Priscila Ramírez, Professional manager at Randstad Chile (a human resources and recruitment company), offered seven recommendations for improving a résumé, according to Emol. The main advice is to choose information that adds value and avoid trying to include everything.
The outlet places these recommendations in the context of a labor market that continues to post poor figures in Chile. The source does not specify the current unemployment rate or compare it with the previous period.
According to Ramírez, applicants’ most common mistake is overloading their CVs with information. She recommends reading the job posting carefully and building the document around the skills and keywords the position requires.
The first tip concerns design. Use readable fonts, standard margins and universal formats, such as a plain PDF or Word document. Avoid images, complex tables and floating text boxes.
The reason is technical. Many companies use ATS systems (short for applicant tracking systems), programs that read and filter résumés before a person sees them. They work like a gatekeeper that only lets through what it can read. If your CV has an elegant table that the program cannot recognize, it may be rejected.
The second tip is to keep it brief. The expert recommends a maximum of two pages, because a long document makes it harder to find the relevant parts of a candidate’s profile.
The third is to open with a career objective: a brief introduction outlining the candidate’s main skills, specialization and career goals. This helps the recruiter identify more quickly which position you could fill.
The fourth concerns organization. Work experience and education should appear in reverse chronological order, from most recent to oldest. For each position, show concrete results rather than simply listing duties.
The fifth tip is to add links to your LinkedIn profile, portfolios or previous projects. Ramírez connects this with the digitization of recruitment processes.
The sixth combines several points. Contact details should be clearly visible. As for a photo, the expert says including one is an outdated practice. If you decide to include one anyway, she recommends a recent image that makes you look approachable. She also advises combining technical skills, such as tools and certifications, with interpersonal skills such as communication, leadership and adaptability.
The seventh is to tailor your CV to each opening. Sending the same document to every company reduces your chances of advancing. The recommendation is to highlight what is most relevant to the position, without exaggerating or including false information.
The expert warns that the initial review is quick. "During an initial review, a recruiter may spend around 30 seconds on a résumé," she said. In practice, that is less time than it takes you to read this article up to this point.
Ramírez adds that there is no single template. She mentions four formats: chronological, which arranges a career history over time; functional, which focuses on positions and skills; combined, which brings both together; and creative, used mainly in design, communications and animation.
For those seeking their first job or a junior position, the recommendation is to give greater prominence to academic qualifications, clearly define the career objective and add a cover letter explaining why they want to join that company.
"As in all other cases, honesty is a key value," Ramírez concluded. She also highlighted the importance of showing interest, respect and a desire to be part of the company.
