Here’s How to Craft a Good CV
a cura di Arianna Pappone
Are you trying to expand your horizons and seek a career out of your country, and possibly even on a different continent? To land the job of your dreams and move to an English-speaking country you will need to tailor your resume to the country of your interest. Here are some great tips to help you understand the main differences between an Italian CV and a foreign one.
1. Do not Include a Picture on your CV
While in most cases a picture on your CV is well appreciated in Italy, it is not accepted in many English-speaking countries. In fact, pictures are perceived as discriminatory, because the appearance of the candidate might influence the selection process.
2. Focus on Your Achievements Rather than Previous Tasks
While in Italy we tend to focus on the main tasks we carried out in previous positions, in many foreign countries people tend to emphasize their main accomplishments and how they benefitted the company. For example, instead of writing “Worked on email marketing, campaigns, and SEO”, one could write: “Increased the reach by 20% through SEO, and achieved more than 150% of the fundraising campaign goal”.
3. Be More Practical, but with Some Color
Usually, CVs in countries like the US and the UK tend to line up information in a way that might look a little “packed” to Italians. Shapes, patterns, and rows might not be such a good fit as they are here.
For example, an Italian CV might look like this:
While American and English ones usually look like this:
Although the format and design of a foreign CV differ from an Italian one as the former goes straight to the point, this does not mean that one shouldn’t add some color to make the document more pleasant to the eye. For example, it would be a good idea to add some color to the lines or headings, as long as the CV does not look excessively bright.
The Bottom Line
Avoid sending your Italian CV as it is to foreign companies, and always be aware of the differences between countries. To make your CV very specific and appealing, google a CV sample of the country you are focusing on, and make sure to understand what to change on your own resume. By following these steps, you will make sure to present yourself to the company in the best possible way, and significantly increase your chances of being called for a job interview. Good luck!