How Do You Write a CV That Truly Works?

On March 20, that’s what participants of the Empower to Employ project explored during workshops led by Olga Zanko, an experienced HR Business Partner, Executive Project Manager, and Learning & Development expert.

 Olga guided participants through:

•  Choosing the right CV format for their career level.
•  Avoiding common mistakes like generic phrases or cluttered layouts;

 Highlighting achievements instead of just listing duties — using numbers, outcomes, and strong action verbs.

 A key insight:

“Describe impact and accomplishments rather than just responsibilities.”

Focusing on value and results makes a CV stand out in a competitive job market.

CV writing is more than a formality — it’s about learning how to present your value with confidence.

Participants worked hands-on with their existing CVs, receiving tips on tailoring their documents to specific job descriptions. Olga emphasized the importance of clarity and relevance: recruiters often spend only a few seconds scanning a CV, so structure and focus are key.

Through examples and peer feedback, attendees learned how to reframe their experience in a way that communicates growth, adaptability, and outcomes. Whether transitioning careers, returning to work after a break, or entering a new market, the principles shared during the session apply across sectors and seniority levels.

There was also discussion around how to handle gaps in employment, changes in location, or work completed in different languages and industries. Olga encouraged participants to reframe such experiences as strengths: evidence of resilience, flexibility, and cross-cultural competence.

The session created space for participants not only to improve their documents but also to rethink how they see themselves as professionals. Confidence in how one presents their story is just as important as the content itself. A well-crafted CV isn’t only about skills — it’s a message about clarity, direction, and readiness for new opportunities.

The energy in the room reflected both curiosity and courage. Sharing experiences, asking questions, and learning from others created a community of support, where participants left feeling not only better prepared but also more connected to a network of peers on similar journeys.

Empower to Employ is an initiative by the Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (LUCC), supported by the Fonds social européen plus (FSE+) and the Ministère du Travail Luxembourg. It helps Ukrainians under temporary protection in Luxembourg integrate into the job market.