You hear it often in recent months: the labor market is extremely tight. There are more jobs than job seekers. So are you now on the hunt for a new challenge? Then you have the wind at your back. Still, it's important to make a good first impression. And the first time potential new employers get to know you is when they look at your resume or LinkedIn page. We list what you should and should not do for a fantastic welcome.
Today's CVs: personal and findable
The CV is no longer just a factual summary of work experience and education(s). It is also important that you present yourself as a person. Who are you, what do you find important and what do you want to convey to your future employer?
That is why it is becoming more and more common to put a personal introduction of 3 to 4 lines on your CV. On LinkedIn you can put this under the heading 'Info'. In this you explain what you have done, but also what competences you have. What makes you unique? It is useful to use certain keywords here. You can find it in the job description, for example. Recruiters can find you better on LinkedIn or on a job site if you post your resume there.
Think like a recruiter
You put your competencies – also called skills, skills or characteristics – not only in your personal introduction, but also on your CV and LinkedIn. The labor market is currently extremely tight. Never before have there been so many vacancies, while few people are looking for work. As a result, there is a huge mismatch in the labor market. Because the requirements set by employers do not match the qualifications of job seekers. Many organizations are therefore adjusting their hiring policy and looking for applicants with specific competencies. It is therefore smart to mention them: on your resume, but also on LinkedIn under the heading 'Skills'.
Five practical tips
- A (business) profile picture. Your future employer wants to get an impression of you as a person. Are you also looking for images of your new employer?
- Work experience? Keep it short and sweet! Look for what makes your work different or specific and don't name the standard tasks: Don't do administrative tasks. Do: Processing about 8-10 personnel files per day in the system.
- Use numbers to reinforce your experience. It differs quite a bit whether you managed a team of 3 or 50 employees.
- List of competencies (skills, skills or traits). Be distinctive and specific in this. There are few people who are not eager to learn, so what does this mean for you? Or be flexible, something like that. Does this mean that you want to work in the evenings, that you can quickly adapt to changes or that you are good at yoga?
- Use 'bullet points' for lists. The human eye is drawn to lists. Take advantage of that.
Five absolute don'ts
- From old to new. LinkedIn does this automatically for you, but you also list the work experience on your resume from newest to oldest. Your most recent work experience is therefore at the top.
- Work experience older than ±10 years. Were you a stock filler in 2001? Ask yourself if this is relevant to your future employer. Tip: use 'miscellaneous jobs' and list the less important work experience. This way you don't leave a hole on your CV.
- More than 2 pages. We live in a time where everything is getting faster. Selectors and recruiters often also have an attention span of less than 10 seconds… So limit yourself to a maximum of 2 pages.
- Marital status, place of birth, full address, date of birth. A resume, but also LinkedIn, is becoming more and more anonymous. Your place of residence is sufficient. Of course you do mention contact details.
- Spelling mistakes. Give yourself a flawless first impression. Have someone else proofread your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Then something else…
Mention references on a resume? This is only common in a few sectors, such as healthcare and education. In other cases it is better to put references on LinkedIn, under the heading 'Recommendations'. Let your manager, colleague or customer write a positive recommendation. And then list your LinkedIn profile on your resume.
Good luck building your resume or LinkedIn profile! Do you still need help with this? You may be able to request a career check through your current employer at unionconsultancy.nl. We help you to take the right step in your career and your resume and LinkedIn are also discussed.
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