during interviews. You don’t want your interview to be where you don’t know what you should say.

Be honest. Show that you are willing to learn, even if you don’t have any experience.

I hired people with no experience for their honesty and passion. You are willing to learn and eager to learn. It is up to you to accept that challenge and prove that your decision was correct.

Experience. Do you have to show it all?

Let’s return to the relevance. You should include all the information that you feel will make you stand out from other candidates. However, keep it concise and pertinent. You shouldn’t include part-time jobs from college that you did to make extra money. Only tell the recruiter what you believe may be helpful and what he/she is open to hearing.

A photo in a CV.

This is the tricky part. It is illegal to include a photo in a CV. In some countries, it is also considered unprofessional. It’s up to you whether or not to include your photograph in your CV. It all depends on the position. A photo is a must if the position is for a hostess or model. But if it is not, you might want to reconsider. This part is a hot topic. There are many arguments and pros to having a photo on your resume. It’s hard for me to give advice. All I can tell you is that if you make a decision to put it up, please do so professionally and not at a half-page (trust me, there were CVs with full-page photos in my hands).

Contacts and Social Media accounts

Include your email and phone number. It’s a must-have. Some do not remember about it.

If your social media activity is relevant, including social media profiles can help. It’s better not to include it. Sometimes, it can damage your reputation when an HR manager opens your Facebook to see a naked body covered in chocolate and comments, “it was a great party.” A post was insulting your current/previous employer in rude and inappropriate language. This is not a joke. I have seen it from candidates for managerial positions.

Get it done.

You don’t have much to say if you think too much. Highlight your top achievements and take a look at your work history. It’s as simple as that.

It’s a CV, so take it easy. It’s your first impression. This is important.