What Steve Jobs’ Job Application Can Teach Us About Building a Great CV in 2025–2026
When we think of Steve Jobs, we picture a visionary founder, a perfectionist, an innovator whose ideas reshaped entire industries. But long before Apple, Pixar, the iPhone or the iMac, Jobs was an 18-year-old student looking for a job.
In 2018, an early job application he wrote in 1973 resurfaced and made headlines. Surprisingly, it wasn’t impressive at all: spelling mistakes, missing structure, unclear objective. And yet, the same person would go on to build one of the most iconic companies in the world.
Revisiting this document in 2025, at a time when résumés are changing faster than ever due to AI, remote work, digital hiring and skill-based recruitment, tells us something essential:
A CV is not about perfection, it’s about potential, clarity, and relevance.
Photo credit: RR Auction
1. The Story Behind Steve Jobs’ “Bad” CV
The 1973 application showed:
“steven jobs” written without capital letters
no phone number
vague statement of skills
no clear job target
contradictory answers on transportation and computer skills
minimal mention of Hewlett-Packard, where he actually gained early technical exposure
Yet what mattered was not the document, it was the person behind it. Within a year, Jobs joined Atari, where his direct questioning and lateral thinking impressed his managers. Three years later, Apple Computer was founded.
This retro CV proves something powerful: Talent isn’t always visible on paper, but your CV can make it easier for recruiters to see it.
2. Why This Matters More Than Ever in 2025
Since 2018, the hiring landscape has transformed at an unprecedented pace:
a. AI-powered screening
European companies increasingly use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and AI scoring tools. These systems scan for clarity, keywords, structure and relevance. A chaotic CV like Jobs’ would fail instantly today.
b. The rise of skills-based recruitment
Across Europe, especially in tech, customer experience, finance and digital marketing, companies now prioritise:
skills
adaptability
growth mindset
problem-solving
languages & mobility
A CV must clearly communicate these—not assume recruiters will guess.
c. Remote and hybrid work
Post-2020, location is less relevant. Recruiters look for roles across countries (Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands…). A CV must show international readiness, soft skills and autonomy.
d. Personal branding
A LinkedIn profile, portfolio or digital presence often matters as much as the CV itself.
In 2025–2026, a CV is not a formality, it’s your personal brand in one page.
The real message behind Jobs’ early CV is this: You don’t need a perfect career to create a strong application — just clarity and intention.
Here is what truly matters today:
1. Be honest and simple
Authenticity > buzzwords.
2. Show results
Numbers speak louder than descriptions.
3. Show adaptability and learning ability
The skill most valued by employers across Europe in 2025.
4. Align your CV with the job, not your biography
Your CV is not a life story: it is a business tool.
5. Your CV + your LinkedIn must match
Recruiters check both. Always.
Your CV Is a Door, Not a Destination
Steve Jobs’ first job application didn’t define him and yours won’t define you either. But it can open the right door, in the right country, at the right moment.
A great CV in 2025–2026 is not about perfection. It’s about clarity, skills, structure, relevance, and confidence.
