Imagine your CV as the passport to your dream job. It’s a snapshot of your career journey, an emblem of your growth and achievements. When it comes to making the first impression, your CV must stand out within a few seconds.

Start by creating a powerful first impression. Your name, LinkedIn profile link, and contact information should be crystal clear. Go for a professional email – your name with a standard domain. No funny business! Just the city and country of your residence will do.

The next step? A strong, concise summary of no more than 6 lines or 3 paragraphs. Mention level of experience and scope of responsibilities (individual contributor, manager, director, VP…) + domain (market or field of expertise) and few key job functions, highlight relevant skills.

Structure your CV chronologically, emphasize your job titles and achievements. Let the recruiter know the industry sector and the size of the companies you’ve worked for (turnover, number of employees). Recruiters don’t just want to know what you did. They want to see the value you added.

Here’s the secret of success – emphasize results over responsibilities. Customize your CV to resonate with the job you desire. Show that you’re not just looking for ‘a’ job, you’re looking for this specific job. Highlight the growth and changes you’ve brought. Define your managerial prowess, if any, by stating to whom you reported, how many people (and their functions) you managed directly and total headcount under subordination.

Sometimes, it is possible to gain an advantage by using the right language. Start sentences about your accomplishments with verbs in the simple past tense (“Achieved”, “Sold”, “Created”, “Solved”, “Designed”…). Be clear and be specific. Avoid using generic phrasing, being another “Results-Oriented Professional with a Proven History of Experience Working in The Industry” who uses meaningless language and jargon. Use numerals, they catch the eye, but context captures the heart. Don’t just throw out numbers. Show how you achieved them.

And finally, remember this: your CV is more about content, and less about design. Avoid tables or complicated designs that ATS can’t read. Keep it simple and clean, keep it organized.

To sum up, your CV is the first impression you make. Make it count. Start building your compelling CV today!