University has been just as big a scam

1️⃣ Your CV is a sales page, not a historical record.

The same principles apply:

→ It should be understandable in 6 seconds → It should talk about benefits, not qualities → It should build trust

That’s it. The rest is details.

2️⃣ A structure that works:

💬 First things first: Name, phone number, email, LinkedIn and portfolio (if you have one).

💥 Elevator Pitch: 3–4 lines where you sum up who you are, your key strengths and the value you bring. It’s the trailer. Make them want to watch the whole movie.

💼 Experience: Company, role, dates. But here’s the important part...

For experience, forget about duties.

Nobody cares that you “managed projects.”

What matters:

→ What you achieved → How much impact it had → What changed because of you

Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Example: “Reduced onboarding time by 40%, from 3 weeks to 10 days”

📖 Education: Degree, institution, year.

🛠️ Skills: Languages, software, technical tools, etc...

3️⃣ Format

One page. Two max if you have 10+ years of experience.

Space is valuable. Only include things worth their weight in gold. No filler.

Clean design: plenty of white space, wide margins, professional font. Avoid weird tables, too many columns and heavy images.

Less is more.

4️⃣ The war against the robots:

Many companies use ATS (software that filters CVs before a human sees them).

Read the job ad and look for keywords. Include them word for word in your CV.

Always save it as a PDF (unless they explicitly ask for Word). The layout won’t shift.

5️⃣ What sets you apart from the rest:

→ Relevant personal projects → Certifications that matter → Publications or talks → Volunteering with impact

This shows you have initiative. That you don’t just do what you’re asked.

6️⃣ Last point: tailor your CV to each job posting.

If they’re looking for leadership, move that experience to the top or highlight it. If they’re looking for creativity, highlight your innovative projects.

It’s not cheating. It’s being smart.

Your CV isn’t a static document. It’s a sales tool that should evolve.