It all starts with a good CV! Now, in 2024, amidst the digital revolution, the concept of a “good CV” has evolved significantly. So, if you’re looking to change your job to one you truly desire, or if you simply want to apply just to reaffirm your professional standing, you need to master some writing techniques to create a Curriculum vitae online that truly performs in Bulgaria’s ultra-digitized business environment. To make things easier, here’s a 10-tip checklist, structured into “Dos” and “Don’ts”. Let’s dive in:

10 Tips for an Online CV That Gets You the Interview

Dos:

1. Optimising Your CV for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) 

Have you heard of ATS? Applicant Tracking Systems are software used by companies to automate the recruitment process by filtering and sorting CVs based on keywords and predefined criteria. You should know that more and more employers in Bulgaria use them to identify suitable candidates more easily and cost-effectively. Therefore, integrating relevant keywords for the job you’re targeting in your curriculum vitae online has become crucial for the success of your application. Our advice: don’t send an online CV unless it’s first optimized for ATS according to the position you’re targeting.

2. Pay Attention to Structure 

An essential step to an impeccable CV, especially now in the digital era, is organizing the information in a coherent structure. The key sections that should not be missing are:

- Professional Summary: A short statement, like a professional summary, presenting your experience and relevant skills.

- Professional Experience: Your previous experience, starting (specifically for online environments) with the most recent position.

- Education and Qualifications: The educational institutions you attended and relevant certifications.

- Skills: The key skills that make you a valuable candidate for the position.

3. Utilize a Professional Template using a CVmaker

Creating a free online CV using a CVmaker

Using a well-structured CV template tailored to your field of interest is a “do” when writing any curriculum vitae online. When choosing one, ensure it includes the key sections for any employer mentioned above: personal information, professional experience, education, and skills. A well-thought-out template should highlight your experience and qualifications substantially. You can use a cv maker to create a free online CV. So if you are searching for a good CV maker, our recommendation is to try one of the four CV templates available on Kaderabotim.bg and, after applying, leave us a comment on social media pages sharing how it worked for you.

4. Save Your CV as a PDF 

For any candidate looking to make a positive impression on recruiters, saving the curriculum vitae as a PDF is categorically recommended. A PDF CV ensures the document’s original formatting and appearance are maintained, regardless of the platform or device. This is vital for presenting a professional and easy-to-read vitae CV. By the way: the CV writing tool on Kaderabotim.bg has the option to download it as a PDF. If you haven’t tried it yet, take a look here.

5. Include Links 

Have you ever heard the phrase “A CV is more than just a sheet of paper”? It’s very accurate because no CV in the digital era reaches recruiters on paper, but online. As such, we advise you to use this fact as an opportunity. Include links in your resume. You can add links to your portfolio, personal website, or LinkedIn profile to boost your visibility on the curriculum vitae online. And no!, it won’t lower your ranking in recruiters' online searches. We assure you that this is just a myth.

Don’ts:

1. Excessive Use of Keywords

While optimizing for ATS is important, the overuse of keywords can harm the credibility and clarity of your free curriculum vitae. Overusing keywords can affect the quality of the content and create an unprofessional impression.

2. Using an Automatically Generated CV Template

Using an automatically generated CV online template without adequate personalization is a practice to avoid. Employers can easily spot CVs that are 100% AI-generated and the lack of effort by candidates to tailor them to the specific position. Personalizing your CV is crucial to highlight your potential and compatibility with the desired role.

3. Submitting an Incomplete CV

An incomplete online CV can give the impression of negligence and lack of interest from the candidate. It is essential to ensure that recruiters have access to all the relevant information about you for the available position in their organization. Our advice is to fill in all the sections of your vitae CV correctly so that the employer gets a complete picture of your professional profile.

4. Unattractive Design

A chaotic or overly cluttered design of a curriculum vitae online can distract from the essential content. Keep a clear and easy-to-read structure. If you don’t know where to start looking for the perfect CV, let us tell you that Kaderabotim.bg offers four modern CV templates, tested by recruiters in the job market:

- Simple CV Model

- Professional CV Model

- Structured CV Template

- Compact CV Model

5. Non-Personalized CV

One job, one CV. Another job, another CV! Using the same online CV for all applications can be a major mistake. It’s crucial to adapt your curriculum vitae vitae to each role you apply for, including relevant skills and experiences for that specific job.

Conclusion and Figures:

An impeccable CV in the digital era is not just a list of accomplishments and experiences; it’s also a presentation of your personality and professional potential and how these align with the technical demands of the future job market. Therefore, it is essential to dedicate time and attention to building and constantly updating your CV to ensure you make a strong impression on forward-looking employers. Now, here are some statistics from studies that support the ideas mentioned above:

Research shows that about 75% of recruiters use ATS, and candidates who optimize their CVs with keywords from the job description are more likely to appear at the top of the search results (Resume Pilots.com, UrbanCV.com).

According to some reports, CVs optimized with keywords tailored to specific roles increase interview chances by up to 30% compared to generic CVs (SearchEngineJournal.com). This is because ATS algorithms prioritize CVs that closely match job requirements, allowing recruiters to filter irrelevant applications more quickly.

Now, to wrap things up, we leave you with one final thought: When applying for a job, don’t forget that…

“…an effective CV is the business card of your professional soul.”

Steve Jobs