The Winning Resume: How to Create your CV

Embarking on your remote job quest, you need to pass every trial or step in order to move to the next one. And your first trial is to catch the recruiter’s eye through your well-crafted resume.

Do you know that a recruiter spends only a second or two to glance at a resume?

Keep in mind that it is not only you who is applying for the job. There may be hundreds or even thousands of hopefuls vying for the job since it is a remote one.

So, how can you persuade the recruiter to go over your resume?

How can your resume stand out from the stacks of resumes that the recruiter receives every day?

What information should you include?

How will you exhibit your accomplishments?

How will you craft your words?

How will you lay out the details? 

According to Merriam-Webster, a resume, borrowed from the French word, résumé, which means summary, is a short account of one’s career and qualifications.

Your resume is your first opportunity to impress a recruiter.

It is your key to a job interview.

It is your first passport for you to take off.

That’s why you have to make your resume a compelling one. It should speak for you⁠—your achievements, stellar work experience, education, skills, and other significant details corroborating you are the best fit for the job.

However, since you have only a one-second chance to hook the recruiter, you cannot put everything in your resume. You have to limit it to merely one or two pages. Ergo, identifying what information should you include is also vital.

To suffice what the company is seeking for its new employee, check its job posting, and tailor your resume according to the specified job qualifications and responsibilities.

So, what should be seen on your resume and how can you make it captivating?

Tip #1

Have your first and last name as your heading; you may also include your middle initial. Next, add your contact details, mobile number, Skype ID, and a professional email address. Be sure that these are the ones you often use so the recruiter can reach you easily. You may also include your websites or the URL of your professional online profile.

Tip #2

Ditch the objective; construct an executive summary or overview instead. Pithily craft what you can bring to the table and why you are the best person for the job. An objective is no longer necessary. It is the value that you can provide the company what the employer wants to see and not how the company can fulfill your job goal.

Tip #3

Since this is the spot where the recruiter’s eyes are automatically lead to, showcase here your best experiences and accomplishments, especially those that meet the job qualifications. This is not a list of your responsibilities in your previous jobs. This is an outline of strong, concrete statements or specific examples narrating your achievements arranged in reverse chronological order.

In constructing the statements, use specific words (strong verbs) and quantify the results. (Here are some action verbs for resumes from wellesley.edu/careereducation. You can also incorporate some key words from the job qualifications.

Tip #4

Next to your list of accomplishments is your education, the degree(s) you obtained, name(s) of the school(s) and address(es), and the year(s) you graduated. Exhibit your awards and other certifications that are relevant to your target job.

Aside from the above, you may also enumerate the skills that will make you perform the job effectively. Since this is a remote job, incorporate the generals skills such as problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills discussed in Module 1.

Tip #5

After constructing all the statements and other information, you can now compile them and start laying them out. Remember, aside from the content, the design is also crucial. Make it simple or spice it up a little. Just be sure it looks neat, organized and underscores your qualifications.

Plenty of stunning and professional templates are available online. You can download them for free. Check out the following. These were grabbed from Canva.

Tip #6

When you’re done, never skip these finishing touches: review and proofread your resume. Any error in grammar or spelling would diminish your impact.

Tip #7

Also, save your resume as a PDF and name it “Your name Resume” (e.g., Sally Sanchez Resume).