How to Write a Resume Clearly, Concisely, and Objectively

At the information day ‘Europass and Erasmus+’ at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb, students received precise information on how to write a resume that will open doors to jobs in the EU.

How to open doors for learning and working in Europe and why it is important to compose a good resume understandable to every European citizen, how to clearly and precisely present one’s competencies, and why personal skills that can be a comparative advantage should not be underestimated, students could hear firsthand at the information day ‘Europass and Erasmus+’ held on Friday, December 11, 2015, at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FSB) in Zagreb. Everyone who wants to study, do internships, and perhaps one day work abroad (and there are more and more of them) received very useful information and guidelines. The purpose of the information day was to present the Europass documents that facilitate mobility and the advantages of their use for Croatian citizens at home and abroad, with an emphasis on the ‘Erasmus+’ program, specifically the second round of the competition for internships 2015/16.

The ECTS coordinator at FSB, Doc. Dr. Sc. Dragan Žeželj, commented on the ‘Erasmus+’ program and the competition, while Senior Advisor at the Agency for Mobility and EU Programs, Vlasta Jelašić Kerec, spoke about the purpose and content of the Europass documents, how to create them, and the advantages of their use. She briefly reminded everyone of the beginnings when, in 2005, a unique framework of the Community of European countries on the transparency of qualifications and competencies – Europass – was established.

Since then, a series of unique templates, or documents, have been developed at the common European and national levels aimed at enabling European citizens to present their acquired skills and qualifications in a clear, understandable, reliable, comparable, and objective manner. For example, when seeking a job or participating in academic programs, such as ‘Erasmus+’, the largest EU program for education, training, youth, and sport, particularly aimed at connecting education, training, and the youth sector with the business sector.

Five Documents

Europass is, therefore, a portfolio of five documents (Europass resume, language passport, supplement to the diploma, additional study certificate, and mobility). The most successful of these documents is the Europass resume, while the others remain in its shadow. The Europass resume, also known as the Europass Curriculum Vitae (CV), is a personal document that allows acquired skills and qualifications to be presented understandably to potential employers or educational institutions across the EU. It changes every few years and adapts. Since January 2005, more than 62 million resumes have been created, making it the most successful document in the history of the EU. Jelašić Kerec focused most on the CV, guiding students through its creation and application. She highlighted its categories: personal data; work experience, educational and professional achievements, language knowledge; additional skills with an emphasis on technical, organizational, artistic, and social skills, as well as knowledge acquired through informal learning methods; additional information that can supplement the resume in the form of one or more attachments; and digital competencies. The content of the CV is easily filled out, categories can easily change chronological order, and once saved, the CV can be easily updated at any time.

– Its two key advantages are that it is standardized and applicable throughout Europe and allows for the presentation of formal and informal knowledge – emphasized Jelašić Kerec.

She advised students that creating a CV is a serious task and that it would not be a bad idea to have someone who knows them read their CV after it is created to more easily spot any inconsistencies.

Neither Modest nor Boastful

– Do not be too modest or boastful because in practice, all of that will be revealed. Also, do not burden yourself with having all the skills that are offered. Do not falsify information because no one will know what you did not fulfill – she advised.

Regarding other Europass documents, the language passport serves for self-assessment of language knowledge, which, along with professional achievements, is a significant advantage when seeking a job. It consists of a table with a detailed description of levels of language knowledge made according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which standardizes language proficiency at the European level. The supplement to the diploma contains a brief description of the knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired during vocational education, while the additional study certificate provides information about the results achieved in higher education institutions and is attached to the diploma.

– It is important to know that it cannot be used without a diploma, does not replace the original document, nor does it guarantee automatic recognition abroad, but it greatly facilitates and contributes to fair recognition of qualifications – emphasized Jelašić Kerec, continuing to explain mobility, which is another personal document that records the period of stay abroad and serves to assess experiences and skills.

After her lecture, Doc. Dr. Sc. Dragan Žeželj guided the present students through the second round of the ‘Erasmus+’ competition for internships, emphasizing one very important thing that often happens and leads to disqualification:

– Always read everything. You need to read, read, read! – emphasized Žeželj.

It Is Important to Plan

He also noted that students should seek internships themselves and that the obtained position, or institution, cannot be changed, emphasizing the necessity of planning:

– It is very important to plan. You find a company and arrange everything with it, you plan your studies and obligations, you plan your internship, benefits from it, etc. You can consult, of course, but you are always the ones who plan – emphasized Žeželj, also reflecting on the recognition of internships and financial support, which is distributed depending on the country to which the student goes, which they can receive from ‘Erasmus+’ funds.

This is an addition for the costs that the student would have at their home university in their home country and therefore only covers part of the living expenses. When it comes to selecting candidates, Žeželj particularly highlighted the motivation letter, which is very important, but mistakes are often made, such as copying a letter that the student sent to the employer as an application for acceptance into the internship.