Parts and their order

There is no one right way to write and edit a resume. In recent years, examples have emerged that outline the best format for a document in order to be effective. Most resumes include the following chapter headings:

1. Personal details of the candidate
2. Resume summary
3. Work Experience
4. Education and studies
5. Military service (used mainly in Israel)
6. Language proficiency
7. Computer applications (when relevant to the job)
8. Publications - If they are relevant to the job. Accepted mainly in academia.
9. Awards, recognition and excellence
10. Recommenders (usually an option to receive recommendations)

It is important to emphasize now that there is no "one right template" and that each case is unique, but it is always a good idea to place the section that advances you the most at the top of the document, and save the section that is less relevant to the job at the bottom of the page.

For example: If the position requires language proficiency and you speak the requested language – “jump” the “Language Proficiency” section to the top of the page. If your military service is very relevant to the position, jump it to the top sections of your resume.

Name of the game - Relevance

Although there are fairly clear rules for writing a CV, this does not mean that it is a completely standard document, but rather a document that should be adapted as much as possible to the candidate's ability, experience, and skills. It is very important to adapt and change the document specifically for the famous job, and not to send the exact same document to different jobs certainly not to different positions.

Enter in the resume and specify mainly relevant information that shows the recruiter that you meet as many of the job requirements as possible.

Irrelevant information may divert the recruiter's focus from the important details of the resume and thus sabotage the chances of getting a summons for the long-awaited interview.

Furthermore, it is also advisable to incorporate in the resume keywords or phrases from the content world of the job. The words can usually be found in the job description, on the website of the recruiting company or from the description of similar jobs in different companies. At the same time, it is better not to overdo the use of these keywords and to remain loyal to reality.

Please note, the resume should include seniority skills that match the requirements for the position. For example, if there is a requirement for knowledge in Excel, state this in the resume and save the recruiter from making assumptions.

It is important to note past roles, that the character and skills required to fill them are relevant to the role. Of course, there is a preference for experience in the professional field of the job, but in cases where you do not have such experience, it is worth listing positions that included aspects relevant to the job requirements.

For example, if you are competing for a project management position, any management position you have held in the past, even if not in exactly the same field of activity (for example, sales unit management, call center management, military command, etc.) may be relevant. When presenting the position, it is advisable to highlight the managerial aspect, and also indicate the issues you managed and the skills that were required of you.

The language of the resume

For some of the jobs it is worth sending a resume in English. How will you know whether to send a resume in English or Hebrew?

There is a rule that says that if the job description is written in English, then the resume should also be sent to the recruiter in English. In addition, for jobs in high-tech/software companies that work with overseas, it is customary to also send a resume in English. It is worth paying attention if the job description states that a resume should be sent in English. Of course, it should be sent as required by the text.

• Job advertisement published in Hebrew = CV in Hebrew.
• Job advertisement was published in English = resume in English.
• It has not yet been decided that in high-tech and international companies it is customary to send a resume in English.
• There is another option to attach two resume files in Hebrew and English.

Even people with excellent English, may have difficulty when it comes to writing a professional resume in English, or translating their existing resume from Hebrew. This is because it is not enough to translate the words freely, but it should be noted that the main message also passes in the English language and check that apart from syntactic errors, there are also no words translated in the wrong context in the document. It is always recommended that the native English speaker go over the resume and correct the necessary correction.

For an interesting study on the preferences of Israeli recruiters for the language of resumes click here.

Writing in action names

Since this is an official document that speaks professional language, a resume should be written with action names. For example: "Preparing price quotes," "Managing a team of employees," "Creating collaborations."

Writing in the first person ("I prepared presentations," "I managed a call center") gives the file the impression of a story from a personal perspective. Since this is an official document in professional language, it is worth writing a resume with action names. For example: "Preparing price quotes," "Managing a team of employees," "Creating collaborations." An exception is the therapeutic field, where it is certainly possible to write in the first person singular.

Exaggeration and lies

You should not exaggerate or lie about your work experience or education. It is important to stand behind the things written in the resume document, otherwise you will be perceived as unreliable and then it will be difficult to correct the initial impression. Remember, first impression, no second!

Surveys and samples that are published from time to time, present findings and hypotheses regarding the issue of accuracy in providing details in a CV document for employment purposes. The findings show that there is a widespread phenomenon of "fuzzing" CVs, whether it is by excessive writing, hiding details or stating details that are not true at all. The sections in which there is a tendency not to write the whole truth are: age, education and occupational background. In certain cases, it turned out that academics avoided writing all their education and qualifications for fear of being considered too qualified for the intended position (Over Qualified).

Writing lies on a resume can even amount to a criminal offense; there have been cases where lawsuits have been filed against people who falsified information on their resume. Employment experts have noted in the past that something that is not true is almost always discovered eventually, and can result in the dismissal of the employee who was hired based on a misrepresentation.

Standard language

Be sure to formulate fluently and avoid spelling mistakes. It is also important to avoid slang, street language and short words in writing. This is important because you have to fully understand the so-called word. Once you have finished writing your resume let someone you know check for spelling mistakes and proofread.

Font, space, colors and reliefs

font: It is important to maintain a uniform, simple and legible font. It is recommended to use Arial font size 10-12.

Colors: One color is enough (black). Except for creative jobs or jobs related to positions that you know in advance that there is indeed a demand for a more stylish resume. A designer can definitely style his resume a bit in order to leave a positive impression. In general, it is enough to use black.

Spacing: While writing, note that the space between the lines ranges from 1.35 to 1.5.

You should use reliefs where possible - Proper use of bullets will create a clearer and more readable structure for the resume, so the recruiter will be able to scan the document easily and quickly.

Emphasizing the important details in the body of the text. Bold text will capture the recruiter's attention even as he flips through many resumes, so it is advisable to highlight the most relevant details for the job.

Ensuring a consistent and uniform appearance throughout the resume - If you have chosen a certain space, be sure to use it throughout your resume. If you used reliefs, do not replace them with the different parts.

No photos or illustrations needed - This is an official document, and such use may be interpreted by the reader as somewhat childish.

It is recommended to save the document as both Word and PDF – It is customary to send the resume to the recruiter in a PDF file so that it looks exactly as designed (regardless of the version of Word in which it was prepared). However, automatic tools that scan resumes are able to "read" resumes written in Word better.

Also, in the name of saving the file it is advisable to include your full name and the place to which you are sending the resume. For example: Avi-cohen-Cellcom.pdf.

Proofreading must be done in all parts of the document. There should be no spelling errors: even a single error can spoil the first impression. If you are unsure about the correct spelling of a particular word check on Google how it is recommended to spell that word.

Personal Information

This is the first part which appears at the top of the document and includes ways to contact the candidate - Email address, residential address and mobile number. If you have Official and professional LinkedIn profile, It is recommended to add it.

Please note, the email address should be a formal and proper address, and does not consist of silly / trivial words (for example, it is not advisable to use a businessman1975@gmail.com style address).

The personal details should be written in a length of up to 3 lines, so that they take up as little space as possible in the document.

What is required to register?

• First name + last name
• Residence - If you live in a village / council that is not really known or significantly far from the workplace - write the address accurately with the name of the nearest central city or indicate the proximity to it, for example: Bekaat Gan (near Kfar Saba).
• Phones and email are available and accessible.

Recruiters prefer to see all the personal details as they are sometimes part of the recruitment profile. What additional details are acceptable to add, but not required?

• Year of birth - First, it is worth noting that the law prohibits discrimination against candidates due to their age. However, the person who recruits in most cases receives a clear age requirement and when the age is not found in the resume. It can be concluded that the candidate is older. There are two ways to indicate age in a coefficient:
  1. Adding a heading at the end of the resume document that reads "Personal Details" and specifies the year of birth - this way, one can believe and hope that they will first read about the employment experience and only then read about the age.
  2. You can use an "age anchor" - do not specify the date/year of birth, but allow the recruiter to understand the age with the help of years of military service, or alternatively, another detail that can indicate it - if the year of birth is important to the recruiter/interviewer, he will be able to understand it from the sources of life.
• Marital status - not required to indicate but recommended to appear. At the same time if there is a concern that it may constitute a type of barrier it can be avoided to mention it.
• ID Number - If you are willing to reveal your ID number, this will help placement companies save your resume file. In general quite unnecessary.
• If the job has special technical requirements such as a driver's license or a car - this is the place to mention it.
• LinkedIn profile – if you have one, if you don't and you are applying for a high-tech job, it is recommended to open one. It is essential to make sure that your personal details are up-to-date and correct, and that they allow the recruiter to easily contact you to arrange a job interview. You should ensure consistency between your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Resume photo

There is no need. It is not advisable to include a resume image, although there are countless resume formats (especially in English) that include an image across the web. Think for a moment from the recruiter's eyes, what image might help him?

The only case that can be different in this case is jobs that require you to submit a photo, such as modeling agencies.

How can privacy/confidentiality be maintained in a CV file?

• At the beginning of the document, write "Please maintain discretion" in bold font size 10.
• It is better not to state the name of the current company you work for, but only a description of it (for example, instead of "Maccabi", we would state "a company in the healthcare sector").
• In your cover letter, state your employment status. For example: "I decided to apply for this position because I always wanted to join a large company in the food industry. I currently work for a small company in the field, so I would appreciate it if you would maintain discretion during the recruitment process."

How to expand on employment experience?

1. Sequence of works: It is recommended to write in reverse chronological form: from the current / last position and backwards.
2. Headings: Job name and company name (underlined).
3. Years: Time ranges in a CV document are usually written in years only. Months can also be added.
4. Brands: If you were employed by a well-known company - state this. If the company does not sell - write in two words what it does.
5. Details: The name of the job is not enough to understand what you did. List below the title line, and also describe what other job you did at all and do it in short points.
6. Skills: Below the job description, add one or two key skills you had in the role. For example: If you were a salesperson and your role increased the company's sales, you might want to mention "30% increase in the first year."
7. Job suitability: Because each job includes multiple tasks and skills - you need to match the details of the tasks you have done to the job you are approaching.

What should you include in detail about the job?

• Numbers / Goals that can be quantified (from the language of quantity) that you were able to achieve
• Management of x people
• Promotions you won during the period
• Managing budgets of x money
• Partnership in key processes / strategies
• Responsibility for important relationships
• Big brands or companies you worked with
• Advanced work environments / technological knowledge you have accumulated or key systems you have worked with

Create more than one resume file

In most cases, candidates send the same resume document to all kinds of different jobs and positions. This is a big mistake. Each job has its own uniqueness in terms of job requirements, and these should be noted when submitting a resume.

Conclusion: A good resume is CV suitable for the job, And if you sent them without matching them to the job - as if you did not send.

• Carefully read the job description and make sure to use the same words that appear in the ad to describe your experience.
• Combine the job fit at the beginning of the resume file in the abstract category.
• Each file should detail more about the positions relevant to the position for which it is intended, as they are the ones that prove that you have the appropriate experience for the position.
• Since each position includes many areas, change the emphases according to the position.

How do we represent diverse employment experience?

If during the job search is interpreted on several areas in parallel, you can write the resume document in a slightly different style.

• It is advisable to build a different resume file for each search area. Indicate in each file the experience and positions that show that you are the most suitable candidates for the job.
• If the appropriate experience is not listed in the document as the last attempt, it is recommended to act in one of the ways:
  1. Write the irrelevant roles in one line and do not list their ripples so that the relevant roles are highlighted and highlighted in the eyes of the recruiter.
  2. Separate your work experience into 'relevant experience' and 'additional experience.' This way, you can highlight the information that is relevant and important to the position being offered:
     • In the title, instead of 'occupational experience', write 'relevant experience' and detail the experience relevant to the position, not necessarily in the order of events.
     • Under the heading "Additional Experience," expand on the experience that is less relevant and relevant to the role in a chronological manner.
• When you have diverse work experience, it is advisable to add a "summary" and a cover letter to the file that will emphasize the experience relevant to the position you are applying for.

About Qualified

The greater and more diverse your employment history, the more degrees and higher education you have, and the more senior management level you are, the higher the chances that you will hear the same words over and over again: "Thanks, but that's not what we're looking for." You're overqualified! And you'll be surprised to hear that this also happens in interviews at high-tech companies.

If you apply for jobs for which you have too much experience, the recruiter may get the impression that you are overly talented. so what are we doing? Adjust your resume to fit the job, and rephrase the roles you have held in the past.

If you are applying for an intermediate position, adapt your resume document to the job requirement. Think the names of the roles you have held in the past can be daunting? Use a different wording. There are full of ways to present and detail about a particular role. Write the appropriate words, present what is relevant from a slightly different angle. Be reliable and honest, but also do not expand too much and do not use words that are too inflated and exploded. Sometimes it is worthwhile to change just one word here and there and already the resume document gets a different and different garnet.

Employment stability

Job stability is one of the first criteria a recruiter looks for. Moving between multiple roles in a short period of time, or having "black holes" on your resume (periods of time where it's unclear what you did) may cause a recruiter to disqualify you.

What to do to show employment stability?

1. Write the roles in years and not in exact months: Writing in years will help you choose only the relevant roles and will give a higher sense of stability.
2. Another option is to write at the top of the page that you are currently looking for a long-term job.
3. Try to fill in "holes" in your work experience: Check whether you studied/supported a family business, or whether the "holes" were created because you decided to take an extended maternity leave - simply mention this on your resume.
4. If you have worked for a while in temporary jobs that you are less proud of, you can write:
   2018 - Today: Temporary works in the field of restaurants
   or:
   2018 - Today: Execution of projects in several companies in the field of administration.

education

In this section it is recommended to write down what you learned and where (ie framework type: academic? Professional? High school?).

Write in the title the name of the course / degree and the name of the institution of study, and then, list what knowledge or important skills you acquired during your studies.

• The study / degree section, like the field of work, is written in reverse chronological order: from the last studies and what precedes them in descending order.
• Write the years and specify the name of the degree / certificate / institution of study.
• Some people write a final average (especially in real fields), but let's say your grade point average is low - it's best not to mention it in your resume. On the other hand, if you graduated with honors, it is highly recommended to indicate this. It shows abilities and skills.
• If you studied for a degree, but did not complete the degree and therefore did not receive any certificate, write "Studies for a degree…" and state the name of the university/college.
• Courses and workshops are always listed below academic degrees and should only be listed if they are related to the position being sought. Courses can be private/institutional-public, for example a sales course within the framework of a job at "Cellcom".
• If you have participated in quite a few courses or it is important to detail them (for example, for programmers), you should create a section for "Studies and Workshops" or "Programming Languages" depending on the field, and then detail the names of the courses you have taken, your level of proficiency in the programming languages, and more.
• If you do not have an academic degree, write your matriculation, the name of the high school and the name of the main major.
• If there is no full / partial matriculation. Write 12 years of schooling.
• You do not have to indicate achievements / grades from high school if you hold an academic degree.

Military Service

How should military service be described?

• For some recruiters / employers, military service is an important and not insignificant part, so it is advisable to mention it in your resume and specify in which corps and position you served in the army. Only specify what the job rule is if it is relevant to the job you are looking for.
• Please note, if you served in the regular army or as an officer – it is worth mentioning this detail. If you did not serve in the army but did serve in national service – this chapter will deal with national service. If you did not serve in national service or in the army – you can waive it and do not have to mention it in your resume.
• If this is your first experience in the job market, serving in the IDF can help the recruiter understand what value and abilities you bring to the job market. In such cases, don't hesitate to emphasize it in a more prominent place on the page.

Skills and languages

• This part may vary depending on the candidate's area of ​​expertise, but there are usually all kinds of languages, applications or work environments in which the candidate is proficient. If you work in software and computing, please note that this section will be detailed and full of information. If you are not a candidate for such a position, it is recommended that you indicate control of your computer / office applications.
• List other languages ​​you speak besides your mother tongue, from a good level to a mother tongue. Languages ​​that you know partially, you should only indicate if they relate to the job offered.
• Explain in another section your control over computer applications: nowadays, most positions require knowledge of the Internet, knowledge of office applications and computers. The software you are familiar with must be clearly stated, otherwise the recruiter will not be aware that you are in control of it.

Reviews

If you have recommendations, this should be noted at the end of the CV document – ​​"Recommendations will be provided upon request." Recommendations are generally not included with a CV unless the recruiter specifically requests it.

Resume for the discharged soldier

Freshly discharged from the IDF? Now it begins! The period of your real life. So you are thinking about your future and rightly so. The first step – writing a resume. What you have done so far amounts to studies, military/national service, and some temporary work, and therefore, you feel that you have nothing to write in a resume document.

It's OK! Nor does anyone expect you to have as diverse and productive work experience as an adult. Since military service is the main experience you have gained - indicate in the resume skills you have acquired in the army related to the position you are interested in.

If you have performed a job that is not related to the job that your mind desired or was not to your satisfaction, state the work skills that the military job required of you such as: a good sense of service and human relations, work under pressure and more.

An example of a resume

Curriculum vitae for a student

As students, or academics who have just graduated, you need to write a resume that will show what unique skills and attributes you can bring to the position. You probably have a lot of education and little experience, so you should place the sections in the document in a way that will promote you. For example, putting the issue of learning and career up, instead of the occupational aspect, along with accomplishments and goals during the study period.

If you are still a student or have already completed your studies, but have no work experience, you should write the learning and education section at the top of the resume page and immediately after that the military service section. It is definitely worth expanding on the academic studies paragraph and emphasizing any detail that can impress the recruiter. For example: average exam scores and papers you submitted during your degree, courses and workshops in which you took part and participated and which are relevant to the industry, of course, seminars or large projects to which you devoted time, knowledge and effort, and more. If you served in the military in a position that could be relevant to the job you are trying to get hired for – describe it in detail, because even military experience can be sufficient for the recruiter/company-business owner in many cases.

Here are other highlights that students should pay attention to in your resume document:

• Write the name of the institution: The name of the institution where you study has a great influence. If it is an institution with a reputation it will help you and promote you.
• Did you get high marks? Emphasize this: If the institution where you studied is not so considered, other parameters may work for you, for example, a high grade point average. Employers like to hire outstanding employees.
• Mention specializations, professional software and dissertations: It is worth emphasizing in your resume document your knowledge of computers and / or professional software that you master, a final project that provides experience related to the field indirectly and the like.

An example of a resume

Resume for youth

You were about to write a resume and then found out you have a half-empty page? That’s fine, in the vast majority of cases teens don’t need a resume file at all and they are hired based on personal acquaintance or interview.

The education section should be emphasized and mention successful results in studies and/or society that were of great significance to you in school. Indicate which subjects you expanded and invested in and write your matriculation average (if high), special achievements from high school, etc. You can also write about occupations/volunteering (MDA, for example) and additional areas of interest such as external social frameworks. And I mean, youth movements (Scouts, Working and Learning Youth) and of course write down if you were a guide/tutor, classes (sports/arts), etc. Since you are at the beginning of your journey in the professional world, your resume will be used mainly to get an impression of your areas of interest and your level of seriousness.

An example of a resume

High-tech resume / programming

A good and impressive resume enhances your chances of being invited for a job interview and sets you apart from other candidates, especially in high-tech jobs, with professional terms, unique job definitions, applications that are important to include in the file, and all kinds of variations that characterize the field. When writing a resume that addresses the high-tech field, it is very important to write about your professional / practical aspect as well, and not just focus on the development languages ​​and technologies that you are familiar with.

Resume in the field of teaching / instruction

When writing and styling a resume in the field of education and teaching, it is recommended to list the education you have acquired. If you have previous experience in the position for which you are applying, mention it and specify exactly what the position entails. Of course, it is also worth mentioning any internships or specific specializations if you have done so.

It is also worth grouping by years any additional roles you have held concurrently, such as in the following example: first grade teacher and also a social strata coordinator. Or, for example, a math teacher for grades 1-2 and an after-school program operator for grades 1-3 within the school, and there are many more examples.

All of these add to the resume and experience and generally show your abilities in the field and your executive-organizational abilities at the same time that it is also actually managerial abilities.

In addition, especially in this field it is worthwhile to list prominent personal traits that it is about working with children and in general in the social aspect. Traits like, patience and forbearance, access to children and empathy, diligence and determination can definitely help in choosing you as relevant candidates.

An example of a resume

Resume for seniors in the job market

Seniority in the labor market is probably the most important detail in a resume document, so if you have gained a lot of varied work experience, you should write this section at the beginning of your resume. In this section it is very worthwhile to highlight areas of responsibility that you have had and significant achievements and state this in a focused and clear manner. It is not advisable to list small roles that you performed long ago or that are not related to the job offered.

The next part that will appear in the resume is the part of education. If you have any academic or professional education, write it down, and write briefly about professional courses / workshops you have studied or about the degrees you have received over the years. Regarding high school studies - there is no need to mention them if you have a higher education.

Finally, it is advisable to add a paragraph on military service, and if related to the job offered then highlight the context / affiliation.