The CV is the star of the job application. No matter what role you’re applying for, every employer is going to ask for one.
Yet most people don’t have a clear idea of what makes an effective CV.
If you’ve ever thought your CV was just a piece of paper listing your previous roles and the school you went to, you’re missing out on the key reason for your CV — to highlight your value!
Your CV is your sales pitch to your prospective employer, so it’s no place to be modest. Use everything at your disposal to show that you’re the candidate they need!
Here’s how 👇
Expand On Your Achievements
Simply stating your duties from a previous role won’t dazzle an employer. You need to WOW them with how you achieved success and what value you brought to that business.
A simple way to show this is by listing dot points of your achievements and backing up your statement with quantifiable examples of success.
If you’re applying for a Sales position, an achievement could be: I exceeded my revenue target Month on Month by bringing in five new clients each month.
This will highlight your value, and showcase why you need to be the #1 choice.
Follow A Short Form Structure
Keep your CV concise and to the point. A good way to do this is to employ bullet points. They help you cut down on unnecessary words and get across what you want to say directly. The easier the point is to digest, the more the reader will take it in.
Show The Most Important Information First
Getting a recruiter’s attention is a game of speed ⏭
Highlight your major achievements early on. This can be done in your Professional Summary, or included in each previous role entry.
You have 6 seconds to impress them, so don’t waste these precious seconds on fluff.
Writing A Professional Summary
This is a teaser that goes at the beginning of your CV. It’s a short paragraph summarising who you are and what you want to achieve. Don’t use a generic summary like, “I’m a hardworking individual looking for a job in Marketing.” If you’re applying to a Marketing role, it’s likely this is written in everyone’s Professional Summary.
Instead, you could highlight how excited you are to contribute towards a businesses visions and goals, and take their marketing to the next level!
This is a great opportunity to grab the attention of the recruiter and entice them into reading further — so add some personality.
If you had to read a 100 Professional Summary’s, what would make yours standout?
Length
As a general rule, your CV should be no longer than 2 pages. However this can vary depending on the industry you’re in or level of position.
Final Thoughts
Take the time to craft your CV and implement these tips. A good CV can be the difference between you getting an interview and not.
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