The CV – what really matters; free CV template and tips
- Connectima
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
We read many excellent CVs. However, some candidates have simply been in their positions for a long time, and their last application process was a long time ago. What has changed? What is expected today? Many people ask us exactly these questions.
This article provides an overview of what matters today, whether for a role in engineering or sales.
Structure & Organization: What belongs in, what doesn't
A CV for a job application in a technical industrial environment, for example at companies in process engineering and/or filtration, doesn't need to be creatively designed, but it does need to be logically sound. Most decision-makers read an application in less than two minutes. In that time, it must be immediately clear: Which technologies? Which user industries? What role? Which skills?
A proven structure:
Personal data & contact information: Name, place of residence, telephone number, email address, LinkedIn profile (if applicable). A photo is not mandatory but still common in Germany. If available, please choose a professional and recent photo.
Job Profile/Short Profile (3–5 sentences) This section can give a first impression that readers can really process. No general phrases like "team-oriented and solution-oriented," but concrete statements: Which technologies, which industries, what level of experience.
Work experience (in reverse chronological order): List your most recent position first. For each position: job title, company, dates, and then the crucial information: not just the job title, but the actual responsibilities. What exactly did you do? Which projects (and their volume), which technologies, and what were your responsibilities?
Education, course of study, university, degree: For experienced applicants, that's sufficient; no details about academic work are needed unless they are directly relevant to the subject matter.
Technologies & Skills: A dedicated section that shows at a glance what you have actually worked with. For technical roles, this section is often more important than the title of your last position.
Languages: Always specify the level. English, in particular, and whether it is truly fluent or not, is a relevant criterion for many positions.
Additional information (availability, willingness to travel) : Briefly and clearly: When can I start? Am I willing to travel and to what extent? This information avoids unnecessary follow-up questions.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
❌Overly generic job descriptions like "Responsible for projects in plant engineering" are not very informative. Which technology? Which industry? What is the scope of the work? This description serves as a guide.
❌Missing user industries
For many jobs, it's not just the technology someone knows that matters, but also the industry environment. Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, municipal water treatment, food industry: these are different worlds, even if they involve the same basic processes.
❌Unexplained gaps: Parental leave, further education, illness: Gaps in your resume are not a problem. Not being asked about them can be. A brief mention is all it takes.
❌Outdated or irrelevant stations described in too much detail. What was done 15 years ago doesn't need four bullet points today. The weighting should follow current relevance.
Engineering vs. Sales: Where the CVs differ
Technical Roles: The focus is on technology, processes, and project content. Important: Which systems and facilities have been designed, engineered, and commissioned? Which standards and documentation guidelines are familiar? Project experience, sense of responsibility, and the scope of experience are crucial.
Sales roles: Here, different things matter: Which customer or market segments were served? Which products or solutions were sold, and at what technical level? Existing networks, target groups addressed, and the previous sales structure (direct sales, resellers, key accounts) belong in the resume. In technical sales, the combination of technical understanding and sales experience is the key criterion; both aspects should be evident.
Free resume template for download
We have created a free resume template tailored to the requirements of technical and industrial markets. The template is intended as a starting point.
In conclusion
A CV doesn't have to be perfect, but it should be readable and easy to categorize. In specialized markets where CVs often have very similar titles, the depth of the description is crucial. Those who formulate their information precisely make it easier for interviewers and ultimately benefit themselves.
If you have any questions about your CV or a specific position, we would be happy to speak with you directly.
Connectima GmbH – specialized personnel consultancy for process engineering & filtration
