Your CV is more important than you might think. Most employers skim your CV through as the first thing – and in many cases they only read your cover letter if your CV is a match.
Therefore, make sure your CV is relevant, targeted and easy to skim.
The CV looks into the past
The CV is a summary of all your relevant experience. In the cover letter, you look into the future and show how you can put your competencies to use in the job you are applying for.
Always target the CV to the company and job. Consider what should (not) be included and how to convey what you can do - in a way that they understand.
Get started with your CV
Source: Ballisager's recruitment analysis 2020, 2022 and 2024
What do Danish employers prefer?
80 %
prefer a photo on the CV
81 %
read the CV before the cover letter
73 %
prefer a CV with no more than 2 pages
Can robots or ATS reject my CV?
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is a sort of robot used primarily by large companies in order to scan the candidates and decide which ones are relevant to the position. If the ATS can't read your CV, it might reject you.
- Avoid too many graphics and design twists.
- Target your material and use keywords from the job ad - don't rephrase them.
- Preferably, use 1 column
- Use left alignment
- Use fonts without serifs (avoid e.g. Times New Roman)
- Include dates and spell them out (write "2024" in stead of "24")
As a student at AAU, you have free access to the templates in Jofibo. They are constructed to disturb ATS as little as possible. Go straight to Jofibo here.
The motivated CV
Some companies ask for a motivated CV instead of a cover letter and a CV. Others only ask for a CV. Here you must also create a targeted and motivated CV.
In a motivated CV, you have the same content as a "normal" CV - the only difference is that you replace the profile text with an introductory text of 5-10 lines that explain to them:
- Why are you motivated for this job and this company?
- Why is there a professional match?
It's basically a compressed cover letter, so it takes time and effort to be this concise.