Your CV, your brand image
A
handbook by HEC CAREER CENTER
Content Summary
●
CV Fundamentals
● Structure
● Photo
● Do’s
● Do not’s
CV Fundamentals
A. To be invited to an interview
• Your CV has 40 seconds to convince a recruiter!
• This is your where your make your 1st impression
• Your CV should provide an overview of your key accomplishments & competencies
Typical structure: 8 mandatory sections + 1 optional section
Contact Information
Personal Details
Title / Profile
Education
Professional Experience
Extra-Curricular Activities / Volunteer Work
Languages
IT Skills
Interests
Contact Information
• First & last name
• Address
• Mobile no.
• Personal email (avoid @unil.ch)
Personal Details*
• Date of birth
• Nationality / permit
• Civil status
→ Helps HR contact you quickly
*Expected in Switzerland but not in all countries
→ Constitutes a short presentation of yourself
Title *or* Profile (the optional section)
→ Title
• Write the job title that interests you
→ Profile
• Define your career objective
• Formulate your message to show what value you will bring to your future employer. (Avoid focusing uniquely on your personal goals and needs!)
• Embed 2 or 3 personal strengths (abilities, soft skills, etc.) that are relevant
• Keep it concise: 2 to 3 sentences/lines maximum
→ This is an optional section, but mandatory if your application is spontaneous
→ Your profile is your brand statement & can serve as a hook when well formulated
Education
• Complete name of the training institute(s)
• Full title of the degree(s) obtained or the program that you are pursuing
• Start and end dates of each program
• Indicate your exchange semesters
→ Mention all your studies since your “maturité / bac” or IB diploma, as long as you have enough space.
→ Remember to include the current program you are in.
Professional Experience
Include in this section:
• Paid jobs and internships
• Full name of each employer and the location (city)
• Include the service or department, if applicable
• Position(s) held
• Start & end dates of each experience
• List tasks and responsibilities
• Include quantifiable achievements whenever possible
• Use action verbs
→ When a job was unrelated to your future career, think of highlighting transferable skills
→ If you plan to work internationally, also include the country location of each employer
Extra-Curricular Activities / Volunteer Work
• Include name of each association, committee, club, institution or NGO
• Mention position held
• Include start & end dates of each activity
• List tasks and responsibilities
• Include quantifiable achievements whenever possible
• Use action verbs
→ Extra-curricular activities allow you to develop transferable skills, showcase your contribution to a cause and/or community, plus your capacity to work with others towards a common goal
Languages
• List your native language(s) first
• Include all other language(s) in order of fluency
• Use the Common European Framework (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)
• You can include language immersion trips here (optional) if you have enough space on your CV
→ Languages showcase a certain cultural sensitivity, i.e. an awareness & understanding of cultural differences
IT Skills
• List your IT skills and any software that you know how to use
→ Are you tech savy? This is where you can show it off, or simply reassure the recruiter that you are IT fluent y
• Include programming and data management skills
Interests
• Choose 3 or 4 interests that define you as a person
• Include some details and related achievements (level of commitment, participation in competitions, prizes, mentoring, etc.)
→ Provides complimentary information on your personality and other skills you have (time management, leadership, team building, etc.)
→ Avoid being too general (travel, cinema, reading, sports..)
Photo
• Use a professional photographer if possible
• Aim to be authentic in your expression
• Avoid selfies!
• Be attentive to your appearance
• Smile
• Choose clothing that correspond to job you want and company and/or industry culture
• Keep jewelry and makeup discreet
→ In Switzerland, the photo is not mandatory but appreciated
→ For each country, research what is expected
List your most recent experiences and education first!
Use action verbs whenever possible
Keep things clear, precise and attractive
Adapt your content to the position you are targeting
Keep your layout harmonious and proportional
Use the same font and same language as your cover letter
Ideally keep the length one page
Send your application documents in PDF format
Do not’s
Include false or misleading information
Exaggerate or invent things
Highlight weaknesses
Include the title “Curriculum vitae” or “CV”
Date or sign your CV (it is not a letter)
Write in narrative form (except for the “Profile” section)
Forget to spellcheck
Include an oversized photo
