How to make a CV with little professional experience?

Create a clear and organized resume layout

To compose your CV, you can use software, such as Word or Photoshop. Online templates are downloadable. However, to save time and to get a clean and professional CV, one can also refer to a CV software.

We note that the CV is organized into 4 main parts:

As recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds on a CV, the document must clearly highlight the four parts mentioned earlier.

For this, we can take care of the titles and choose an attractive and easy to read font, which differs from the body of the text. That being said, we do not include more than two different fonts in a CV. It is also possible to attract the eye by bringing a touch of color to distinguish the titles or a large part. Again, avoid overly colorful resumes and adopt a palette with two or three neutral colors and one brighter color. For online CVs, it is also possible to place small animations to make the CV more dynamic.

In the creative professions, recruiters often appreciate CVs with themes. For example, there are resume layouts that mimic a newspaper. Others play on the imaginary of research with CVs involving the codes of the police investigation or the “wanted” prison escapee.

Integrate general information for an impeccable CV

The background information briefly summarizes the identity of the person applying. We must see the name, first name and age. A photo is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended.

General information also includes the candidate's telephone number, postal address and email address. This makes it easier to make contact and set up an interview. For digital CVs, it is advisable to make clickable links to the email address, a website and professional social networks.

The general information part can integrate pictograms (telephone, email, social network logo) in order to air out the CV a little and leave the text for important information for recruiters, such as professional experience and training. In the case of professional experience or reduced training, more space can be given to general information by writing one or two sentences about your professional project.

For example: “As a first-year master's student in cosmetology, I am looking for a job in the beauty and dermatology sector in order to better understand international regulations for facial care. »

Highlight your professional experience in a CV

Professional experience is often the part to detail, since it shows what a candidate has already accomplished successfully for a company. This part is organized chronologically.

To prove that you have understood the missions offered by the recruiters, you select the professional experiences similar to the offer, then you detail them in the form of an exhaustive list. When the missions are identical, we do not hesitate to copy the main formulas of the offer.

In a less conventional way, you can write a fairly short text on how you carried out a mission. We then highlight the tools used and the personal skills required to complete the project.

Without any professional experience, we explain how we would like to carry out the mission of the recruiters. We describe the methods we want to apply and we insist on our training and skills.

Promote your training in a CV

Diplomas in hand or not, you don't always get the job of your dreams. However, highlighting one's training makes it possible to highlight the knowledge acquired and involves personal skills which are often a guarantee of seriousness. This part is also ordered chronologically.

Formations usually take a few lines. That being said, if you have spent more time on the benches of school than in a company, it is possible to give more importance to this part. Thus, we can describe the disciplines in which we have excelled or explain why a subject has appealed. The goal is to create a logical link between the training and the company where you are applying. This makes it possible to ensure the interest of the candidate for the company and to certify the coherence of the professional approach.

Highlighting your technical and personal skills in a CV

The technical and personal skills underline the candidate's ability to carry out the tasks requested and to integrate into the company. Often 5 knowledge-related skills are selected, such as proficiency in organic chemistry. Then, we indicate the tools and software that we master, such as Indesign. We do not forget personal skills such as autonomy or problem solving. You can find precise lists of personal skills to value on cvmaker, depending on the sector of activity. Read more.

This part is also an opportunity to indicate the languages ​​mastered.

Indicate technical knowledge and skills

When you have little professional experience, you prefer what you know to what you have done. This is why it is important to choose the knowledge to highlight. We most often opt for the knowledge and tools requested by recruiters.

For spontaneous applications, we establish a clever mix between the knowledge and tools with which we are most comfortable and what we are most often looking for on the market. To do this, you can consult job offers similar to the position in question. Another less risky tip is to call the company and service that interests you directly to ask for more information on the profiles you are looking for.

In all cases, we avoid indicating skills that we do not master, or little. We do not give quantifiable estimates on the mastery of a tool, such as "Convertkit: 60%" or "Wordpress: 3/5", which can guide the opinion of recruiters. What you think you have half mastered can be completely suitable for a company.

Emphasize personal skills

HR often say that 50% of the hiring decision is about the personal skills and attitude of the candidates. This is why it is good to pay attention to your know-how. Moreover, recruiters looking for a person with little experience will mainly be interested in the good will of the candidate, his ability to understand new missions and his adaptability in an unfamiliar environment.

To choose personal skills, one selects those that are relevant to the job offer and to one's professional experience. This helps to better plan and prepare for the interview. In addition, it is possible to present hobbies, in the form of a pictogram, in connection with the company to show its interest and its ability to integrate within the establishment.