CV tips to help you secure an interview
Is your CV looking fabulous? Is it enough to land you the interview for the job you really want?
First impressions really count. Your CV is the recruiter's first impression of you, so it’s important to make sure it’s a positive one.
A winning resume should outline all of your relevant skills and experience related to the role that you are applying for so stop with the generic CV's.
The best CV should highlight why you are the perfect person for the job so show me that you have the experience for it at the top of your achievements.
I immediately put to one side CV's that have "little i's" where there should be a capital letter I, for example. Equally I have CVs sent in that are a list of jobs showing no personality. I want to see who you are, what you have achieved and what you want in the first 5 seconds - then I will read more.
Writing your CV is a time-consuming process
Especially as I recommend adapting your CV to each position that you are applying for. CV preparation is a key part of your job searching process and it requires time, effort, and dedication.However by putting in the time to adapt your CV slightly to each position, you are increasing your chances of being selected for an interview. Small changes in your CV can make a huge difference.
Top Tips to consider when writing your CV
?Making a Good First Impression?
The appearance of your CV is extremely important - it determines whether your CV is read or not. Recruiters are more inclined to read your CV if it is well-structured with an easy clear layout.
Only 5 seconds to impress........this is the estimated amount of time that each recruiter spends reading over a single CV. Your CV should display professionalism with clear font size and style.
Length matters
When it comes to the length of your CV then let me assure you that less is more.
Graduates / little experience = 1 page CV
Experienced Candidates = 2 pages is enough.
A good CV should highlight your key skills and tell the recruiter exactly why they should hire you.
The Structure Of Your CV
Your Contact Details
Include your key contact details; Name, address, phone number/s, email address, and a relevant URL like LinkedIn (a professional business network)
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Personal Summary/Header
Use this summary section to outline what you can offer and why you are suited to this position. I like this to be in third person as it reads better. Make sure that you tailor this summary to each role that you apply for.
If you are thinking of changing careers or you are just starting your career, use this section to explain why you are changing your career and what skills you hope to apply in your new career.
Your Skills
In this section, use bullet points to outline your key skills, include around 8-10 skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Try to match these keywords to words used within the job description.?
Your Work Experience
Outline your most recent experience first, followed by a reverse-chronological order of your job positions. This should resemble a timeline of your experience, preferably displaying clear career progression, and should date back to 10-15 years MAXIMUM!??
Include company name, job title, dates of employment, and write a short description of the role enriched with strong keywords and your daily tasks listed in a bullet point format.?
Gaps in your CV?
Explain your reasons for them such as travelling, career change, caring for a relative, launching your own business, etc.
Education and Qualifications
Include course/qualification name, name of organisation/school/university, dates of attendance, your grades, and if you can gain value from mentioning specific modules or subjects that you studied, add them in. Don't forget to add any qualifications or certifications that you have gained through previous employment.
Interests / hobbies
If you have just finished school or University, it's more common to add an 'Interests' section to give your CV more depth however once your work experience builds up, it is normal to drop this, or keep it to a one liner.
BEWARE of Technology - it can gobble up your CV
Nowadays, it’s becoming much more common for a robot to read your CV. This may sound crazy, but companies are using automation to speed up their recruitment process and to help them stay organised. It's called Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and it means often your CV is scanned by robots/technology before being seen by a recruiter. For this reason, it's very important for your CV to be fully optimised to pass this initial screening stage.
Top Tip - Use keywords specific for the job
As some employers use automation in this initial stage of the recruitment process, it's important to use keywords as this is what the ATS is usually scanning for. It’s important to keep in mind which keywords are used within the job description and the candidate specification and to use these throughout your CV.?
Top Tip - Remember to spell check?
Having one misspelt keyword could significantly ruin your chances of being hired. Make sure that you check your spelling and grammar multiple times to avoid these mistakes. So get a proofreader?who can be a friend or family, to be a second pair of eyes.
Finally - Ensure you ask Recruitment Agencies not to spam out your CV!
Really important. Ask to be put forward for the role you are applying for, then ask that they get consent before sending it elsewhere. What you do not want is a generic CV landing on every hiring managers desk as you could be rejected for a role simply because your CV did not sell you in best for a particular role.