This is what a strong resume looks like in this field, and why it is built that way.
Starter in the public sector
You think in terms of interests rather than parties, and you have patience for a process that takes longer than a quarter. That's exactly the right profile, but it's assessed differently than you might expect. In government, your CV is measured against a list of competencies. Literally, with tick boxes. So describe your experience as a situation with an outcome: what was going on, what did you do, how did it end. Board work and committees count too, since that's precisely where you show collaboration and clashing interests. And keep your profile short: five lines is the standard they use themselves, not five paragraphs.
8+ years of experience in the public sector
You know that a good decision often starts with a difficult conversation, and that you can't avoid it. Fourteen years across two tiers of government teaches you that. A career like this calls for a CV that shows rather than states. The competencies they look for, such as integrity, political sensitivity and awareness of context, appear nowhere as a word. They come through in the situations themselves. That works better than a list, because no one has ever put 'moderately honest' on their CV. Work from more than ten years ago can be combined into a single line.
Build your own resume
Start with a blank form or upload your existing resume. You'll choose the design along the way.
The people, employers, and results in these examples are fictional.
What users say about their new resume
5/5review translated
“It was nice that I could upload my old CV, so I didn't have to type in all the details again. The system took it over well. On top of that, I can adjust the layout completely to my own taste.”
EL
Esther, L
CorporateOctober 2026
5/5review translated
“This tool is perfect! I quickly got my old CV looking new again, received a matching cover letter and practical tips for the conversation with my future boss. Really recommend it.”
A
Anoniem
Healthcare & Social CareAugust 2026
4/5review translated
“Handy tool if you don't really know where to start. My CV became clearer and the job vacancy analysis gave me some good insights. I also found the salary advice interesting. Sometimes I thought the texts were a bit too formal and I adjusted them myself a bit. But as a basis, this is really a nice tool.”
JD
Jeroen de V.🇳🇱
August 2026
5/5review translated
“The cover letter writer in particular surprised me. I'd always struggled to write a good letter myself. CV-Refresher used my experience and the job vacancy in a really logical way. In the end I was invited for an interview. The whole combination of CV, letter and salary advice makes it really complete.”
AE
Amina El A.🇫🇷
August 2026
5/5review translated
“I was applying for jobs again after a few years and didn't really know what my CV should look like these days. CV-Refresher gave me a clear starting point straight away. The combination with the job posting analysis works well. My CV became much more specific and I ended up getting invited for an interview. Very positive about the whole experience.”
ST
Sophie ten H.🇬🇧
August 2026
4/5review translated
“CV-Refresher helped me present my work experience much better. Some of the phrasing wasn't quite my own style, so I adjusted that. But content-wise the suggestions were strong. I especially found the analysis of my salary position valuable. I would definitely use the tool again for a future job application.”
DP
Daniel P.🇺🇸
August 2026
5/5review translated
“Really handy when you want to apply for a specific job. What I liked most was that the tool didn't just churn out a standard cover letter, but actually looked at my CV and the job listing. That made the letter feel much more personal. The salary report also gave me more confidence during the interview.”
FV
Femke van den B.🇳🇱
August 2026
4/5review translated
“I've recently moved to the Netherlands and wanted to adapt my Polish CV for Dutch employers. CV-Refresher was particularly helpful with the structure and highlighting my relevant experience. The cover letter was also a good starting point. I still had to check some Dutch phrasing, but it saved me a lot of time.”
PK
Piotr K.🇵🇱
August 2026
5/5review translated
“My CV hadn't been updated in a while. CV-Refresher turned it into a much stronger and more modern CV in a short amount of time. I especially liked the link with the job advert. Because of that, the cover letter really matched the role. I also liked that I could set the tone myself with four sliders, for example more formal or a bit more relaxed and warm. Because of that, the final letter really felt like my own story.”
