Creating a CV can be challenging for many people. Understanding what to include and how to highlight your skills for the desired roles effectively is a valuable skill. To help out, our Recruitment Director, Sam Bailey, shares some insider tips on presenting yourself in the best possible light.
Tip #1
Spelling and Grammar
It seems simple, but having the correct grammar and spelling when writing your CV can differentiate between someone reading the whole document and someone not. Ensure everything is accurate and easy to read so the recruiter or Hiring Manager can read your CV easily, getting all the most essential information at a glance.
Tip #2
No photo or DOB on your CV
This one may be surprising as adding a photo to your CV is a common practice used for Hiring Managers to put face and name together while reading your credentials. Look at it this way: everything on your CV will be looked at and used to compare it against the job role and title you are applying for. Adding additional information irrelevant to the job role can make your CV look crowded with unnecessary details. If you are successful and get through to the interview stage based on your skills, all the personal information can be discussed then.
Tip #3
Expanded Bullet points
Most job adverts have 20+ applicants applying for one role at one time. This means your CV needs to grab the Recruiter or Hiring Manager's attention; having paragraphs explaining educational history and experience is too long-winded. Giving only the relevant and most important information is the golden rule for CV writing. Extended bullet points work best to articulate your skills and experience. For example,
Previous Job Title
- Skill acquired from this role – Provide a short situational explanation of your knowledge of this skill or experience using it.
As shown in the example, these skill explainers only need a few sentences highlighting your top skills learned from each position.
Tip #4
Key Words
Keywords are often the words that recruiters and managers look for in a CV to know if it fits the position right before reading on. Usually, these keywords will be given to you in the form of job descriptions and requirements for the role. Pepper these words into your brief description of previous job roles and educational achievements.
It's becoming more common for companies to use software to identify keywords in CVs to send on as a vetting process, making it essential to add them to your CV to get it seen by a Hiring Manager.
Tip #5
Know your Audience
Knowing the company you are applying for and the requirements needed for the position is essential. Edit your CV slightly to highlight different aspects of your CV and skillset depending on what the role requires. Being intentional when applying for positions and having a tailored CV and cover letter for other positions will result in good feedback from managers and recruiters alike.
For more information about the hiring process and Tips for Interviewing, click here.
To find out more about the recruitment process, please contact Sam Bailey – Sam.Bailey@letsrecruit.co.uk.
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