Recruitment & Advice
Writing a Resume
Part I: What Is a Resume?
1.1 The Definition
A resume, or curriculum vitae, literally translates to “the career of one’s life.”
It is a collection of details covering four periods:
| Phase | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Personal Information | Who you are |
| Your background | Where you’re from |
| Your current occupation | Where You Are Now |
| Options for the future | Where you’re headed |
Note the fourth line: many applicants forget it. A resume that only covers the first three sections describes the past; it also needs to point toward a direction.
1.2 Length Restrictions
The whole thing must be summarized and illustrated:
| Profile | Length |
|---|---|
| Entry-level executive | One page |
| Experienced rider | Two pages maximum |
1.3 The Challenge of the Resume
Summarizing the highlights of your professional and personal life in just a few lines in a compelling way may seem impossible.
It is—unless you follow certain rules. These rules are the focus of the following discussion.
Part II: Formatting Guidelines
Once you’ve gathered all the standard elements of a resume—personal information, education, work experience, and extracurricular activities—you still need to follow certain basic principles to create an effective layout.
2.1 The Fundamental Principle: The Eye Moves Downward, Not Side to Side
The layout should not force the reader to move back and forth from left to right.
All elements of the resume should be left-aligned, starting a new line for each new piece of information, because the eye “moves down” quickly along a page but “scans” from side to side with greater difficulty.
Keep this principle in mind: all the rules that follow stem from it. They have only one purpose: to make reading quick and effortless. Every frivolous detail, every unnecessary element, and every added column costs the reader a fraction of a second—and a resume is read in just a few dozen seconds.
2.2 The Form Rules, One by One
| Rule | Note |
|---|---|
| Format and Typing | Always typed on white A4 paper, without a consistent first-line indent, with a margin of 1 to 2 cm |
| Fonts | No more than three: one for headings, one for chapter titles, and one for the body text |
| Bold | Do not overuse it. If everything is highlighted as important, then nothing matters anymore |
| Emphasis | Avoid this: some candidates use the same term in bold, italics, all caps, and underlined—the effect is lost |
| Underlining | Key points, job titles, and company names should not be underlined |
| Fancy Formatting | No colors, no drawings, no underlining. Fancy formatting may please the writer, but it generally displeases the recruiter |
| Multiple pages | Staple at the top left; do not use paper clips |
| Negatives | None: “never have,” “have not been,” “did not yield positive results,” “I failed,” “I had to repeat the year,” “insufficient”… |
Why is the rule about bold text the most frequently broken? It’s based on simple arithmetic: bold text works by contrast. Three words in bold on a page stand out; thirty words in bold no longer stand out at all. To highlight something is necessarily to leave the rest in the background.
Why no negatives. A negative draws attention precisely to what you wanted to downplay. Writing “I have never failed” plants the word “failed” in the reader’s mind. A resume doesn’t defend itself—it makes a statement.
Part III: Fundamental Rules
| Rule | Clarity |
|---|---|
| The Text | Clear, precise, coherent, and very simple |
| Value Judgments | Never make categorical or distorted value judgments, either about yourself or about the businesses you frequent |
| Abbreviations | Avoid them: they are open to interpretation |
| Double-sided pages | A resume should never be double-sided |
| Spelling | No spelling errors |
| Contact information | Never send a resume with a crossed-out or altered phone number |
| Photo | Do not include a photo unless requested. If required: attach it in the upper right corner; do not staple or use a paper clip |
| Pronouns | Do not refer to yourself in the third person |
| Presentation | Do not submit a resume in table format; never write it entirely in uppercase letters |
Regarding crossed-out numbers: this rule may seem trivial, but it isn’t. A candidate who submits a hand-corrected document inadvertently signals that they did not consider the application worthy of being reprinted. The recruiter doesn’t see a correction; they see a measure of attention to detail.
A discrepancy to be resolved. The article “General Guidelines for the Resume” suggests including a photo if it looks professional; this one recommends against it if it isn’t requested. The two can be reconciled by the general rule of the industry: an explicit request takes precedence, and in the absence of one, industry practice takes precedence over personal preference.
Part IV: Organizing the Sections
Four sections structure the document:
- Personal Information, or Identity
- Education
- Languages
- Work Experience
4.1 Identity (Personal Information)
| Point | The rule |
|---|---|
| Position | Never at the end of the resume: the recruiter looks for this essential information and would wonder why it isn’t listed at the top |
| Age / Date of Birth | Leaving them out raises questions: you might as well include them |
| First and last name | On the same line |
| Gender | Don’t put this on a separate line. If the first name doesn’t make it clear, precede it with “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” or “Miss” |
| Address (1) | On one line: the street number and street name |
| Address (2) | On the same line: the P.O. box and the city. Add the country if applying internationally |
| Phone | Your home phone number is essential; your office number, while recommended, is not required |
| Office number | Indicate “LD” or mention it discreetly |
| Marital status | Single, married, or divorced |
| The abbreviation “CV” | Not recommended at the top of the page: this goes without saying |
The guiding principle for this section: leave nothing to the imagination. Every omission—whether it’s your age or a contact detail—raises a question in the reader’s mind. And an unanswered question quickly turns into suspicion.
4.2 Education
Where should you put it?
| Your situation | Section placement |
|---|---|
| Up to age 45, or halfway through your career | Just below the personal information section |
| Older applicants | In the second-to-last position |
In what order? List the highest degree and most significant training first, followed by other qualifications in reverse chronological order (most recent to oldest).
Clearly distinguish between initial education and continuing education, and highlight the primary degree—the one that carries the most weight and is most relevant to the position you’re applying for.
What should you include?
A resume is not a collection of degrees. You don’t need to list everything.
If you graduated from ENA with a concentration in management, the recruiter will assume you have a high school diploma. A sufficiently experienced executive does not need to list a CEP or DEF.
What you shouldn’t forget:
- the degree;
- your major;
- the name of the school;
- the date of graduation.
What varies depending on the profile:
| Profile | What they need to do |
|---|---|
| Executives | Highlight only key milestones and significant training |
| First-time job seekers | Mention and explain the projects completed in school |
Two language pitfalls:
| The pitfall | Example |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | “ENA,” “ENPT,” which are open to various interpretations |
| Misuse of language or imprecisions | “École Normale d’Administration,” “one year,” “first year” |
What about continuing education? Degrees or courses completed in this context may be listed under a “Additional Training” section.
4.3 Languages
Where should this section be placed? Proficiency in at least one foreign language is becoming increasingly crucial in the hiring process.
| Your proficiency level | Position |
|---|---|
| Truly fluent | Somewhere between formal education and professional experience |
| Less than fluent | Just before extracurricular activities |
In this era of economic “globalization,” and particularly for certain roles, you’ll be considered “unqualified” if you don’t speak at least one other language.
The terminology to use, and what it really means:
| The term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bilingual | Perfect command, both spoken and written, of two languages |
| Fluent | Applies after a relatively long stay in the country in question |
| Read, written, and spoken | Doesn’t mean much: the phrase does not accurately reflect the level of proficiency |
| “Adequate command of English” | The right phrase if you can get by |
| “Average English” | The right phrase if you know only a few phrases that barely allow for a conversation |
Why this wording needs to be precise. It’s one of the few statements on a resume that can be verified in three seconds: all the recruiter has to do is switch languages in the middle of the interview. An accurate description protects you; a flattering one leaves you vulnerable.
4.4 Work Experience
Strengths and key achievements should be highlighted on the first page: it’s the one that gets read the most.
A rule of balance to keep in mind: The longer your professional career, the less your initial education matters, and the more your most recent experience becomes the most valuable and revealing.
It is this shift that explains the rule mentioned above: educational background moves further down the page as one’s career progresses.
4.5 Extracurricular Activities
Three categories: sports, leisure activities or hobbies, and community involvement.
How much weight should you give them?
This section isn’t of crucial importance. Mentioning it isn’t a negative, but neither can it be said to improve or strengthen the resume.
However, it does help personalize the document and present a well-rounded picture of the candidate. And if the recruiter shares your interests, it can help start the interview on a more friendly note.
What doesn’t belong in this section: reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, or watching the news on TV.
Reading novels? Yes, but you should be able to name the last novel you read and its author.
| Sub-section | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Sports | Mention only the sports you actually practice. If you mention having a black belt in judo, you should be able to state the date you earned it. A team sport can demonstrate team spirit and a willingness to work together, but it also indicates weekly training commitments |
| Hobbies | Those that are practiced most often or most regularly |
| Community Activities | It is neither useful nor recommended to disclose your political or union preferences or commitments here |
| Computing | To mention |
| Internships | Mention the most significant ones, explaining why you chose them and at which company |
The guiding principle for this entire section: everything you write can be probed further. The novel, the black belt, the club—every mention is a door the recruiter can open. Include only what you’re prepared to elaborate on.
Part V: Chronological or Reverse Chronological?
The case for chronological order: It’s more logical; you follow the sequence of your career as it actually unfolded.
The winning argument: when it comes to hiring, direct and quick access to essential information must be facilitated. This calls for a reverse-chronological order, from most recent to oldest.
In this case, the further back in time you go, the shorter the description of your activities should be.
| Order | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Reverse chronological (from most recent to oldest) | The general rule |
| Chronological | When you’ve climbed the ranks within the same company, or have had a lot of internal transfers |
Why this exception? Because in this specific case, your career progression is the key selling point. Presenting it in reverse would undermine the very point it’s meant to demonstrate.
In conclusion: the general rule is reverse chronological order, but never mix the two formats in the same resume.
Two common mistakes here:
| The mistake | Why it’s a problem |
|---|---|
| Writing “from 1990 to the present” when you no longer work at the company | This is a verifiable inaccuracy, which casts doubt on everything else |
| Overusing bold text | It is reserved for company names and degrees earned |
Part VI: How to Fill in the Gaps on a Resume?
If there’s a gap in your work history, it’s best to mention it and explain why.
Do not include specific dates or months—the year is sufficient.
The reasoning behind this rule: An unexplained gap invites the worst-case scenario—it’s the reader’s natural instinct. A gap that is acknowledged and justified, on the other hand, can be addressed in a single line. And stating the year rather than the month avoids emphasizing a duration that, if expressed in weeks, would seem longer than it actually is.
Part VII: In Conclusion, Bluffing Is to Be Avoided
Presenting yourself as you are, without embellishment, is the best way to make yourself known and to be appreciated.
Writing a document that is both sincere and persuasive allows you to approach the interview with peace of mind.
The consequences of bluffing are delayed, but they will come. If you secure a position under false pretenses, the deception may be revealed during the probationary period—a period that will then not be completed.
In other words: bluffing doesn’t win you a job—it costs you several months.
And one last word for those whose résumé fits on a single page: don’t let it be a source of insecurity. The length of a résumé has never been a measure of a person’s competence.
The Essentials in 10 Points
- A resume is “the story of your life”: personal details, past and present, and plans for the future.
- One page for an entry-level executive, two at most for a seasoned executive.
- Everything left-aligned: the eye moves down the page; it doesn’t skim it.
- No more than three fonts, use bold sparingly, no fancy styles, no negations.
- No double-sided pages, no tables, no all-caps text, no third-person references, and no crossed-out numbers.
- Personal information at the top; education immediately below up to age 45; the highest degree listed first.
- For languages, be truthful: “bilingual” and “fluent” have precise meanings that can be verified in three seconds.
- Use reverse chronological order by default; chronological order only for internal career progression, and never both in the same resume.
- Any gaps in employment should be mentioned and explained, by year, not by month.
- Bluffing will cost you during the probationary period, and the length of a resume has never been a measure of competence.
Source: “Take Stock of Your Employability.”