An employer or a recruiter will always look at particular details in your CV. It takes only 30 seconds to impress them, and that’s why what you write, and how you format your CV is vital.
Career experts say that the opening 50 words of your CV matter the most. John Lees, author of careers books, recommends to start your CV with a short profile that sums up your experience, knowledge, skills, and know-how. Your first half page of your CV is the most decisive part of your selling point.
If your current boss or your future manager would write your CV, be sure they would probably do it in a distinct way than you. Here are some of the main elements your manager would underline in your CV.
Results and figures
Be facts and results orientated, don’t just recite some nice words. Employers want to see clear figures of what you achieved. Write your targets, your revenues, those chunky percentages. Impress them! Show your strengths from the beginning of your CV. Tell them why you would be an asset for their company. They have to understand why you are an exceptional candidate. And why you are such a good fit for the job comparing with other candidates.
It would be amazing if you can tailor your CV for every job you apply to, but we know that’s not easy to attain. So, maybe try to have a few versions of your CV for different jobs, and incorporate the right keywords and emphasize your experience and performances.
Frame your CV
The format of your CV and how you build it up can be your way to success or failure. Perform a proper research to see what’s more powerful for employers. Your key information has to be easy to read. And it should be in the right spaces or they must be highlighted in a prudent way. Some of your previous job titles (the more recent they are, the better), should closely match the job you’re targeting. Your CV should flow, it should be a pleasure to read it. And always keep it in a reverse chronological order. If you have any gaps in your CV, explain why, don’t leave it like that.
Competence
Listing your qualifications in an attractive way is critical, and this is where your potential employer will look to see if you are suitable for the job or not. A swift scan is enough for any recruiter or employer to notice your previous roles, what you did there, what you achieved, and for how long you’ve been there. If you can add your achievements for each job you had in the past, this will help the recruiters or employers to understand better your results. And don’t forget: they may not even read all your job descriptions, so make sure your job titles are accurate, and your experience comes up solid.
CV clichés
Rest assured your manager would escape the trap of using CV clichés. We can all say we are team players, right? But that doesn’t mean is true. Does any of these affirmations sound familiar: I have strong communication skills, I am creative, I have strong attention to detail, I am motivated or I am results driven? I work well in a team as well as on their own!
The question is how do you prove it? Validate your statements with examples. Show your real value. Be specific.