Recruiters spend an average of 6–8 seconds on a first scan. A generic CV gets a polite “thanks for applying”. A tailored one gets a callback. Start with the Sefa CV template, then sharpen it for each application.
1Foundations Every CV Needs
- ✓Keep it to one page — even for master’s students
- ✓Save and send as a PDF with your name in the filename
- ✓Lead every bullet with a strong verb in the past tense
- ✓Quantify everywhere: people, money, percentage, time
- ✓Match keywords to the job description, naturally
- ✕Listing every course — pick relevant ones and GPA if strong
- ✕Generic skill bars or star ratings for languages
- ✕Personal info beyond name, email, phone, LinkedIn, city
- ✕Vague phrases like “team player” or “hard-working” without proof
- ✕Submitting without proofreading — one typo can remove you
2Turn Weak Bullets Into Strong Ones
Every bullet should answer: What did I do? What was the result?
Responsible for organising team events.
Organised 6 networking events for 80+ students, growing committee attendance by 35% over the year.
Worked on a marketing project for a real client.
Designed and tested a social-media strategy for a Dutch SME, increasing Instagram engagement by 22% over 8 weeks.
Helped with financial analysis for the company.
Built a DCF model in Excel valuing a €40M acquisition target; presented findings to the M&A lead.
The bullet formula
[Action verb] + [what you did] + [measurable result]
Strong verbs: led, designed, built, launched, negotiated, analysed, presented, automated, optimised, mentored, secured, doubled, reduced.
Avoid: responsible for, helped with, worked on, assisted.
3Tailor by Industry
Lead with structured thinking and impact
e.g. Capgemini, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, Improven, Artefact
- Case competitions and ranked positions
- Leadership of cross-functional teams
- Quantitative coursework, strong analytical grades
- International experience, exchange semesters, languages
Show numeracy, ownership, and attention to detail
e.g. ING, NN Group, OLYX, YoungFinancials, BDO
- Excel, financial modelling, valuation projects
- Strong grades in Finance, Accounting, Econometrics
- Internships at banks, brokerage, or finance committees
- Bloomberg or FactSet exposure if relevant
Show commercial instinct and consumer empathy
e.g. Unilever, Kraft Heinz, AB InBev, Rituals, Henkel
- Marketing projects, brand campaigns, consumer research
- Sales, retail, or hospitality jobs
- Initiative — a side project, a society launch, an event you ran
- Sustainability or social-impact engagement
Show what you’ve built and the impact it had
e.g. Capgemini Tech, Artefact, Deloitte T&T, ING Tech & Data
- Projects with a link or repo — GitHub, Kaggle, dashboards
- Tools you’ve actually used in projects, not just classes
- Quantified results: model accuracy, time saved, users reached
- Translating tech for business stakeholders
4Tailor a CV in 20 Minutes
- Read the job description twice. Underline the 5–7 most repeated keywords and the 3 most critical responsibilities.
- Rewrite your profile in two lines to mirror those exact words back at them.
- Reorder your experience bullets within each role — most relevant on top.
- Swap 2–3 bullets with examples that match the keywords. Keep them quantified.
- Update the Skills line to lead with tools and languages they mention.
- Rename the file: Name_Surname_Company_Role.pdf. Recruiters track this.
- Run a 6-second test: show your CV to a friend for 6 seconds, then ask what they remember. If it doesn’t match the role, rework the top third.
5The Anonymised CV (for ACD & similar events)
Several major events use anonymous CVs for activity selection to keep the process unbiased. Remove all of the following:
- ✕Your name and profile photo
- ✕Gender, date of birth, place of birth
- ✕Nationality and marital status
- ✕Phone, email, postal address
- ✕LinkedIn and social-media handles
- ✕Anything else that could identify you