What to Include in your Resume? Sections You Should Include

Thinking about applying for a job? Great! Now, if you want to get to the interview stage, you must have a good curriculum vitae. How’s your CV? If this is the first time you’re creating one or you want to update the one you have, we can help you. 

At T2W, we have extensive experience in recruitment and selection services, so we can tell you exactly what this document should contain. In the following article, we reveal what to include on your resume, along with some important tips to capture recruiters’ attention and stand out from the competition. 

What is a CV? 

A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume is a document that summarizes work experience, academic background, skills, and other relevant qualities of a person seeking employment. Therefore, the CV should be a true reflection of your professional background. It is not always advisable to include everything. A good CV should demonstrate that the candidate is the ideal professional for the position they are applying for. 

How Many Pages Should a CV Have? 

The ideal length of a CV should be 2 pages. However, sometimes, candidates have extensive experience in their professional sector, especially when they are senior candidates. In those cases, the CV can extend to a maximum of 3 pages. Keep in mind that, on average, a recruiter takes about 6 to 7 seconds to read a CV. Therefore, it’s ideal not to fill this document with irrelevant information. This leads us to the next point. 

What Not to Include in a CV? 

The ultimate goal of a CV is to help you get an interview. Therefore, the information that will be attractive to the recruiter will be only that which relates to the available position. You may have many studies and certifications in other fields, but these won’t help you get the interview if they’re not connected to the position. 

In most cases, this type of information won’t help you get the interview. However, if you don’t have much experience, you can add that information. Still, you should do it at the end to simplify the recruiter’s review. Also, avoid extending the CV to more than 2 pages. 

What to Include in a Resume? 

1. Personal Information 

Your personal data is basic information you must share on your CV. Details like full name, phone number, and email are essential for the recruiter to contact you. Therefore, these should be at the beginning of the CV prominently. Never place this information on the last page, as it’s an error we often see in the CVs we receive. 

On the other hand, it’s not necessary to add details like your marital status or a photograph unless the company specifically requests it. Here we must refer to blind recruitment processes, which are an approach that provides fairer processes. Through these, recruiters will omit data such as gender, age, address, institution of studies, and, in some cases, even the name. 

2. Professional Profile 

Many candidates skip this section, which is a mistake. What to put in the CV profile? It’s a brief and impactful paragraph about you, highlighting your skills, achievements, and professional goals. It should be concise and grab the recruiter’s attention immediately. The professional profile section is the perfect opportunity to showcase the best of you. 

3. Work Experience 

Next is to list all your work experiences relevant to the position. It’s necessary to start with the most recent position you held and work backward in an organized manner to the oldest. This is because the most recent position will always be the most relevant for recruiters, so starting with this simplifies the review of your CV. 

In this section, you should include the job title you held as a subtitle. Then, detail the name of the company, its location, and the period in which you held the position. Outline your responsibilities in that role. Finally, if you had key achievements in each role, that’s something you should highlight, as it provides an extra edge. 

4. Academic Background 

The next section is to delve a bit into your education. Here you should indicate your university studies, the degrees obtained, the educational institutions you attended, and graduation dates. Generally, it’s not necessary to go back to high school in this section. 

It’s also important to show that you maintain constant education in the field of the vacant position. For that, you should include certifications relevant to the position, as well as additional courses or specific skills acquired during your training. 

5. Skills 

Many people forget this section. Technical and soft skills are factors that can differentiate you from the rest. While you have many different skills, make sure to include in the CV only those relevant to the position. Wondering what skills to put on a CV? Some of these may include languages, computer skills, leadership skills, or any other relevant skill. 

6. Volunteering and Extracurricular Activities 

Now, many people wonder what to put on a resume without experience. Well, you can offset your lack of professional experience with unpaid work experience. By this, we mean your participation in volunteering. First, focus on volunteering that aligns with your career. 

You can apply for positions where the main attraction is not the salary. Why do this? Well, it allows you to see the inner workings of a company and helps you gain a better understanding of the field. This is highly valued experience that, in some cases, can compensate very well for the lack of paid professional experience. 

On the other hand, voluntary or community activities are the perfect way to showcase your teamwork, leadership, and decision-making skills. Highlight those roles that are relevant to the job you aspire to. 

Let’s Recap! 

A well-crafted CV is crucial to stand out in the selection process. By following these tips and structuring your CV clearly and concisely, you will increase your chances of capturing recruiters’ attention and achieving success in your job search. 

Remember that your CV must be a true representation of your skills and experience, so keeping it updated and tailored to each job offer is key to achieving your professional goals. 

At Talent2Win, we strive to align your company’s business objectives with the best Talent Acquisition strategies available. If you want to learn more about the services we offer, do not hesitate to contact us.