A résumé is more than just a list of professional stations; it is the personal figurehead of every applicant. In a world where first impressions count and competition reigns, a well-crafted résumé can open the door to new career opportunities. In this article, we'll explore the art of the résumé, from the key elements every résumé should have to tips on how to stand out from the crowd. The following advice will help you create a résumé that showcases your skills and experience in the best possible way.
A résumé, often called a CV (Curriculum Vitae), is a document that summarizes a person's professional career. It typically contains information about apprenticeship, work experience, qualifications, skills and personal data. The résumé is used to give potential employers an overview of the applicant's skills, experience and professional potential. It is mostly used when applying for jobs, internships or academic positions and is often the decisive element on the basis of which employers decide whether to invite a candidate for an interview.
The résumé has several important functions in the application process:
Overall, the résumé is a key document that clearly and convincingly presents your professional identity and suitability for a position.
A résumé should contain the following elements to provide a comprehensive overview of qualifications and professional experience. Each point should be clear, concise and tailored to the position you are applying for in order to best present your suitability. Make sure your résumé is clearly structured, concise and easy to read. Use a professional font and keep the content to one or two pages maximum, unless there are specific requirements for a more detailed presentation.
| Type of information | Specific information |
| Personal Data | Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and optionally a professional photo. |
| Career Goal (optional) | A brief summary of your career goals or what you would like to achieve in the position you are applying for. |
| Work Experience | Start with your current or most recent position and work backwards through your work history. For each position, you should include the job title, the name of the company, the time period you worked there, and a description of your duties and accomplishments. |
| Educational History | Information about your school and academic apprenticeship, also in reverse chronological order. This includes degrees, subjects studied, any special academic achievements and the date of graduation. |
| Additional Qualifications and certificates | Here you can list your other qualifications that underline your suitability for the position, such as further training, workshops or industry certificates. |
| Skills | A list of relevant skills that are useful for the position you are applying for, such as language skills, IT skills and other subject-specific skills. |
| Internships or Volunteer work (optional) | If you have done relevant internships or volunteer work that complement your skills and experience, you can list them here. |
| Interests and Hobbies | Optionally, you can also list interests and hobbies, especially if they are relevant to the position or highlight your personal skills. |
| References (optional) | Contact details of people who can serve as a reference for your professional competence and character, but often with the note “References on request”. |
When writing a résumé, the format and layout is critical to making a professional impression. Here are some important tips on format and layout, including deciding whether to use a photo:
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your résumé looks professional and draws the attention of potential employers to your qualifications.
It is extremely important to tailor your résumé to the profession and specific job you are applying for. Here are some important points to look out for:
By tailoring your résumé to the job and the specific position, you show potential employers that you understand the requirements of the position and that you have the skills and experience to succeed.
There are different types of résumés that can be customized according to individual needs and the type of application. Some common types are explained in more detail here. Choosing the right CV format depends on your individual situation, your career goals and the requirements of the job you are applying for.
For specific details such as skills, hobbies, driving license and language skills, it is important to formulate relevant information clearly and precisely to underline your suitability for the position you are applying for. Here are some tips on how you can best integrate this information into your résumé:
In your résumé, you should focus on relevant information that underlines your suitability for the position you are applying for. Here are some things you can possibly leave out:
By removing unnecessary or unimportant details from your résumé, you can ensure that it remains concise, relevant and appealing.
The following table shows the typical mandatory information that should be included in a résumé, as well as some optional information that can be added to give a more complete picture of your personality and professional background. It is important to note that the decision of whether or not to include certain information in the résumé depends on individual circumstances, the nature of the application and industry standards.
| Mandatory information | Voluntary information |
| Name | Photo |
| Contact details (address, telephone number, e-mail) | Personal summary/professional profile |
| Career goal | Personal interests/hobbies |
| Professional experience | References |
| Education | Additional qualifications/certificates |
| Skills/knowledge | Voluntary activities |
| Publications/research projects | |
| Memberships in associations/organizations |
It is quite possible to have gaps in your résumé, whether due to unemployment, further training, illness or personal reasons. Here are some ways you can deal with gaps in your résumé:
By addressing the gaps in your résumé openly and positively and focusing on your strengths and successes, you can show potential employers that you can learn and grow from difficult situations.
These dos and don'ts provide guidance on how to create an effective and professional résumé that showcases your qualifications and experience in the best possible way.
| Dos | Don'ts |
| Use a clean and professional layout. | Don't overload the résumé with too much information. |
| Tailor the résumé to the specific job and company. | Don't use misleading or unclear headings or descriptions. |
| Use clear and concise wording. | Do not use personal pronouns such as “I” or “my” in your résumé. |
| Emphasize your successes and achievements with specific examples. | Do not include false or inflated information. |
| List relevant skills and qualifications. | Do not use unprofessional email addresses or fonts. |
| Use active verbs to describe your experience. | Do not use contradictory information or gaps in your résumé. |
| Check spelling and grammar carefully. | Do not copy passages from templates or sample résumés. |
| Use a consistent format and layout. | Do not use excessive formatting or graphics that distract from the content. |
| List relevant education or certifications. | Do not include outdated or irrelevant information. |
| Follow the requirements of the job description and the company. | Do not use unspecific or generic wording. |
Here are some final tips for your résumé so you can move confidently into your future with your new job:
By keeping these final tips in mind, you can ensure that your résumé is professional, effective and authentic in achieving your career goals.
Writing a résumé in English starts with the choice of format, with the reverse chronological format being the most common. Here, the most recent professional experience is listed first. The information on your résumé should be clear, concise and relevant to the position you are applying for. Start with your contact details, followed by a brief summary or professional profile highlighting your main qualifications. Then list your professional experience by describing your responsibilities and achievements with active verbs. Education and special qualifications such as certificates or language skills should also be mentioned. It is also important to pay attention to error-free grammar and spelling and to integrate keywords from the job description to increase visibility through automated application systems. A professional layout and an appropriate format round off the English résumé.
Including skills on a résumé should be done strategically to emphasize your suitability for the position you are seeking. You should first identify the skills that are most relevant to the position by carefully analyzing the job description. These skills are then placed in a separate section of the résumé, often titled “Competencies” or “Specialized Skills”. It is helpful to list both hard skills, such as specific technical knowledge or software skills, and soft skills, such as teamwork or communication skills. Each skill should be precisely worded and, if possible, backed up with specific examples or achievements that show how these skills have been successfully applied in practice. This allows an employer to quickly recognize how the applicant's skills can contribute to fulfilling the job requirements.
Yes, it is possible to write an application without a traditional résumé, especially in creative industries or when a portfolio or project work is the main focus. In such cases, the focus can be on a strong cover letter detailing professional experience and skills, or a presentation of work samples that demonstrate suitability for the position. Some companies or industries that encourage innovative application processes may even explicitly favor alternative application forms instead of a traditional résumé. However, it is important to note that in most professional contexts, and especially in formal application processes, a résumé is still expected to provide a complete overview of the applicant's professional history.
No, an application and a résumé are not the same thing. An application comprises all the documents submitted for a job, including the cover letter, résumé and often other attachments such as certificates or references. The résumé is part of the application and provides a structured overview of the applicant's professional career, apprenticeship, qualifications and skills. While the résumé tends to present facts, the cover letter serves to present the motivation and suitability for the position in more detail.
In a résumé, “knowledge and skills” are those specific qualifications and competencies that an applicant possesses that are directly relevant to the advertised position. They include both “hard” knowledge, such as technical skills and expertise in specific areas or programs, and “soft” skills, such as interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills and adaptability. These skills are often listed on the résumé in a dedicated section to show potential employers how well qualified the applicant is for the position. The precise listing and description of these skills helps to focus the reader's attention on the applicant's suitability for the specific requirements of the position.
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