How do I write a resume?

As a self-employed person, a resume shows your education and work experience at a glance. But how do you create an attractive resume and what should it contain? Seven tips.

Tip 1: What should it contain?

As a self-employed person, your resume should contain at least the following:

- Your name, company name, Chamber of Commerce number and contact information (address, phone number).

- Relevant work experience

- Relevant education and courses

- Relevant skills

- Language skills

Additional information, such as driving license, willingness to take courses, degree of flexibility (for example, if you have other assignments as well, you are not available every day)

Tip 2: Your resume is dynamic

The content of your resume varies from client to client. In the listing above, you regularly saw the word “relevant. This means you have to decide what is important for each section for each client. If you want to land a job where you communicate a lot with foreign clients, then it is good to include your internships or trips abroad on your resume. If creativity is important, then put your illustration course on your resume.

Tip 3: Start with a “mother resume.

When you get started with your resume, first create a very comprehensive document. In it you put all your education, courses and work experience. Then select the relevant information for each job.

Tip 4: One page is enough

Select and tell your future client only what is important. Your client really doesn't need to know what elementary school you went to and that you got your swimming certificate. Unless you are applying for a job as a lifeguard of course ;-)

Tip 5: Chronological or last assignment first?

It used to be standard for resumes to be written in chronological order: starting with your first education and ending with the present. Nowadays, more and more people choose to list the most recent work experience first. The advantage is that employers often remember best what they see first. If you choose an a-chronological resume, emphasize your most recent education and assignments. Usually these are the most relevant.

Tip 6: Describe your tasks.

Projects and jobs come in all shapes and sizes. The description “project manager at client X” is pretty vague. So for each assignment, describe what exactly you did and accomplished for the client. This will give your potential client a better idea of your knowledge and skills.

Tip 7: Stand out in a positive way

A good first impression is important. So make sure your resume looks neat and tidy. A neat profile picture and a nice layout will make you stand out in a positive way. But don't be too creative: a resume/CV with too many bells and whistles quickly looks unprofessional.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)