How to write a powerful CV

How to Write a Powerful CV

A strong CV is not a one-size-fits-all document. Employers use it to assess how well you fit a particular role, so tailor its content to each position. Before writing, decide what you want the employer to think about you; use that goal to determine what to include, remove, or emphasize. CV conventions can differ by country, and this advice is specifically framed for the Dutch job market.

Suggested CV Sections

1. Personal information

   • Include contact details and, where appropriate, your date of birth.
   • Whether to include a photograph depends on the role and employer. If you use one, choose a professional-looking photo.

2. Personal profile

   • Write a few sentences explaining who you are, what you can offer, and what your ambitions are.

3. Education

   • List your education from high school graduation onward, starting with your most recent programme.
   • Use up to three bullet points to highlight notable results, such as strong grades, relevant courses, a thesis, or completed minors.

4. Work experience

   • Include internships and other relevant work.
   • State each job title, your responsibilities, and your main tasks.
   • Be specific about what you did, and order bullet points by relevance, putting the most important first.

5. Extracurricular activities

   • Describe activities outside your studies that demonstrate relevant skills, interests, and experience.
   • Use bullet points to explain what you did and learned. Include activities when they show abilities an employer may value.

6. Skills

   • Add a separate section for relevant skills that do not fit elsewhere.
   • Examples include languages, completed training programmes, software knowledge, and specialist or unusual abilities.
   • Prioritize skills that matter for the position.

7. Interests and additional information

   • Use this section to provide personal context that may help an employer understand you.
   • Choose carefully what you share.

Presentation and Design

• Choose a visual style suited to your industry.
• Make the CV easy to skim: employers may decide whether to keep reading within about 30 seconds.
• Make the most important information stand out, using bold or underlining where useful.
• Keep the overall formatting consistent.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Narrator: Unidentified voice providing the CV advice.
• Lisa Henson: The person named as the owner of the example CV discussed in the video.