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For any new readers, you can check out some of the previous stuff we’ve put out here.

• The Cover Letter is dead. Replace it with this. Click here.
• Do this and let jobs come to you. Click here.
• Why you should go all in on LinkedIn. Click here.
• Nail your next interview with these 5 tips. Click here.
• Make sure these three things are not on your CV. Click here.

Even if you have the best CV in the world, you still need to understand how to use it.??

Your CV is a marketing tool where you look to sell and attract interest in a version of yourself.?

It operates differently to your LinkedIn in that it's much more direct in how it is shared and viewed.??

A LinkedIn has the potential to sell to people passively and 24/7, your CV only sells to the person you put it in front of.?

An amazing CV and a poor strategy on how to distribute it is not going to end well.

Although over time I think we will gravitate more and more towards a?LinkedIn first?approach, right now they work hand in hand.??

So what do we mean by?How to use a CV?

My belief has always been to see your CV like a commodity.

Firstly, it has to be done well and desired.?

It is the first impression someone is going to have of you and you are operating in a fiercely competitive market.?

There are CVs that cross my desk that I know have a 0% chance of ever being selected for an interview.??

That sounds harsh but if it’s plagued with formatting issues and spelling mistakes, a client isn’t going to bite.?

It always amazes me at the amount of time and effort that goes into posting on social platforms like Instagram compared to the way people are willing to present themselves with their CV.?

Secondly, the more of it there is out there, the less valuable it is.?

It's your responsibility to make sure it gets (directly) into the hands of the right people.

Including it is a necessary prerequisite for applying for roles on platforms like LinkedIn but you should also be conscious of how it also registers and impacts on the back-end of the platform.?

From my side, I can see how many times someone has applied to roles within our company.?

It does make me wince when I see the same names that apply for?anything and?everything.??

I am capable of making a distinction based on individual merit but truthfully it suggests a job seeker that is acting out of desperation as opposed to a premium profile I want to take to market.?

Do your homework on each role you are applying for and make sure you really are a good fit.?

If you are attaching your CV to roles that aren’t relevant and you have no background in, you’re not going to hear back and your future applications can be hindered.

This is not a market where companies need to take risks on profiles.?

They are inundated with choice and will exercise that right to explore the most qualified candidates.

It’s vital if you are applying to roles online that you use your LinkedIn as a landing page.?

Include a hyperlink to your LinkedIn on your CV and funnel decision makers there when you can both:

- See who and when someone is viewing your profile.

- Follow up with them directly.?

This allows you to take control of your job search and put the power back in your own hands.?

If you apply to a role at X and then the Head of Talent from that company views your profile you know they are related occurrences.??

Reach out to them directly, make an introduction and start a conversation on the opening.?

This has the dual effect of building a network and also putting yourself into consideration for any other/future vacancies the company might have.

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