Putting together your CV is an important part of the job search process, whether your looking for work in your home country or abroad in Bulgaria. It’s the first impression a potential employer will get of you so of course you want to make it a good one.
1. Keep it Short and Sweet
While you may be tempted to explain all about your experiences in fine detail, this is going to hurt you way more than it helps, especially when you’re applying to a big company that is hiring lots of people. Their HR teams and hiring managers will be reviewing tens if not hundreds of CV’s so at this stage they are really scanning your CV as quickly as possible to see the main points they are looking for.
So to make things easier for them, you want to make sure you limit your CV to 2 pages maximum and give it a clear concise format that highlights the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. Don’t worry when it gets to the interview stage you can expound upon things in greater detail.
2. Start with the Most Recent Job & Work Backwards
Always start with your most recent job & work your way backward in chronological order. Employers typically want to see your most recent accomplishments & responsibilities first, as they provide a clearer picture of your current skills & experiences. As you move back in time, you can summarize earlier roles with less detail.
3. Minimize Gaps in Your Employment History
Employment gaps can be a red flag for employers, so it's essential to address them strategically on your CV. These gaps can occur for various reasons & while it's tempting to gloss over them, honesty is the best policy. Trying to conceal or manipulate dates can seriously damage your credibility if discovered.
So the best course of action is to provide a brief, honest explanation for any such gaps. Keep it concise, focusing on how you used that time constructively.
4. Submit Your CV in English (For Multilingual Jobs)
You should always (unless instructed otherwise) submit your CV in English, regardless of the job's language requirements. This is because even though you might be applying for a job where let’s say German is the primary language, these multinational companies use English as their internal language.
Also recruiters will often be responsible for filling other positions with different language requirements. (Dutch, Spanish, French, etc.) It’s unreasonable to expect them to speak all these languages so English is the default.
5. Lack of Clarity & Conciseness
One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is creating a CV that is too long & lacks clarity. Recruiters can often be short of time or overwhelmed by large numbers of applicants, so will spend a relatively short time scanning each CV looking for the most important points. To make sure you aren’t overlooked in this process your document should be concise & easy to read. Aim for two-pages maximum & use clear headings & bullet points to make your information easily digestible.
6. Use Appropriate File Formats: Word or PDF
You should always send your CV in Word or PDF as they are the standard formats that employers can easily open.
Avoid .jpeg or .Pages as sending your CV in these formats can be problematic as they may have difficulties opening & uploading into company databases.
7. Make Sure to Include Your Contact Details
This might sound obvious but you’d be shocked how many CV’s we get that do not include this basic information. You don’t need to list your home address but if you want to get an interview then an email address & phone number are essential.
8. Avoid Typos & Misspellings
Spelling & grammatical errors on your CV will leave a negative impression on potential employers. It comes across as if you are unprofessional & not really serious. So always proofread your CV to ensure it is error-free & use an online spell-check tool. It is also advisable to have a friend review it for you.
So there we have it, 8 basic things to focus on so you can put your best foot forward when applying for any of our jobs on offer here at “Work in Bulgaria”. Best of luck!