How to write a good CV and resume for Ireland

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Are you planning to stay here in Ireland and find a job? Do you know how to make the best CV and/or resume for your future employer? If not, start reading this short article about the CV class, which we’re giving right here at SEDA College! 🙂
Even if you’re not completely sure that your documents are right for this country or even for the job you’re applying, please read this article for more information. Just to be sure. 😉

So, last Friday I followed an interesting course here at SEDA College. I followed the CV-class course, which was given by our lovely Karen Mavarez.

And let me tell you: this class was very interesting!

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I decided to follow this course, not only to make my own CV better but also because I was curious about the difference between Belgium standards and the Irish standards. And let me tell you, there are some differences!

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First of all, here in Ireland it is very important to have a resume instead of a CV. The resume, consisting out of 1 page, is your character. It is supposed to be short, strong and it needs to tell your future employer who you are in just 7 seconds.

In Belgium, we have a CV, which may not be longer than 2 pages (that’s what I’ve been taught at least), joined by a motivational letter why your future boss needs to give you a chance to do an interview.
Secondly, apparently giving your personal information on your CV (here in Ireland) as a headliner to tell you employer who you are, which gender you are, which age you have and if you are married or not doesn’t matter! This can even be seen as discrimination, because some employers will have a preference. By giving this information you can easily be eliminated from the list of persons to be invited to an interview. So just keep the headliner short by telling them your name, surname, email address, and even your LinkedIn if possible.

 

For me this was a very interesting piece of information because we (me and other students/people) were told by our teachers and at the extra CV classes in Belgium, that we needed to have a headliner saying everything about us. Which means we have to write down not only the basics but also which sex we have, if we’re married or even if we have a driver’s license. The last one is an important one because for some jobs they will ask you to drive to different companies or it can even be your job to drive through the whole country. So therefor they need to know if you have a driver’s license. If not, you won’t make the cut and you will not be invited for an interview.

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This may indeed sound as some kind of discrimination when giving all of your information but for future employers in Belgium it gives them the chance to eliminate the possible liars or the ones that aren’t fit for the job.

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All the other information on your CV or resume is about the same for every country but still very important, such as:

  • Make sure it is an attractive CV or resume and be different!

This is important because your future employer will have many other papers lying on his desk of a lot of other people looking for a job (so you’re not the only one looking for a job). By making yours different and attractive it will be easier to look at and it won’t be missed between all those other ones.

  • Write down information that’s worth writing down.

This is useful for your future boss. He/she wants to know what you are capable off, so just write down the information/experience you need for this job and/or the ones that might be interesting (as well).

  • Also, write down some additional training.

This will let someone know that you have additional experience and that you are eager to learn. This might come in handy when your boss wants to send you to an extra class because he/she knows you want to learn and that you are motivated to learn.

  • Say less and show more!

Write down all the information, experiences, hobbies, additional trainings, degrees, etc.…. needed for the job, but try to still remain a bit surprising. For example: write down which languages you know, such as your mother tongue and other extra languages you know. Or write down all the extra skills you know, such as IT skills (word, outlook, …). All of these can be different depending on the job (but languages and IT skills are always a plus). Who knows, they might need someone like you in the future to fix something or to take orders in a different language! 🙂

  • Highlight your skills!

One more very important lesson from Karen Mavarez is, to highlight your skills or at least the important information on your CV and/or resume. Why? Because it makes it pop! Your future employer only has 7 seconds and if your document is too long, this will make it much easier and faster for them to read yours when everything interesting is already highlighted.

  • And don’t worry!

Every job search takes a lot of time and a lot of different CV’s, resumes and cover letters. Just be patient and don’t give up. You will find a job, like so many people already did before you.

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Most important tips:

At the end of the class I asked Karen: if she could only give you guys 3 important tips, which ones would they be?

          She answered:

  1. Focus on the kind of job you’re applying for
  2. Read the job description (so you can adapt your CV, resume and cover letter to the job you’re applying)
  3. Try to highlight your skills (and important information)

 

I wish you all good luck! 🙂

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