How to write a good Curriculum Vitae

It is the first impression made on Human Resources, a cover letter that is key to accessing your dream job. We are referring to the CV: do you want to know how to write a curriculum vitae? What should you include in a CV? Here are the key points to get your phone ringing and secure that long-awaited job interview.

Only about 10% of job applications result in interviews—a rather low figure (according to data from Zety, a career consultancy)—and there is a reason for this. Many people are still unaware of the importance of knowing how to write a proper CV, tailored—important—to the specific job vacancy. In other words, you should not have a generic CV and send it to every job posting. This is the first piece of advice we give, but there are other important aspects to consider to land that desired job.

What is a CV?

A curriculum vitae is a tool used in Human Resources to find a job. Professionals summarize their career in a document that should include the most important milestones: relevant education, jobs held, companies worked for, positions and responsibilities, technical skills and soft skills, and other relevant information such as availability for relocation, willingness to travel, or driving license, etc. The way this information is presented largely determines whether you get a call and move on to the next stage of the selection process: the job interview.

It is therefore important to know how to create an attractive CV for recruiters. Nowadays, it is essential to have it in digital format, as email and recruitment platforms are widely used in hiring processes.

What should you include in a CV?

As mentioned earlier, there are key elements that every CV should include. These are the essentials:

1. Personal details: full name, ID number, date of birth, address, email, and social media profiles.
2. Education: degrees, vocational training, postgraduate studies, master’s degrees, etc. Ordered from most to least relevant. We will expand on CV tips in the next section.
3. Professional experience: from internships to more advanced positions. This depends on whether you are a junior or senior professional. Always highlight what adds the most value for the employer.
4. Soft skills: increasingly valued by companies. Highlight key strengths such as problem-solving, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and ability to work under pressure.
5. Additional information: foreign languages (include certifications if available), willingness to relocate or travel, and driving license.

The order of elements can make a difference when it comes to how to write a CV. That is why there are different types of CV, including:

• Chronological CV: the classic format, listing experience from most recent to oldest. Common for those starting their careers.
• Functional CV: focuses on roles and skills rather than dates, highlighting relevant positions and experience.
• Combined CV: a mix of chronological and functional formats.
• Creative CV: allows more originality in presentation, especially useful for marketing and communication roles. This may include video CVs, increasingly popular in digital environments.

It is essential to properly present your experience and skills. At EAE Barcelona, we place great importance on how to write a CV, especially in programs such as our MBAs, Executive MBA, and MBA. Throughout the courses, students receive guidance on how to create a CV that attracts recruiters and HR professionals.

Tips for writing a good CV

1. Clear and concise writing, avoiding spelling and grammar mistakes.
2. Choose the best CV structure based on your experience and background.
3. Careful formatting: use bold, capitalization, and underlining moderately to highlight key information.
4. Personalize your CV for each company and job application.
5. Include a cover letter showing knowledge of the company and highlighting relevant soft skills.

These are some key tips for creating a strong CV. The most important thing is to be concise and focus on what truly matters to recruiters. With attention to detail, your CV will likely be shortlisted, giving you the opportunity to shine in the job interview.