The CV – seen and not binned – how to get the best result

Writing a CV is like telling a good story it either engrosses the reader or bores them. 

They say the average recruiter spends 5-7 seconds looking at a CV with an average of 250 CVs received per job position

Your CV should sell you and therefore it needs to be perfect, well-structured and on point.

The basics you should include are:

• A blurb about yourself/personal statement
• Employment history – job titles with bullet points – expand on the key areas to demonstrate your skills
• Education – results of exams should be included
• A list of key skills – from attributes to the finance software you can use
• Achievements

Remember this is a time to showcase your experience and achievements. What can you brag about in your previous roles? Is it a tangible achievement that has made an impact on your previous or current employer?

Meeting Candidates

When I meet candidates at all levels of their financial career journey, I always stress the importance of an achievement led CV. It’s also vital to remember that every role you apply for is different and so you need to tweak your CV to reflect this – move around your bullet points to bring the most relevant tasks to the top. Even change your personal statement and gear it towards the job you are going for.

Out of the 250 applicants received per job only 4-6 will be interviewed and only 1 will get the job!

Previous job history must-haves.

The main part of your CV is the previous employment section. When writing and detailing your responsibilities within your present and previous jobs remember to define the following:

• Your prior employers industry and geography
• Your prior employer’s revenue/turnover and size
• If possible the growth of the business in your tenure there
• State how the business is financially backed for example Private Equity or Venture Capital or was it a Division etc
• Was funding raised? If so how much and by what source and what was your impact
• Did the business go through an exit process or IPO

Not every prospectus employer will know, or have to time to do, in-depth research on your prior employers. Therefore, it’s crucial you give them the background considering they may be surrounded by multiple resumes if resourcing directly – make your CV stand out. 

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence

AI is rife in the recruitment process are you ready to be spotted, what you will be up against?

• CV Screening technology 
• Location – Have you defined the right geographic areas for your search on your job portals you are using
• Keywords (Boolean searching)
• Data led interviews – SHL testing (Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Mechanical Reasoning and Psychometric Testing) is becoming more common are you ready for one?

Each employer will have different expectations, some will want the beginning, the middle and the end. Believe you me, I have recruited for some people who want to see everything about someone they are employing.

But with AI entering the mix in the recruitment process and the above are just some the normal tools recruiters have access too, ensuring your CV is ready for the first hurdle is essential.

For the ultimate CV success in my opinion, the following is a must:

• No more than 3 pages long
• Talk about the most relevant roles 
• Think about what achievements will interest the reader
• Keep the formatting consistent and the spelling spot on