On average recruiters receive around 250 applications for every corporate job vacancy and only spend 8 seconds looking at each of those CVs before shortlisting (Zety, 2021). This is why it’s crucial to nail your CV.

   Creating a CV that stands out among 250 others is a challenge. Luckily for you, our recruiters have combined their years of industry experience to give you a comprehensive list of top tips to ensure your CV catches any hiring manager’s eye!

1.       Start with a Killer Personal Statement

   A compelling personal statement consists of three key elements; a summary of who you are, your value to the organisation and your career goals (Indeed, 2021). It’s important to keep this concise, whilst still communicating all three key elements. Your personal statement should be no more than 3 sentences.

Example: An experienced digital marketing specialist with extensive experience in content marketing, who has worked with multiple national brands in the development of global marketing strategies, improving market share and increasing consumer reach. Currently seeking a senior marketer position in a globally-competitive organisation.”

2.       Tailor your CV to the Job Description

   If you take away anything from this blog, it should be this tip. Before you write your CV read the job description then read it again. Scan the job description for any keywords, qualifications and experience and then include them in your CV. These keywords are exactly what recruiters are looking for when they conduct their 8 second scans.

3.       Select the Best Layout for You

   There are two main CV layouts in the UK, reverse chronological and skill based. For anyone who has had a traditional career path and has remained in a certain industry I would recommend a reverse chronological CV layout. This layout is preferred by most recruiters, as it focuses on your most recent employment history and works backwards from there.

   For those who don’t have much experience, such as recent graduates, or those who have had a few career path changes, I would recommend a skill-based CV. This layout focuses on your core set of transferable skills and abilities rather than your employment history. You can also list any experience you do have in non-chronological order if other less recent jobs are more relevant to the role you’re applying for.

4.       Keep it Short & Relevant

  No one has time to read through 200 4-page essay-style CVs. Recruiters and hiring managers are extremely busy, and with high volumes of applicants for every role it’s crucial to keep your CV as concise and to-the-point as possible. A CV should be no longer than 2 A4 pages and only include relevant skills and experience to the role you’re applying for.

5.       List Your Achievements, Not Just Your Responsibilities

   For the most part, hiring managers will already have a good understanding of what duties are associated with your job title, so rather than list things they already know, why not list your accomplishments? For example, rather than saying you’re an Event planner and your duties included researching venues, suppliers and contractors, liaising with clients etc, list an accomplishment that derived from that role (e.g “I raised £100,000 by selling out tickets to a 300-person charity gala event”). This paints a picture of your abilities and will likely impress the hiring manager. For more inspiration on the type of accomplishments you could include, please see Muse’s blog post ‘Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties into Accomplishments’ linked below.

6.       Include clickable links or QR codes

   This is mainly for the creative and tech industries; however, it can be a useful tool to stand out from the crowd. If you feel 2 pages isn’t enough to sell yourself and your capabilities, you can always add a QR code or a clickable link that will redirect the reader to a web page of your choice. Whether you want to link it to a portfolio of your previous work, or even to your Linkedin profile – the possibilities are endless. You can create QR codes easily using free websites such as qrcode-monkey.com or qr-code-generator.com. Simply enter the website link, copy & paste and voila!

If you’d like further assistance with your CV give one of our specialist consultants a call today on 02922 400 519, for a FREE consultation!

Sources

https://zety.com/uk/blog/cv-tips

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-personal-statement-on-cv

https://www.themuse.com/advice/resume-revamp-how-to-turn-your-duties-into-accomplishments