Writing a CV might seem simple enough, it’s just typing up your employment history right? Wrong. Let me tell you how you can maximise your CV to give your recruiter EXACTLY what they are looking for! We see hundreds of CV’s daily, so here are our top 5 tips on what not only makes a CV good, but can make you stand out from other applicants.
1. Introduction
When starting to write your CV, first you want to include your name, address and contact information i.e. email address, phone numbers etc. Once you have added your contact details, it is always good to follow up with a personal introduction. This is a small paragraph about who you are and a little bit of information about yourself, so your recruiter or hiring manager can get to know you a little bit.
2. Reverse Chronological Experience and Education.
When listing your experience and education on your CV, your recruiter wants to know your most recent and relevant first! Bullet point your work history but make sure you include what is most relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have any career jumps or unexplained employment gaps, make sure to explain them.
3. List your Key Skills & Knowledge
Listing your key skills and knowledge is a great way for your recruiter to quickly find what they are looking for. Make sure you tailor your skills and knowledge based on the job you are applying for. Using keywords in your skills used in the job ad (if they apply to skills you actually have!), will help your recruiter quickly identify if you have what they are looking for.
4. Clearly labelled and divided sections
Organise your CV sections with bold headings and spacing, breaking up large paragraphs into easier to read, smaller sections. This makes your CV easier for recruiters to scan and pick out the information they need to know.
5. Red Flags to Avoid
Some red flags to avoid in your CV include:
- Mistakes – Incorrecting spelling and grammatical mistakes or use of acronyms
- Unprofessional format – Don’t use inappropriate and unprofessional designs, images or email addresses. Make sure your CV keeps a professional outlook.
- Irrelevant information – Including irrelevant information can make finding your relevant skills and experience harder to find. Also avoid using too much personal information that isn’t needed.
- Having a cluttered hard to read CV – use an easy to follow structure and easy to read fonts.
The content of your CV and its structure matters. Following our 5 tips can help increase your chances of hearing back from a job you are applying for. If you need help on writing your CV before applying to one of our vacancies, contact us and we will be more than happy to help!
Published 17th Feb 2022