Some people may not think about it, but the CV (like the cover letter) should always be tailored to the job. Of course, looking for a job is already very time-consuming, but you will increase your chances of getting a job interview by sending a personalised CV to the recruiter. 

Sending the same standard CV to 20 different companies is a mistake. On the contrary, you should show the recruiter that you have taken the time and made the effort to read the job offer carefully. By doing so, you show them that you are really interested in this job and not in another one. 

Hence the importance of not limiting yourself to the list of tasks or benefits described in the offer. You should also pay attention to the description of the company to better understand its history and DNA. You will then have a better chance of attracting the attention of the recruiter, who sometimes receives hundreds of applications for a single position.

Of course, adapting your CV to each job offer takes time, but you should not forget that the recruiter is looking for a specific profile for a specific position. Try to put yourself in their shoes and capture their attention by highlighting your strengths and everything that proves you are the ideal candidate. In short, mention professional experience, training, skills and interests related to the position you are applying for.

As you know, a recruiter can receive many CVs. Make it easier for them by adding a summary at the top of the page. Personalising your CV by specifying the job or sector you are looking for will show that you are not sending dozens of applications without thinking, but rather that you are targeting this particular company and position. In this way, you distinguish and enhance your CV. 
This catchphrase can simply be the title of the position you are applying for. Furthermore, if you are responding to an advertisement, write the job title as it appears on the advertisement. On the other hand, if you are making an unsolicited application, write the name of the position you are seeking. In any case, banish the title "CV".

To make the recruiter want to continue reading and to show that you correspond to what they are looking for, you can add a brief presentation that summarises the job you are looking for, your speciality, the years of experience and/or your main skills. In any case, the headline should correspond to the position you are applying for. Keep it short, this text should not exceed two or three lines, you can go into more detail in the rest of the resume. 

To tailor your CV to the job you are applying for, you should use the vocabulary of the company and the sector. To do this, take the time to analyse the job description and, why not, other advertisements published by the same company or in the same sector. Pay particular attention to the job title, skills, professional experience, training and qualities sought. 

Once you have identified these, include the most relevant keywords in your CV. Moreover, if certain terms appear several times in the job description, it is because they are important. So make sure you add them to your CV. Don't forget that more and more recruiters nowadays use software to sort applications, and there is a good chance that they will use the keywords to define the filters. 

Throughout your career, you may have done several internships, student jobs and, once you have graduated, held several positions with different companies. Once again, you need to prove to the recruiter that you fit the job description by highlighting your most significant experiences that are relevant to the position. You must therefore sort out your experience.

 

Try to get as close as possible to the profile sought, obviously without lying or exaggerating your experiences. This does not mean that your other experiences should not be mentioned, but simply that those that are most relevant to the job should be more detailed. For example, if you have already worked in a start-up and you are applying for a start-up, mention this and elaborate on this experience. The same goes for the required hard skills and soft skills. You should give priority to the technical and behavioural skills mentioned in the job description. 

The principle is the same for education. Those that are coherent and correspond to the position should be highlighted if possible. Moreover, if the subject of your dissertation or one of the courses in your course of study is particularly relevant to the job in question, you can mention it. 

 

In order to show the recruiter your assets and your interpersonal skills (and even if your professional experience is perfectly in line with the job description), you should highlight your extra-professional interests and experiences in your resume. Instead of making it a catch-all section, the interests section can actually be a wealth of information that reflects your personality and skills, targeting of course those that prove you are the perfect candidate.

For example, if you have volunteered for an charitable association, this can indicate that you know how to show solidarity, team spirit, respect and empathy. As part of this mission, have you organised a charity event or fundraiser for a good cause? You have a good sense of organisation and responsibility. Did you participate in the communication of this event? This proves that you have planning skills and you can be creative, etc.

If these are skills and qualities mentioned in the job description, don't miss out and add them to your CV. Again, only include the information that is most relevant and related to the job in question so as not to lose the recruiter's attention. Think about hobbies and activities that could enhance your profile and make you stand out from other candidates. Think about consulting social networks and the company's website to get a better idea of the company's culture and understand what might interest the recruiter.

 

Finally, before sending your application, read the job description and your CV one last time to check that you have indeed met the requirements listed. And if there are no more spelling mistakes, you can send it!