Blog - CV and job application tips
Practical guides about CV writing, cover letters, ATS systems and everything around the Dutch job market. Free to read, no mailing list forced.
12 CV tips to improve your CV instantly (2026 update)
A CV that passes HR software and recruiters isn't an art, but it is craft. The 12 tips below are the highest-impact ones you can apply today.
Write a cover letter: 6-step plan that works (2026)
A good cover letter doubles your interviews. Follow this 6-step plan and write a letter that stands out in 20 minutes.
Motivation letter example: structure + 6 essential elements
A motivation letter differs from a cover letter. Here you'll read the 6 elements every good motivation letter contains - with concrete example sentences you can adapt.
Convert your LinkedIn profile into a CV: ready in 5 minutes
Your LinkedIn profile already contains all the info. With these 5 steps you have a PDF with real, readable text ready to send in 5 minutes.
ATS-friendly CV: the complete guide (2026)
Software often reads your CV first. If it can't read it properly, information can go missing or end up in the wrong place. Here's how to avoid that - with 8 concrete tips.
10 CV mistakes you really must avoid (2026)
One of these mistakes = instant rejection. We see them over and over. Walk through them and check if your CV has any.
Photo on your CV: yes or no in 2026?
The honest answer from someone who reviews CVs every day: usually no. Why, what the exceptions are, and what to do instead.
Writing a CV in the AI era: what still works and what doesn't
Employers increasingly let software screen CVs first, and more and more applicants use AI to write them. That changes what a good CV looks like. Five things to know before you hit apply.
How many pages should a CV be? The honest answer
One page, two or more? It depends on your experience and on who reads your CV. Here's how to decide what fits you, and what to cut when your CV gets too long.
What details belong on a CV? And which to leave off
Name and phone number, you know that. But date of birth, full address, marital status? A practical checklist of what belongs on a Dutch CV and what you can safely cut.
How to end a cover letter: 8 strong closing lines
The last paragraph of your letter is often the weakest. Eight closing lines that are more concrete than 'hoping for a positive reply', with an explanation of when to use which.
How to make a CV on your phone, for free
You don't have to open a laptop for it. You can make a CV right on your phone. Here's how, step by step, with a few tips for the small screen.
How to write an internship CV that stands out without work experience
For an internship nobody expects a long career. What does count: showing what you can do, what you've already done and why you want to go there. Here's how to fit that on one page.
Writing a technical CV: tips for mechanics and installers
In technical trades, what counts is what you can do and which certificates you hold. Here's how to put certificates, experience and machines clearly on one CV, without complicated formatting.
Cover letter without work experience: how to write it, with an example
No work experience isn't a problem if you know what you can show. Six steps to a cover letter that convinces, plus an example you can adapt.
A short cover letter: keep it brief and still convince
A recruiter would rather read a short letter that hits the mark than a long one that searches. Here's how to write a short cover letter in four paragraphs, with an example.