The perfect resume

In 8 steps

We often receive a resume here at the editorial office that is, to put it mildly, a lot better than the other. Really, I think it's great for you that you have harvested asparagus and packaged the meat at the local butcher, but for us, that's not really relevant information. So I'll whisper to you how to make an impression. At least with us.

The outside

Make sure the resume looks a bit nice. Choose a nice, businesslike font. Comic Sans is a reason for me not to read any further. Just so you know. It makes an impression if it's graphically well taken care of, maybe a nice line around it, a frame around your address. Do you have a graphic designer friend in your circle? Give him a bottle of wine in exchange for a small polishing session of your resume.

Stay away from clichés

As soon as they start applying, people often fall into cliché mode. Dear Madam, through this writing, your vacancy has caught my interest, I would be happy to elaborate on this in a personal conversation. Sigh.

Your resume is meant to show why you deserve that job. And not the 120 others who are also crowding at the door. If everyone writes the same thing, nothing becomes clear. Write a nice text that fits the company's color and aligns with the job you are aiming for.

After my studies, I also wrote a hundred boring standard letters until I was so fed up (and in the meantime worked behind the bar of a golf club) and my letter started with: “After serving the six hundredth cappuccino to a guy in red pants at the Nieuwegeinse Golf Club…” and yes, I got the job.

Dare to show who you are. Because that's more than your obtained diplomas. Try not to be too friendly, that's another pitfall.

Foto of geen foto

I really want to see how an applicant looks. It may seem a bit vain, but you stick much better if there is a photo with your resume. Just make sure you look your best. How do you do that? Read here but.

What is also an idea is to mention your social media channels. Then the employer can see how you look and find out what kind of person you are.

Sweep through your social media

Brings me immediately to the next point. Make sure your social media is a bit presentable. Remove too many beer-drinking photos with a cigarette dangling from your mouth. Try to put yourself in the employer's shoes and show what they would like. If you want to work at a water sports brand it helps if you present yourself on the water. You shouldn't present yourself as someone you're not, but I hope you are applying for a job that suits you and if all goes well, the job, resume, and social media will align perfectly. I always find it very nice when applicants have their own blog or a great Instagram account.

Be clear

It varies by job, but if you email me that you are working on developing and elaborating concepts that respond to the rapidly growing market, think strategically and problem-solving, and are a brand connector rolling out new strategies via online influencers, you are knocking on the wrong door with me. Why? Then you have to this just read on.

Describe what you did

Just a list of your employers and the name of the position is too little. Add a small paragraph for each job you had where you tell what your daily tasks were and what successes you achieved.

Bundle small jobs

Of course, every job says something about someone and if you are not very old, you probably have little relevant work experience. Still, I don't need to read that you first planted cuttings at garden center Osdorp and then worked in the meat department of Albert Heijn.

Bundle all your side jobs and tell that as soon as you could, you had different jobs and seized every opportunity to earn money. From working on the assembly line at the onion factory (because it paid so well that you could immediately buy new Nikes) to scooping ice cream at the local Italian. Then I get an impression of your work ethic, but that's enough.

Skip hobbies

Hobbies sound incredibly old-fashioned to me and immediately smell of stamp collecting and bird watching. Replace it with ‘interests’ and try to stay away from clichés here as well. Almost all of us love to travel; make it unique by specifying. You love solo traveling, have an immense love for Italy and even lived there for half a year to immerse yourself in the language and culture and, okay, also a bit in the wine.

‘I love good food’ is also such a well-trodden path. Tell that you are saving to visit all the top 10 restaurants in the world or that you prefer to catch your own fish and then put it on the barbecue. Make yourself unique and tell who you are. The kind of sport you have done also says a lot about you. Many companies find it important that you have done or are doing team sports. But of course, everything must match reality, otherwise, you will be mercilessly exposed.

Be yourself, because you are the most fun, the best, and the prettiest.