How to create the perfect CV: 10 amazing tips

Perhaps there is no such thing as a perfect CV, but companies and recruitment agencies alike have certain expectations when receiving a CV. As recruiters, we’ve seen thousands of CV’s throughout our experience. From rather plain layouts and two-liners to board games and flower power themes; when we think we’ve seen them all there’s always a new one that catches our eye, whether it’s good or bad.

perfect CV
Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels

1. Do a lot of Research

Research is key to being able to create a perfect CV for an opportunity. Indeed, rules are different from one country to another so it is incredibly important to always check if your CV corresponds to what is expected. For example, in France, a CV should never be more than one page and in the UK you must never add a photo or you will never be considered. Always make sure that your CV meets the guidelines of the country you wish to work in.

Research does not stop at the country’s culture but also concerns industries. Recruiters do not expect the same type of CV coming from a Finance major or a marketing one. Finance CVs tend to be very strict, black and white only and extremely simple whereas a marketing CV has to showcase the applicant’s creativity, their capacity to match colours or think of nice designs.

The last thing you could research before starting the creation of your CV is the CVs of employees who have been hired by the company you want to apply to. Sometimes, employees, have them posted on their LinkedIn profiles. Doing so will help you see what kind of candidate they are looking for and the presentation they expect. Try to reproduce how they present their job experience for example so you can have a perfect CV for their company specifically.

2. Make sure you share all the right information

Ensure that you have all the necessary information written down on your CV. You want to make sure that you facilitate the work of the recruiter to ensure that your profile goes to the next step. Avoid as much as possible forgetting important details that require the recruiter to contact you. Your CV is your only way to “prove yourself” at the beginning of the process make sure it is pristine. Make sure you hand in the perfect CV right away. The way you present your CV, write it and fill it showcases your personality, your sense of organization and your way of thinking.

The information to not forget is the following:

  • The town you live in, it does not have to be the exact address
  • Education
  • Language proficiency following the CEFR Framework
  • Work Permit and its validity duration
  • Ways to contact you
  • Description of the task you had

Information you should never add:

  • BSN
  • Bank account
  • ID Card number
  • Passport number

3. Use the right categories

The idea is for the recruiter to be able to see everything you are and have done in seconds. To have a perfect CV, we would advise you to divide it into two columns. The first one should be organized in the following way :

  1. A short motivational paragraph
  2. Education
  3. Language proficiency
  4. Interests

In the second column, you should have:

  1. Professional experience
  2. Skills

4. Use a template to simplify the creation of your CV

If you are having trouble creating a CV by yourself, you can use CV templates to ensure having a perfect CV. Many websites offer templates for free the most well-known are the following: canva, novoresume, goodCV, …

Just be careful as often templates come with bar graphs, star rating systems, etc for skills and language proficiency. We highly suggest you avoid them as they aren’t appreciated by recruiters.

Your language skills should only be represented by the official European language proficiency system, the CEFR Framework.

As for your competencies, you should only write them if you master them 100% so it doesn’t make sense to present them through ratings or Graphs. You take the risk of getting asked rather uncomfortable questions such as “Why are your communication skills at 60%? What are the missing 40% ?”

5. Do not forget to mention your languages

If you are applying through Abroad Experience International recruitment agency, it means that you have special language skills. It is very important to mention them along with your level of proficiency in every one of them. Indeed, our clients choose us especially to find skilled multilingual job seekers, it is therefore important that your idioms are noticeable in one glance.

6. Use the right job experience presentation

When it comes to presenting your job experiences they are rules that must be followed and are true internationally. They are mandatory if you wish to have a perfect CV.

Your work experiences should always be presented from the most recent to the oldest (anti-chronologically). It is important that the recruiter is able to see as quickly as possible if your last experience corresponds to the job you occupied.

You cannot only write your job title and the company, you have to precise your main missions through bullet points. Job titles are not always linked to specific missions so it is important to give an overview of what you actually did. For example, Project Manager can have a thousand meanings so it is important to be precise about the mission you actually had. Not describing your missions may result in your CV being rejected.

Another important piece of information to share is the dates and duration of each of your job so your recruiter may see your loyalty to brands as well as how experienced you actually are.

7. Personalize your CV to the company you are applying for

We do realize that it is not always realistic to do so when you are searching for a job. You usually are applying to a lot of different jobs but if one happens to particularly catch your eye do not hesitate to go the extra mile. Designing a perfect CV for them will definitely increase your chance of being selected.

It can be as simple as changing your CV colours to match the brand’s to a creative wink to their products. For example, implementing little lego icons if you apply for the Lego company.

8. Use the job Keywords available on LinkedIn

A great tip we can give you to design your perfect CV, is to check the skills wanted by companies on LinkedIn, they are quite easy to find. If you see skills that you do have, do not hesitate to add them to your CV so it corresponds to what they are looking for.

Step 1: go on a job offer you are interested in

Step 2: Click on “skills“

Perfect CV

Step 3: A list of skills will appear

perfect CV

Step 4: Add all the skills you have to your profile thanks to the add buttons.

9. Write a good motivational paragraph

Usually named profile and objectives, it is used to give the recruiter a quick overview of what you are looking for and your background.

Do not write a long text it should be 3 to 4 sentences max. Use it to share your latest accomplishment, the opportunity you wish for and your main qualities.

EX: “Having obtained my diploma in Banking Finance Engineering at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, I am looking for a job in equity. With a background in Banking, I am precise, efficient and organized.”

10. Perfect CV tips specific to the Netherlands

Finally, if you are looking for rules specific to the Netherlands they aren’t any in terms of format, picture or categories. But make sure it matches the Dutch culture. Your CV should be:

  • Direct: As you may have noticed by now Dutch people do not beat around the bush, they want the information exactly as they are. You do not need to sugarcoat any of them. Just be honest and truthful.
  • Simple: You do not need to create an intricate CV presentation. Just make sure that it looks organized, readable and that categories are easily identifiable.
  • No exaggerating: Having a perfect CV does not mean that you have to be Hercules. It is incredibly important that you do not lie on your CV. When you will be interviewed, anything you have written is something you can be asked about. Everything you write should be linked to an example of something you have actually done. For example here, the title of manager goes to a person who led a team so avoid that title if you did not, write that you were a coordinator instead.

Abroad Experience International Recruitment wishes you the best of luck to create your perfect CV, do not hesitate to send it to us!

Do not forget to follow us on social media to be updated on new blogs, free guides and job openings: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook!

Perfect CV

The best reply to the interview question: Where do you picture yourself in 5 years?

question
Photo by fauxels

As part of an ongoing blog series, we will be taking potentially tricky questions you might encounter in an interview and dissecting it to help you formulate a thorough, satisfying (and always honest!) response. If you have an interview question that has you stumped, leave a comment and let us know!

Five years ago, did you see yourself being where you are now? Probably not. It’s tough to even know what you’re going to do six months from now, let alone 5 whole years. You’ve probably been asked this question in a variety of ways, making it no less difficult to answer. However, it’s something that we should all be asking ourselves every once in a while, and this week, we’re delving into it with you.

So why is this question asked?

Interviewers are interested to see if the job at hand is something that will interest you long term, help you reach personal goals and, ultimately, whether it’s worth your while… and the company’s. So hearing about your dedication will be very important to the company, as it will demonstrate that both parties will only gain from you being hired.

So how should you go about answering this question?

At the end of the day, think about responsibilities and achievements, not items, promotions or perks, as well as show the impact you could have on the company and the kind of positive growth the company could benefit from by hiring you. It’s also best to concentrate on your career goals rather than personal ones unless specifically asked.

Don’t say: “I see myself in an F015 Luxury in Motion Mercedes, driving to work as the CEO of XYZ enterprises with a salary indication of X amount per year.”

What that sounds like: “I expect rapid promotion and an increased salary from the current position I’m interviewing for without specifying how I plan to earn it. I am shallow and don’t seem particularly interested or passionate about the actual job or industry.”

Instead say: “In five years, I hope to know all there is and more about your company’s values, products and services while expanding my skills and responsibilities to become an even greater asset to the company.”

What this sounds like: “I am ambitious, eager to learn and put down roots rather than branches in order to become increasingly valuable to the organization by taking on new responsibilities within the XYZ department/ team.”

This response makes no mention of promotions (vertical growth) by rather the addition of responsibilities on a team or in a department (horizontal growth). You’re expressing a desire to remain with the company for several years and build up your value to them, something all companies are eager to find in their new hires.

Practice makes perfect

Unfortunately, no DeLorean can bring you back to make a second first impression. Before any interview, come prepared with answers to these sorts of open questions. Not only are they looking at who you are now and what you have done, but they also want to see the person you expect to become and if that person is the right fit for their company. Make sure that you prepare your answer enough that it sounds natural and not like a recitation.

For our previous question series article on “How would your friends and colleagues describe you?”, please click here.

Abroad Experience International Recruitment wishes you the best of luck for your next intake interview!

Do not forget to follow us on social media to be updated on new blogs, free guides and job openings: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook!

The best way to reply to the interview question: How would your friends and colleagues describe you?

question
Photo by Christina Morillo

As part of an ongoing blog series, we will be taking potentially tricky questions you might encounter in an interview and dissecting them to help you formulate a thorough, satisfying (and always honest!) response. If you have an interview question that has you stumped, leave a comment and let us know!

When you’re playing the competitive game of applying for jobs and going forward for interviews, you find yourself triple-checking the tasks and requirements of the job description and preparing for any questions that may come your way. But truthfully, you can never be 100% prepared for every curveball a clever interviewer could throw at you. Take, for example, this tricky question:

“How would your friends and/or colleagues describe you?”

 Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Think about it now… What do those people think of you? And how are you really able to speak for them without sounding conceited? It’s not very often that you sit down with anyone to talk about how they feel about you. Most days we can only guess what other people think about us. Everyone just has their own thing going on and probably doesn’t have time to think about how much they adore you.

So, how best to approach this question?

Get some honest feedback from friends and colleagues. Different relationships involved different sides of your personality that most likely result from the levels of comfort and professionalism that we have with each person; feedback from different kinds of relationships will give you a well-rounded response.

Ultimately, the interviewer wants to know if you are bearable or fun to work with and they’re trying to figure out what type of person you are from the opinion of others. They want to be able to picture you in their team and how it would play out. But perhaps they should be asking a different question – how do you see yourself? In life, we are always searching for who we are, what we like and who we like, and all of these features are what make you, you.

A good way to transform this into a concrete addition to your response would be through a removed perspective, such as a reputed personality test based on psychological criteria. This test, for instance, is based on the Big Five personality trait model, which measures Openness, Consciousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. In the end, it will tell you the context of the terms, and what your score in that dimension is. This way you can formulate an honest, yet positive spin on how you may view as an “Introvert” rather than “shy” or “timid” and so on.

Can you think of any other curveball questions that you’ve been asked in an interview? Did they feel irrelevant or out of context, and how did you respond?

For more detailed information look at our other blogs on interview tips and tricks, and how to present yourself on social media…

Abroad Experience International Recruitment wishes you the best of luck with your next interview!

Do not forget to follow us on social media to be updated on new blogs, free guides and job openings: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook!

The benefits of learning online to grow your career in the Netherlands: Top 8 advantages of following online courses

online courses
Photo by Julia M Cameron

Why are online courses so powerful and what are the top advantages of following online courses to grow your career? 

Do you want to become the best and most successful version of yourself and grow out of your comfort zone? Learning something new every day will help you actively grow your career in the direction you want it to go. A very efficient way to learn new skills and gain new theoretical and practical knowledge in a short amount of time is to enrol in online courses.

There are endless numbers of online courses available on the World Wide Web and if you have never enrolled in one before it can be intimidating and overwhelming to get started.

There are online courses that help you to learn languages, learn new computer skills, advance your creativity in photoshop or improve your marketing know-how. Those who want to learn how to improve their communication skills, want to become a pro in negotiations or want to turn into an excellent writer will also find appropriate courses online.

These are just some examples of courses that are being offered and are booming online. No matter what kind of skill you want to work on, there is almost a guarantee that the web offers a suitable course on the topic. Popular websites to enrol in online courses include Udemy, Edx and Coursera. Courses vary in length, content and learning style, so it is up to you to find the course that is matching with your interest, budget and learning type.

But where to get started? Which courses are actually worth your time and are a non-regrettable investment? 

There are many online courses and certificates being offered by premier institutions, organizations and companies. And a lot of them are free! These courses are a great way to gain specialization in a certain area, bring further value to your company or stay active and improve yourself during periods of unemployment.

So while we at Abroad Experience are busy finding you your dream job, have a look at some of the best online courses we have found:

 

  • Coursera (Free MOOCs – Massive Open Online Classes – provided by top universities such as MIT and Harvard. These courses, similar to those in real-life universities, necessitate a certain level of commitment. Many courses also include the paying option of a Verified Certificate, which attests to your completion of the coursework and can be shared on LinkedIn profiles and CVs.)
  • Duolingo (Free language modules offered in a wide selection of languages and levels. In addition, Duolingo is constantly striving to improve its programs, which are also offered in tablet and smartphone applications.)
  • Memrise (An online community learning tool used mainly for language learning but also branches out into other subject areas. Available in applications for tablets and smartphones.)
  • OpenCulture (A selection of online courses and certificates on a variety of subjects from leading institutions provided through other educational platforms, such as Coursera. Classes are organized by course credential codes, some of which require or offer paid verification.)
  • The Open University (An accredited university offering innovative distance learning programmes. Many degree options are available and the university does not take into account previous academic achievements with regard to admission. Course fees vary depending on where you live and financial assistance may be available.)
  • The Dell Training Center (Online courses in 20-minute modules on subjects ranging from cloud computing to virtualization, from data storage to security. Courses are free and are rated on a five-star scale with user comments.)
  • Microsoft Learning (Microsoft’s training and certification portal, where you can find everything from Microsoft office suite video tutorials to a search tool to locate the training providers nearest to a specified location for obtaining certain certifications.)
  • Training for Android Developers (Extensive lessons on development with Android, from the bare essentials to more advanced application development. Also offers a related 6-12 month Android Developer Nanodegree for a monthly fee.)
  • ALISON (A collection of 600 free standards-based and certified courses from top publishers such as Google, Adobe and Macmillan and subjects ranging from finance to health to IT.)

Here are our top 8 reasons why online courses can be what you are looking for to take the next steps forward in your career in the Netherlands:

  • Online courses are the future way of learning:

No need to spend money on gas or train tickets to be able to attend classes. Especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, online classes are an easy and practical solution to keep on learning and developing from your own living room.

  • Online courses save you time:

Stop spending time on Google and on searching for answers to your open questions. There are so many websites out there and they each tell you something different and end up confusing you. If you are looking for compact online course programs, then many courses can provide this. 

  • Online courses save you costs:

Say goodbye to expensive in-person classes and say hello to more inexpensive and efficient online courses. Online courses are practical and summarize the ‘must know’ facts about a topic without overwhelming you and stretching your bank account too much. 

  • Online courses are location independent:

You can follow courses from anywhere around the globe, as long as you have stable internet and a personal device (e.g. laptop or tablet).

  • Online courses give you flexibility: 

You can follow an online course at your own pace because. Many programs can be completed in several days or in several weeks/months next to a full-time job or other obligations. Nobody judges you on your speed of finishing the content as it is for your personal growth.

  • Online courses can get you closer to your goal:

Online courses will give you new inspiration, new tips and new resources and will let you have many ‘aha’ moments. Go on a journey of self-discovery. Reflecting on your personal situation, your next steps and your personality is a crucial part of the job search progress.

  • Online courses are interesting and interactive:

By combining theoretical and practical content, as well as adding interactive exercises, quizzes and handouts, many courses acknowledge that people have different learning styles and want to spend their time well without getting bored along the way. An online course should be a fun way of taking in new information and learning new skills. 

For more detailed information look at our other blogs on interview tips and tricks, internships and how to present yourself on social media…

Abroad Experience International Recruitment wishes you the best for your career path!

Do not forget to follow us on social media to be updated on new blogs, free guides and job openings: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook!

How to Get the Best out of Social Media in your Job Search : 9 tips

Social media has become one of the most powerful tools for recruiters and job seekers. The importance of being “out there” is so crucial that those who don’t build a strong social media profile may fall behind. Companies are using social media to recruit talent but also to find extra information about them. 

Which Social Media platforms can I use?

There are many different social media platforms. However, at a professional level, we believe that you should work on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. For marketing professionals and graphic designers, you may consider using extra platforms like Pinterest,… And if you are in Germany or in the Netherlands, Xing is essential to accomplish your objective!

Below we will explain what we think is the most important when creating a social media profile to get the best out of it.

  • Using Keywords:

Use relevant keywords to define your skills and make the search easier for recruiters. A good set of keywords will boost your possibilities of being found and maybe hired! Especially on LinkedIn make sure you complete the “skills” part of your profile as they are the keywords that will help recruiters look for you!

  • Branding yourself:

Create your own personal branding, use the same style in all your social media accounts, create relevant content in the areas you are an expert at and distinguish yourself from others. Make use of professional pictures on your portrait photo and exclude your personal activities from your non-private accounts.

  • Developing your profile:

This is especially important on Linkedin. Describe all your working experiences, link them to your companies, and add pictures and links. Also include some interests and hobbies in order to show a bit of your personality.

  • Interacting with your connections:

Like, share and comment on what others write and also contribute with your own articles. It is useless to have more than 500 connections if you know none of them!

  • Updating regularly:

Update your status with meaningful titles as this is the best way to create a strong network and to be up-to-date in your field. Try to be active on social media and you will be ranked at the top of the search engine. It is advisable that the updates are based on quality and relevance.

  • Minimizing discrepancies:

Make sure that your profiles look the same as your CV. Check your dates, job titles, duties and employers. If you can, try to explain any gap between employment or leave it for the interview.

  • Joining groups:

On Linkedin, Google+, Xing and Facebook, you have the chance to join different groups. It is a good opportunity for you to show your expertise and increase the number of connections in your field.

  • Being public:

Make sure, checking your privacy settings, that you are open to receiving new connection requests or inmails (on Linkedin), and that you are also visible on Google.

  • Linking accounts:

Link all your accounts in order to be more visible and easy to find. It is also interesting to add your social media profiles to your signature in your email.

We personally recommend candidates to create professional profiles instead of having just one profile for everything. It is important to look professional on the internet as companies tend to do intensive research when they receive an application or want to hire someone.

Speaking of social media, if you are not yet following us on our social media channels, we’d like to encourage you to do so.

We are very active on Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram and Youtube. Be the first to know about the newest vacancies, trends in the Dutch market, application & interview tips, as well as information sessions. 

Abroad Experience Website: https://www.abroad-experience.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abroadexrecruitment/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/728236/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abroad.experience.recruitment/

Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/326123L

social media
 

4 important reasons why your CV was rejected

Does your CV keep getting rejected?

After a little prayer, you click apply. Congratulations! Your application has been sent into the clouds of hundreds of job-seeking hopeful like yourself, hoping for an email or call back. But days and maybe even weeks go by, and you haven’t heard anything.  We wanted to share a few reasons why your CV might have not made the cut and ended up on the rejected CV pile.

1. Irrelevant Experience

If your skillset doesn’t match the skills required in the job description, then it’s more than likely that your application was put in the “no” pile. The competition is fierce, and although there is no such thing as the “perfect” candidate, your experience needs to align with what the company is looking for to avoid being rejected.

How to fix it? Choose wisely the experience and skills that you send. Your CV shouldn’t be one CV that you send to as many recruiters as possible. You should customize its content to match the skills, education and experience according to what you read in the job description (without lying of course).

     2. Your Languages don’t match

As an agency that recruits multilingual professionals, we can vouch for this one. Let’s say you only speak German, and the language required for the role is Italian… well… I guess this one speaks for itself.

How to fix it? It is more difficult to overcome this obstacle. However, if you are studying Dutch and are looking for an English role in the Netherlands, always mention that you are learning Dutch and your level (even if it is A1). It really shows that you’re trying to get integrated into the culture and that you are planning to stay here.

     3. You’re off the map

Whether you’re living a three-hour commute away from the role, or the company isn’t considering candidates who are still living abroad, your application has probably been rejected especially if the position is to be filled urgently. It is important to be realistic with your commute time. Would you be ready to travel 3 hours per day? Probably not!

How to fix it? If moving is not a problem for you, give a disclaimer or heading on your CV that you already have set plans to move, or are willing to relocate. But always remember that finding accommodation in the Netherlands is difficult and recruiters know that.

     4. Too much (or too little) information

You scoff now, but imagine having to read through a CV that looks like a medical thesis in 5.5 font. We can see how much time and energy you have put into this “summary” of your experience, but avoid the newspaper format and take the word count down a notch. Less is always more unless the paper is scarce from information, but even a CV with just titles will be more likely to get a response than the first one.

How to fix it? First, follow rule 1 and filter the information you want to show on your CV to match the job description.
Second, summarize, summarize, summarize! Recruiters don’t need to know the name of each project you worked on in the past (except if it is 1000% relevant). They want to know your previous job titles, the companies you worked for, how long you stayed in each role and your key responsibilities.

Abroad Experience International Recruitment wishes you the best of luck in your job search!

Do not forget to follow us on social media to be updated on new blogs, guides and job openings: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook!

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What to remove from social media profile before applying for a job?

https://youtu.be/YEsQ_KyzKJo

Social media often reflect how we are as individuals and nowadays it is fairly easy to find information about a person online. According to a survey by CareerBuilder, 70 per cent of employers will have a look at your profiles on social media before inviting you for an interview or hiring you. This number shows the importance of managing the content you share with friends on various platforms. Verder lezen →

5 Free CV templates

CV templates
Photo by Lukas

 We decided to lend you a hand, and offer these very simple,  but effective free CV templates. We know how tough it can be to whip up a good-looking CV, you want to stand out but don’t really feel like spending too much time on it. All you need to do is pick the one that suits your personality best and jot in your personal information.

Verder lezen →