Your professional background is the most critical information for your potential employer. It will prove your skills and qualifications and demonstrate how you can apply them in your professional tasks. Since recruiters can receive many resumes for popular and well-paid positions, they cannot read them very carefully at the early stages.
That is why you need to adapt your CV so that that essential details can be detectable. On the one hand, you have to tell the reader how you applied specific skills, but on the other hand, you have to write memoirs. Though, you definitely have something to remember.
In this article, we shall help you structure the description of your past roles and responsibilities to be impressive, short, and informative. You will understand which achievements need to be highlighted and which features are significant to make you look good for the potential employer.
How to Keep a Record of Your Success
Though we usually add a line in the resume after we finish our job, there is a little tip for you. Make a file where you will keep a record of all your achievements in detail. You may spend 10-20 minutes on it every month, but when you need to write about your past professional experience: here it is. You will not forget important details, will have a pool of ideas to write about, and have them at hand.
Also, write down answers to one of the most popular questions recruiters ask – the reason for leaving your previous job. But do not hurry to tell them about the conflicts with your colleagues or managers. Here you will have to look further. Maybe this was a lack of career growth or too much control. Sometimes it's okay to state professionally neutral reasons like location or family issues. Well, you got it –- get ready with answers.
What Should I Tell About My Previous Jobs?
The structure of every CV is more or less the same. Though creative personalities make their resume look like a piece of art, but do not make their mistakes. Keep your CV in simple formats like Word and PDF. Remember that nowadays, recruiters also automate their routine work and upload the data from your CV in the HR systems. If your document is full of drawings and pictures, the software will hardly read it, and your HR will have to input the missing details manually. Yes, you will be noticed, but rather in a negative context. And, if there are a lot of candidates, your creativity may take your application to the bin.
Usually, you start to mention your previous working experience starting with the recent (current) job. Typically, you need to state the company’s name, position, and dates of work. Below you mention your responsibilities and achievements. If you were a team lead, say how many people you monitored and whom you reported to.
Always update your CV to the requirements of the position you are applying for. If this is a managerial role, stress what principles you used in heading your team. If you are going to work in a team, describe how important it is to give your colleagues a helping hand. If you know this position will require working after business hours, note that you are ready for it. If it is necessary to go on business trips and stay connected even at weekends, don't forget to mention this before you are asked this personally.
Write a Summary Before Your Professional Experience
Suppose your professional career is impressive and you have worked for more than ten years. In that case, you should better write a summary of your skills and achievements before your job titles’ chronological sequence. Such an approach will help your recruiter understand if you are eligible for the pre-screen interview for less than a minute. You can mention the leading technologies you worked with, popular software solutions you implemented, and the payment systems you successfully used.
Try to avoid general and abstract phrases like 'worked with many online banking systems.’ Instead, add details like 'realized payments through Bank of America, 53 Bank, and HSBC Bank'. Such information will be equally understandable for specialists and, for example, your HR, who often has the general understanding of the specifics.
Create a Professional Social Media Account
Today our life passes on social networks, and the business environment is not an exception. Every serious business person literally should have a LinkedIn account to stay noticed and look for new opportunities. Many modern companies will not even ask you for a CV but will require a LinkedIn link. There they will find not only your resume and proven experience but recommendations from former colleagues, managers, partners, and clients.
LinkedIn is a great job board. You can get notified about every job posting from your favorite company, industry leaders, or local companies that look for professionals like you. An application can happen as quickly as clicking an 'Apply' button.
On your professional experience page, you can write as many details as you think will work best. Ask people to confirm your skills and do the same in return. Join various groups to communicate to professionals, and probably one day, and you will use those connections. It often happens that you receive job proposals from better companies once your skills are adequately mentioned. Social media works as a promotional platform for hundreds of professionals.
To Sum It Up
Mention your primary professional skills and achievements at the top of your CV. All experience records should start from the current (or recent) one and end with your education. Write specific tools or environments you worked with instead of general and not too informative phrases. Mention your responsibilities, tasks completed, and goals achieved. Create your professional account on social media and keep it active. Follow the managers and employers that you want to work with or exchange experience with, and keep your background info updated.
