Which software should you use to write your CV or covering letter?

A LinkedIn profile is useful for job hunting, but is not a substitute for a CV template. If you're wondering how to put a CV on LinkedIn, make sure you create one first. Preferably a good-looking one! An online CV is not enough. If you want to get a job or your first job, you need to attract attention.

How to write a powerful CV

After having worked on the content of your CVTo do this, it needs to be formatted, or better still, laid out on a page.

When choosing CV layout software, make sure that you comply with the recruiter's instructions, who may require you to send the CV or the letter of motivation in a particular form.

Now you can create a free CV online with Canva. PowerPoint CVs are also becoming increasingly popular. However, the "Design CV" is not compulsory if you are not a creative person. It can be a reflection of your creativity and, above all, useful for standing out from the crowd and getting a job interview.

Modern CV or classic CV for a professional CV

Whatever format you choose, the examples of CVs you select should reflect your personality and style. line of business. There is no ideal type of CV for finding a job. Take a look at the CV models or templates available in MS-word, for example.

• • If you choose to work with a DTP or graphic design professional, don't hesitate to have them check your text before you give it to them. proofread and corrected by someone with impeccable writing skills before you apply! You can also use a CV and covering letter proofreading service to check the spelling. This will save you the hassle of having to go back and forth with the person responsible for the layout.

• • If you don't entrust this operation to a professional, then use your usual word processor, which will allow you to keep control of the situation. Don't go overboard with icons either, and stick to one or two fonts maximum! Think of the recruiters and leave a little space between paragraphs and headings. Be careful with colours if you haven't mastered them. Stick to black and white CVs. Finally, underline key words.

• • Remember to keep your career path in chronological order so as not to scare off your future employer, and make sure it is easy to understand.

In any case, to make a good CV, you need to respect typographical conventions, avoid abusive use of capitals, justify text correctly and follow the basic rules of punctuation. This is what will make your curriculum vitae a pleasant document to read, if not an original one.

Which word processor should you choose?

There are currently two categories of word processor. These are generally integrated into office suites such as Microsoft Office. These suites now come in an offline version, which runs on a workstation that is not necessarily connected to the Internet, and an equivalent connected version known as "online". These online versions, such as Microsoft Word, usually feature a collaborative mode that allows several people to work on the same document. This is a great advantage, because all you have to do is share the file to have it proofread and corrected by the person of your choice.

PDF or Word CV?

Whatever word-processing software you choose, you should avoid sending your document in a native format, in other words the basic format of the page-layout software. These include Word (.doc, docx), Google Docs, QuarkXpress, Indesign and Photoshop, which allow anyone to modify the document they send, provided they have a version available.

A target format, on the other hand, is intended for faithful reproduction of the document without allowing subsequent modification.

A PDF CV

In the absence of instructions from the recruiter, it seems reasonable to send your production in PDF format.

Sending a CV in native format, with a few exceptions, means taking the risk that it cannot be opened! With a PDF format CV, you can be sure that your formatting will be preserved. You should also be careful to edit the name of the file you will use for your application. This is an integral part of the Perfect CV without a CV template.

"Why not a CV in Word format?

If you send your Word CV as it is and the recipient opens it in another editor, such as OpenOffice, the many hours you've spent on formatting it could be wasted. You should also bear in mind that a ".doc" file can be a vector for viruses and may be blocked by anti-virus software. It could just as easily be inadvertently modified by a clumsy HR.

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