Advice of our recruiters

What to think about when looking for the right job for you

There are many tools you can use when looking for a job. Your first port of call should definitely be the company career site, followed by professional social networks. 

Recruitment agencies (Manpower, Adecco, GiGroup, etc), placement offices (at universities, professional training schools, etc), career days/job meetings, employee references and good old word-of-mouth are other useful tools that could help you when looking for a job.

Only look for roles that meet your aptitudes and expectations! Ask yourself a few key questions: do you want to work at any cost? Are you looking for any old job or “your” job? Is this job working for me? Or am I working for “it”? What motivates me: the brand or my passion?

Before sending a CV, please remember to: “study” the company, highlight any aspects that characterise you and are in line with the expectations of the company, explore what really motivates you and if an announcement is published, read it very carefully to check that your profile meets the requirements!

How to showcase yourself with an effective CV

Everything is important…and don’t forget the summary!                                        

FAQs

How long should my CV be?

One page is more than enough, although two is fine if you have a wide range of work experience. Three pages is not recommended in most cases.

What if I have no work experience?
There comes a time when everyone has to find their first job. You can enhance your CV even if you have little or no work experience.

Do I have to use the European CV model?
Unless it is explicitly requested, you can draft your CV using any format.

Could potential grammar mistakes penalise my application?
They could do, yes. It is always a good idea to re-read your CV several times or get someone else to read it before sending it.

Is form or content more important?
A balance between the two is one of the keys to success. Focus on simplicity and clarity, without using too strange fonts or overly artistic options. 

Remember that, on average, a recruiter spends between 10 and 20 seconds reading a CV, looking for important details and interesting information, when deciding whether to contact a candidate or not.

Essential info

  • Personal details (contact info, address, place and date of birth, etc)
  • Education and training
  • Provide valuable information on your training: school/university experience (duration, graduation dates, marks, institute/university, thesis title, etc)
  • Professional and internship experiences
  • Professional specialisation/qualification courses
  • Foreign languages
  • IT skills
  • Show any work experience carried out during your studies
  • Highlight any study experiences abroad
  • Emphasise any results and successes achieved
  • Only add really useful attachments, e.g. photo (simple), professional certificates or qualifications
  • Motivation and areas of professional interest
  • Hobbies and personal interests (without providing too many details)
  • Indicate if you belong to a protected category of workers
  • Always authorise the processing of your personal data pursuant to existing privacy regulations (Law 196/2003)

Cover Letters

A good cover letter should be concise. Use your cover letter to showcase your application without repeating any details in your CV and highlight your work experience and skills that best fit the specific position you are applying for. Say why you want to work at the company and in the specific role you are applying for. Emphasise the characteristics (strengths and personal/professional skills) that make you “unique” compared to other candidates for that role.

How to write a Cover Letter

Address it to the company and preferably to the Recruitment Manager (e.g.: “FS Italiane SpA”, “C/O Dr…”), making sure to present yourself in the first few lines, highlighting your most recent qualification and/or job (e.g.: “I am a young graduate in…”).

Explain why you want to work for the company and in that specific position by showing how you share its values and appreciate its goals, emphasising to the recruiter how your profile fits the requirements for the role.

How to tackle the motivational interview (with HR)

What we look at positively


To be successful in the line manager interview, it is essential that you are informed and up-to-date about the company, its current industrial plan and the required role, highlighting your motivation in the company and the role offered.

Brush up any skills and knowledge which you think might be covered during the interview, showing that you have any potential certificates or technical specialisations which you feel might give you an edge.

Don’t be afraid to ask the line manager any questions to show that you are curious and interested in the issues addressed or to expand upon any issues briefly mentioned that are important to you, offering innovative answers depending on the situation.

How to tackle the professional technical interview (with the Line Manager)

To be successful in the line manager interview, it is essential that you are informed and up-to-date about the company, its current industrial plan and the required role, highlighting your motivation in the company and the role offered.

Brush up any skills and knowledge which you think might be covered during the interview, showing that you have any potential certificates or technical specialisations which you feel might give you an edge.

Don’t be afraid to ask the line manager any questions to show that you are curious and interested in the issues addressed or to expand upon any issues briefly mentioned that are important to you, offering innovative answers depending on the situation. 

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