4 Questions You MUST Ask Yourself About Your CV Before Sending It To Recruiters (How To Judge If Your CV Will Get You Hired)

Your CV should immediately connect with recruiters. It must say - "I am the right person for this post". I receive hundreds of CV's for review (You may also send yours for a free evaluation to limasehgal@gmail.com) and, unfortunately, I find that job-seekers often fail to do this!!

You must judge your CV from a hiring point of view and not your own!

So, here are some questions that  you need to ask yourself about your CV to understand what it should contain before sending it out to recruiters :-

QUESTION #1: DO YOU MATCH THE JOB PROFILE?

Ask yourself, "does my CV contain work experience that makes me ideal for the job I want?" A recruiter / hiring manager will only shortlist a CV because your profile matches with what they are hunting for.

Your CV must show the hiring manager that you have handled roles that are similar to the one you are applying for. So, focus on your responsibilities that match the job description.

For example, if a company is looking for a person with experience in handling a large team - You must mention on your CV that you managed a team of 'x' number of people and the team achieved a revenue generation of XYZ million. That says something! But simply saying that you are a “team leader” or that you have managed a team, means nothing.

QUESTION #2: WHAT IS MY EXPERTISE AND IS IT SHOWING CLEARLY?

Ask yourself, "does my CV tell the recruiter that I am a competent professional who has added value to my employers in the past and who possesses the necessary skill-set for the job?"

Companies hire you because they want you to deliver or produce some result. Saying “I am a go-getter” - just because the vacancy mentions that the candidate must be a “go-getter” is foolish and a waste of space.

Instead, you have to show on your CV that you have the capability to think outside the box and have actually produced results for previous employers.

Be factual and specific in showing your expertise. e.g., If a company wants a Civil Engineer who builds bridges don’t just say I worked on infrastructure projects. If they don’t see bridges they will move to another CV. So spell it out - I have worked on bridges!

Always quantify your achievements. Give factual data and use numbers to show what your achievements are and the value they have added to the company or the costs that were saved as a result. So, "I built 5 bridges" is infinitely better than "I built bridges."

QUESTION #3 CAN MY CV BE UNDERSTOOD?

Ask yourself, "on a bare reading, does my CV quickly communicate to recruiters what I intend to say?"

I have sifted through CVs in which candidates have felt the need to express their literary skills, with long winded sentences as well as complicated phrases and words hoping they will get selected. Nothing is further from the truth.

Instead, make sure your CV is simple and clear. Don’t use words that may be difficult to comprehend. Use short sentences that are to the point. Your CV is not being read by an English Major - so be careful. The recruiter should be able to quickly read and understand your CV. Your experience and experience should immediately be understood without any effort.

QUESTION #4 WILL MY CV RAISE NEGATIVE CONCERNS?

Ask yourself - "is there a chance my CV will alarm the recruiter or make the recruiter reject me for reasons other than my experience?"

For example, mentioning your current salary on your CV may get you rejected because the recruiter may have been given a certain range even though the employer may be willing to negotiate. If specifically asked for you can mention it separately.

Also ask yourself if the information on your CV matches with your LinkedIn and other social media listings? Recruiters often cross-check! You don't want the recruiter to think you have been dishonest or that you cannot be trusted. Make sure they match.

Also, you must never give reasons for leaving previous jobs! You can answer that question if asked during your interview.

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Stay clear and concise on what you want to show on your CV. There is so much competition out there, you cannot afford to make mistakes in what you communicate to others through your CV.

For a FREE EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK on whether or not your CV is upto industry standards and what changes you should make to it, mail your CV to limasehgal@gmail.com, and get tips and advice on how you can improve the impact of your CV and boost your job search.

Also feel free to Follow me on LinkedIn for regular CV tips, vacancies, interview tips and advice on how to conduct a successful job search (and let me know so I can follow you back)

You can also connect with me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/limasehgal