Before you send a CV on an A4 sheet that looked cool in the 90s, it's a good idea to remember a recent study that says HR professionals spend just 6-9 seconds looking at your CV before sending it to the recycling bin - or, if you're lucky, to the pile of those who have made it to the next level.

So you need your resume to be the best in its category. So here are some general tips on how to make a CV.

Determine your true value

Often we don't give much credit to what we have achieved in our previous jobs. We think everyone can do it - no big deal! But your professional CV should underline the details of your career so that it shows what you have achieved in the past and what it can be worth to the new company. You should be clear about what makes you different from other job candidates. Think about this step before you start working on your CV.

Leave only relevant, but believable, experience

Make sure that the chosen focus (whether it's your experience or education) immediately makes it clear why the hiring manager needs to keep reading. Be careful to choose keywords and phrases from the job description that will indicate to the reader that you should be invited for an interview. Avoid jargon as well as clichés like 'responsible', 'sociable', 'trainable' Everyone has these.

Keep it short and simple

Even if you're an established professional in your field, a one- or two-page CV is enough. Keep your CV concise. Keep the form and style of the document consistent, with all sections arranged in a way that's easy to read. Believe me, after a day of reading your resume, nothing stings your eyes more than uneven page breaks, line spacing, odd lines and fonts that jump all over the screen. And please don't use Comic Sans fonts in your resume. In general, style should be within business, comfortable and not boring (like Smart casual in clothing).

Keep in touch

Make sure your contact details are clearly stated, updated and look professional (this includes all social media profiles: rest assured HR will probably review them before the final offer). For a highly coveted position, you can demonstrate your interest by following your prospective employer's website or LinkedIn page. After that, all you need to do is stay in touch and respond promptly to emails and calls.

Exceed expectations

First impressions can be your last if you don't meet the employer's needs and expectations. Show them that you're open to self-development and always give more than is expected of you - this is the main basis for a long-lasting partnership.

And as a final word

You may be good at selling, creating a marketing strategy or managing assets. But, why waste your time selecting designs, arranging fonts and rendering infographics? We don't try to be doctors, lawyers, plumbers and car mechanics at the same time, we entrust the work to those who do it every day. So you don't have to make a CV yourself: you can just use a CV writing service or a service to check my resume.