Curriculum / Resume

Last update: January, 2024

work in progress This part of getaswissjob is not strictly related to Switzerland and applies to most labour markets, at least on a European level.

You need 4 fundamental things

  • basic skills, and on this I cannot help you much
  • the CV done properly
  • a LinkedIn profile
  • some time to devote to studying interviews

work in progress By basic skills I mean what it takes to do the job you want. You can't be a software developer if you don't know how to programme, you can't be a doctor if you don't have a degree and, I think, adequate training, you can't be a carpenter if you don't know how to work with wood, and so on. If you have this knowledge, which is the indispensable basis for finding a job, whether in Bari, Zurich or Bamako, then you can move on.

Between reddit, other websites (various forums and social networks) and acquaintances, I have seen that making a well-done CV is a problem for many, many people. Do I put a photo, don't I? What font do I use? Should I make it colourful? Should I put my middle school grade? Should I write that I have a driving licence? I have never worked, what should I put? If I got a bad grade in my degree, can I avoid writing it?

Eighteen billion questions that to some may seem crazy, to others are real obstacles that can make all the difference in the eyes of a recruiter who is reading the CV.

What a good CV should contain

  • first name, surname and contact information
    • the 'middle name' is rather useless, if you are already employed also add your current title (Jamaican Asdrubale, telephone number with area code and email, Software Engineer)
  • personal profile
    • short presentation of your personal profile, i.e. what you are doing, the really important parts of your role (especially those useful for the position you are applying for) and your current career goals. Three or four lines, every word must be useful.
  • core competences
  • work experience (including possible voluntary work and personal projects) relevant to the position you are applying for
  • your educational history, i.e. university, masters, certifications, if you really think it would be useful, even school (but I would avoid this in 90% of cases, especially if you have to add an extra page to include it)
  • any affiliations or memberships to associations that have anything to do with your candidature (if you propose yourself as a software engineer, if you are part of any open source organisation or are an active member of conferences, city training groups)

What not to include

  • ...

work in progress