Your CV is your first point of contact with a recruiter. Getting it right is key to helping you secure an interview for your dream job, however, this is easier said than done.
To help you tackle this challenge we have come up with some top tips to create a CV that makes a lasting impression.
Tailor your CV
This really is the most important tip when it comes to CV writing.
Recruiters don’t want to see yet another generic CV. They want to see a concise CV full of examples and proof of your capabilities, tailored to that specific role.
When applying for a job make sure you read the job description carefully and do your research on the company. If the information is available to you, search other jobs they advertise and make a list of the most popular requirements they ask for and keywords they often use.
The more you can tailor your CV to the specific role the greater your chances of persuading a recruiter to invite you to an interview.
Keep it focused
On average, a recruiter will scan a CV for less than 20 seconds – leaving you very little time to impress them. It is therefore crucial to get your CV right and make those precious seconds count.
Firstly, highlight what you have to offer and why your experience is relevant to the role. Avoid using generic terminology such as “responsible for” or “results-driven” and instead use decisive verbs such as “managed” or “directed” with facts and figures.
For example – “I managed a team of 10 people and successfully launched X bringing in a revenue of Y over 3 years”.
Secondly, keep your CV to the point and briefly mention irrelevant work experience as this is useful to explain gaps in work experience
A focused CV will help you get noticed at first glance, and avoid a recruiter dismissing you simply because they don’t have time to sieve through the information.
Less is more
Make your CV easy to skim-read to avoid putting-off recruiters.
First of all, ensure you use a clear font and that your CV is no longer than two A4 sides.
A good way to utilise space effectively is by dividing your CV into clear sections with headings and using bullet points to avoid paragraphs being too wordy.
Don’t forget to include other achievements
That said; don’t forget to mention the important stuff.
A CV is about showing off your experience but also highlighting key achievements that could be related to the job.
Don’t forget to include interesting facts about yourself such as:
- any voluntary experience you have in the field
- information about your dissertation
- papers you have had published
- language skills
- additional courses
Proofreading and consistency
Finally, when it comes to applying for jobs, first impressions count. Make sure your CV looks slick and that the formatting is consistent, and most importantly check for any spelling mistakes. It’s always a good idea is to ask a third-party person to check before submitting it.