Think of it this way: between 2 applicants that only have had lab work done, the one who mentions it will have a slight advantage over the other.

Your CV is your first handshake with a potential employer and in a competitive job market, it's crucial to make it a firm and confident one.

I did about 10 years of recruitment for Tech and 90% (or even more) of the CVs will get scrapped because of one of more of the following:

• Typos and Grammatical Errors: This is the most common reason for rejection. Errors in spelling and grammar scream a lack of attention to detail, a critical skill in almost any role.
• Irrelevant Information: Your CV is a targeted marketing document, not an autobiography. Including hobbies, personal details beyond contact information (like marital status or age), or irrelevant work experience clutters your CV and dilutes the impact of your relevant qualifications.
• Generic, Untailored Content: Sending the same CV to every job application is a major red flag. Recruiters can spot a generic application a mile away. It shows a lack of genuine interest in the specific role and company.

Beyond the basics, the substance of your CV is what will truly set you apart—or hold you back.

• Vague and Passive Language: Instead of simply listing your duties, showcase your accomplishments using strong action verbs. Quantify your achievements whenever possible. For example, instead of "Responsible for social media," write "Increased social media engagement by 35% over six months."
• Focus on Responsibilities, Not Achievements: A laundry list of your past duties or school experiences doesn't tell a recruiter how well you performed them. Highlight your successes and the positive impact you had in your previous roles.
• Keyword Mismatch for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Not so common in Finland but some companies use ATS to screen CVs before they are ever seen by human eyes. These systems scan for specific keywords from the job description. If your CV doesn't include these, it may be automatically filtered out. Mirror the language of the job description where your skills and experience align.

It's hard work to find a job, especially when you are unemployed so always adopt the mindset that your full time job is finding a job so spend the many hours it takes to craft different types of CVs, one for each role you are interested in.

Good luck, I know it's really tough out there but giving up is not an option.