CV
A CV is a concise, structured overview of your skills and experience. As a general rule, a young applicant’s CV should be no longer than two A4 pages. There is no single correct way to put a CV together, but it should be clear, focused and easy to read.
🎯 Tailor your CV and keep it concise
Write in a clear and straightforward way. Avoid repeating the same sentences in both your application and your CV. Select details from your experience and skills according to what is relevant for the role you are applying for. For instance, if the position requires communication skills, highlight these in the descriptions of roles where you have carried out communication tasks.
📐 Refine the structure and layout
Employers will often skim through your CV and application first. The purpose of this quick scan is to decide whether the content is worth a closer look. You can improve readability by choosing a clean, easy-to-read font and using clear headings to separate different sections.
You can also create a more visual CV if it suits your style and the job you are applying for, though the content should always remain the most important element.
Example structure for a CV
Your CV should include at least the following:
- Personal details: Name and contact information. You may also add a link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio if you wish.
- Education: Qualifications listed from the most recent. Include the institution, dates and your main subject (and minor subjects). Add your dissertation topic if it is relevant to the role you are applying for. If your degree is still in progress, indicate the start date and your expected graduation date. Shorter courses or certificates can be listed under Other trainings.
- Work experience: Listed from the most recent. Include your job title, employer and dates (month/year). Describe the content of the work in a way that highlights what is relevant to the role you are applying for.
- Language skills: Describe your level using terms such as excellent, good, satisfactory or basic. Remember to include any Finnish language skills if applicable.
- IT skills: Microsoft Office programmes and other relevant digital skills, such as image editing, programming, statistical software or other tools related to your field (you may also indicate your level of proficiency).
- Positions of trust or other experience: For example, involvement in student associations.
- Hobbies (if relevant): These can show activity, creativity or commitment to certain interests.
- References: You can include contact details, but remember to ask for permission in advance.
Tips for creating a clear and easy-to-read CV
Pay attention to the following:
- Spacing between paragraphs: Use sufficient spacing to separate different roles from one another.
- Avoid long blocks of text: Keep your descriptions concise.
- Headings: Make sure your headings are large enough to stand out from the rest of the text.
- Use formatting sparingly: For example, you may bold degree titles or job titles, but avoid italics as they can reduce readability.
Visual CV
A CV does not have to be a purely document-style listing of your work history; it can also be designed as a more visual presentation. A visual CV can be particularly useful for roles that require graphic or design skills. You can think of your CV as a work sample that showcases your abilities.
The same principles apply to a visual CV as to a traditional one. Clarity, readability and ease of scanning are essential. When using colours and design elements, avoid overdoing it so that the overall layout remains visually pleasing.
Tools for creating a visual CV:
- Word: There are ready-made templates available online, but you can also create your own.
- PowerPoint: Set the slide size to A4 and use pre-made elements for layout.
- Canva.com: Search for “CV” to find a wide range of free templates.
- Adobe Express: Search for templates using the keyword “resume.”
- Adobe InDesign (paid)
- Adobe Illustrator (paid)
When using pre-made templates, consider how well your experience fits the template. Do not try to force your experience into a pre-set design; instead, adjust the template as needed to suit your background.
✍️ Starting with a summary/profile?
CVs increasingly include a brief summary where the applicant highlights their skills, goals and strengths in a few compelling, concise and attention-grabbing sentences. The summary is placed at the beginning of the CV and should entice the reader to continue.
If you choose to include a summary, refine it carefully and tailor it to the position you are applying for. Think of it as a short answer to the question: “Why should I be chosen?” Early in your career, you can also use it to indicate the direction you are aiming for.
🧠 Skills-based CV
A skills-based CV is an alternative to the traditional chronological CV. Instead of listing work experience and education in chronological order, a skills-based CV emphasises the skills you have acquired through experience, organised under relevant headings.
A skills-based CV works particularly well if you are a recent graduate, changing fields, or lack directly relevant work experience or education. It also makes it easier to highlight experience from other areas of life, such as volunteering or hobbies.
A traditional CV is still a good choice for many industries or employers. Consider the format based on the role you are applying for. If the job advertisement emphasises skills and the applicant’s personality rather than formal qualifications or experience, a skills-based CV can be an effective format.
Building a skills-based CV
After your contact details, the first section in a skills-based CV should be a brief profile of 3–4 sentences. This typically includes a short description of your key areas of expertise or subject knowledge, a few lines that highlight something interesting about your personality or working style, and a general indication of your career goals.
Following the profile, the core section of a skills-based CV is the presentation of your key skills. A skills-based CV is structured similarly to a standard CV, but with a separate section dedicated to your core competencies. Choose 3–6 main skills or areas of expertise and create subheadings for each. Under each heading, describe the experience and achievements that have helped you develop that skill, providing examples of how you acquired it. Focus on skills that are relevant and appropriate for the position you are applying for.
Towards the end of a skills-based CV, include your education and work history in a more concise format than in a traditional CV.
Examples of skills you might list in a skills-based CV: communication, teamwork, leadership, time management, creativity, adaptability, language proficiency, graphic design, programming, cost accounting, negotiation, decision-making, data analysis, problem-solving, organisational skills, mathematical skills, spreadsheet skills, and so on.
Researcher CV template
The Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK) provides a template for a researcher’s CV. The template includes sections on, for example, research funding, research outputs, supervision and leadership experience, as well as teaching achievements.
Attend a CV clinic and receive personalised feedback
CV clinics are 20-minute online appointments. You can receive feedback on your CV, application, or LinkedIn profile. Appointments can be booked directly through JobTeaser by logging in with your Utu credentials: