Writing a CV which stands out can be challenging, stressful and time consuming. Here are some CV tips which can help you make a first good impression with a potential employer:
Ensure your CV has your birth name, full address, contact number and professional email address.
Pay particular focus to your personal profile. The personal profile is usually the first information which a Recruiter reads. Ensure it is relevant and is a great match against the role you are applying for. Ensure within your personal profile you have several key skills relevant to the role listed which will be your unique selling points (USPs).
Determine what the essential key competencies for the role you wish to apply for are and ensure these are highlighted in your CV.
Keywords can be found in the person and job specification and could be noted as core competencies. Check that your relevant key skills and competencies are found in your key skills box and at least 3 times within your CV. This will increase your chances of your CV being shortlisted, beating the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Many Recruiters use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which gives no consideration for design. Ensure before you submit your job application that you have carried out a Professional CV Review to check on keywords submitted.
Action words make an impact to your CV. They are results-driven words which help to create a strong CV of suitability. Action words used in the right way will influence the Recruiter to select you for shortlist. Action words can be used in previous roles you have had or to best describe your key achievements.
The action words below provide a greater impact to your CV when talking about a key duty or achievement.
The action words below will provide a greater impact to your CV when talking about a generic duty and responsibility when you have been innovative in your work.
The action words below will provide a great impact to your CV when talking about research you have conducted using analytical & critical thinking skills.
The action words below will provide a great impact to your CV when highlighting your technical and specialist skills.
The action words below will provide a great impact to your CV when highlighting management skills.
Adverbs: Use several adverbs throughout your CV before verbs to emphasise your experience and highlight successes and achievements and make the CV more engaging for the Recruiter. An example would be the use of ‘successfully’ before verbs like ‘communicated’ or ‘researched’ to show you are proactive. The use of ‘confidently’ before verbs like ‘presented’ and ‘managed’ shows you are confident and good with people. The use of ‘consistently’ in achieving targets shows you can be relied upon to deliver on KPIs and management know what they can expect from you. It is not essential to pair all action words with an adverb, however it will highlight a success more if used.
Customise your CV in particular your personal profile and key skills to the role you are applying for to ensure relevant duties and experience within your CV match the job requirements.
An easy-to-read format is Arial 10 or Calibri 10. Ensure the format is the same throughout the CV. Utilise bullet points for each duty to break up text to make it more readable. Avoid large paragraphs which will not be read.
Use a thesaurus to give you several substitute words to use in place of
out-of-date words.
It is important that you do not copy the same content into the CV across different jobs you have held. Use the opportunity to display the extent of your experience with different employers showing how your experience has developed.
Avoid a photograph of yourself. The CV is a summary of your skills and experience and fit for the role you are applying for. Photographs can do more harm than good.
Avoid listing hobbies unless they are relevant. The CV is a summary of your skills and experience and fit for the role you are applying for. Hobbies are normally irrelevant and therefore should not be listed.
A statement “Available on request” is a pointless statement, so should be removed. If you wish to list 2 referees from previous employers, ensure that you have their permission and that you do not mind them being contacted by a potential employer.
Unless you are a specialist where you have a story book type of CV, a CV of 2 or 3 pages is more than enough to engage the interest of a potential employer. The first 10 years of your employment history is the most relevant and anything beyond this would be recommended to be added to the CV in lineage.
We have over 25 years’ experience of the recruitment market and have secured jobs for many jobseekers. We know how to create a Professional CV which will get you noticed and invited to interview.
