CVs: The necessary evil. But how can I make them work for me?

The first person to use a CV was Leonardo Da Vinci.? Not sure he used Microsoft Word back then, but the premise of it has remained the same over all these years.? Writing one’s experience on a piece of paper for others to judge you.? But that’s the challenge isn’t it – it’s just on a piece of paper.? You can’t get your personality across, what makes you who you are, and crucially how you can make an impact.

There are many new ways of promoting yourself – LinkedIn, video, portfolio approaches.? But the CV remains, stubbornly, clinging onto relevance.? So, we need to make sure we can piece one together that does show a bit of us.? That does show our value.? That ultimately shows we’re the right person for the job.?

Crafting a CV that truly stands out is more art than science. How can we make our experiences and skills really pop off the page and catch the eye of those reviewing it. The two critical pieces that it must have – it needs to tell your story, and it needs to show the value you can add.

So, let’s take a look at best practice, from my own experiences but also from research, to help make your CV really stand out for the role you want:

Make it specific?

We all do it – right one CV and send it around to everyone.? That’s what everyone else does isn’t it.? But you want to stand out, so don’t use the same CV for every job.? Tailor it. ?Each role is different, each organisation is different, and your CV should reflect that. Take the time (and it does take time, we have to accept that) to tweak it for each application. Highlight the experiences and skills that match what the employer is looking for – and then build on these in a cover letter. It’s more work, but it’s worth it.

KISS (Keep it simple, stupid!)

We don’t need a piece of GSCE Art (unless you’re going for a very specific role…).? A clean, professional layout is good. And short sentences under clear headings – don’t be afraid of bullet points.? We want this to be succinct and easy for hiring managers to scan through and find what they’re looking for.

Start with a Bang

We’ve all had big, long, objective statements – what you want from your job search.? But forget that, and instead start with a really punchy summary that showcases your top skills and achievements – easy to see and easy for the hiring manager to understand your value (that word again).? And again, tailor it.? This is your chance to grab their attention right from the start.

Achievements, not duties?

When your (succinctly) listing your previous experience, don’t just write down what you did day to day. We want to know what you achieved.? How to added value. ?Use numbers, be specific and demonstrate your impact. Less ‘I improved sales’, more ‘increased sales by 20%’.? It makes it more tangible.? And it stands out.

Keyword?

For good or bad, many companies now use screening software to whiz through CVs before they even reach a human. ?We have to accept this, so to get past these systems, make sure you include keywords from the job description in your CV. It forms part of it being tailored – but don’t go too far.? It shouldn’t just be the JD back at you worded in a slightly different way.? And for the love of God, don’t use AI to write a CV based on a JD to do this for you.? It’s really quite obvious.

Who runs the world? Skills.

Include your skills.? Simple, but so many people forget it.? A section for both the hard and soft skills you’ve learned. ?Highlight your technical abilities and give examples of how you’ve used them effectively.

The personal touch

If there’s room, don’t be afraid to include a little bit about yourself. Some personal interests or activities for example.? If they have relevance (e.g. demonstrating skills like leadership or teamwork), even better. It can show a bit of personality – but don’t go too far…?

Short and sweet

Personally, my preference is one page.? Think about it from the ‘buyer’s’ (employer) side – make it as quick and easy to understand as possible, because they’re likely looking through a lot.? The more concise and focused will keep the reader engaged, and will stand out from the other CVs that haven’t taken this excellent advice.? If you don’t believe in one page, max two.? No more, no matter how many jobs you’ve had.?

The key bits

Visual appeal: it needs to be professional but there is a plethora of templates to help you.? A splash of colour or a graphic element can enhance readability without being over the top.?

Quantify and qualify: No to “improved sales,” Yes to “increased sales by 20% over six months.” Numbers tell a story.

Format it: As mentioned, make it professional, and that includes the formatting.? No Comic Sans or WordArt (if you even know what that is).? Make sure your contact info is easy to find. And be consistence with font and size.? Otherwise it looks weird.?

Summary

There is no one way to write a CV.? The things I’ve written here could be totally against what someone else might want to see.? That’s the tricky thing.? It’s a bit personal.? If it were me, I’d look at getting rid of it altogether, but that’s not the point.? The point is to put yourself in the best possible position to stand out.? These tips and tricks will help, but remember a CV is a door opener.? Once that door is open, it’s up to you to get yourself through.

Need any help, or looking to find the best candidates for your organisations (who have the most well written CVs…?) – Get in touch now.

Peak 72

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References:

[1] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?input=effective+techniques+for+writing+engaging+articles

[2] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?input=using+colloquial+language+in+the+UK+context

[3] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?input=tips+for+writing+articles+that+are+easy+to+read

[4] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?input=how+to+make+writing+engaging+for+readers

[5] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?input=best+practices+for+copywriting+in+UK+English