A CV is a window of opportunity. Within a few minutes, a recruiter will decide whether to call you for an interview or discard your CV without a second thought. Compiling a CV that will ensure you move to the next step of the recruitment process can be daunting, but these steps can help you begin.
Keep it concise
While it is important to offer a complete history of your experience and work history, do remember that recruiters will often receive hundreds of CVs that will take a lot of time to work through. Keeping your CV concise and to the point could help you stand out from the crowd in a time-sensitive world. The ideal CV is one to two pages long.
Personalise your CV to the position you are applying for
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all all CV. You should avoid sending the same CV to multiple recruiters. Your CV should be tailored to the exact position you are applying for, with the relevant information pertinent to that job description presented in the best manner possible.
Show Passion
While academic qualifications and work experience are still valued passion will set you apart. Showcase your passion for the industry by highlighting examples of why this job excites you.
Showcase Solutions
Add your Social Media Handles
Many recruiters will have a look at the social media profiles of potential candidates so be prepared for this. Including your social media handles will ensure that recruiters look at the right page. Also ensure that all your pages are up to date and are representative of how you are portraying yourself to recruiters. It is extremely important to ensure your work history (job titles, dates etc.) on the CV reflects the exact same work history online i.e. in the public domain.
Add Links
Adding links is a great way for recruiters to get a good idea of the work you have done, and this can be in the form of case studies or online portfolios. This will cut down the information contained in your CV but allow for easy access to information should recruiters want to see more.
Job Descriptions
Work history is an important part of your CV, but you should also include your top achievements under each job. Spend time highlighting the accolades that you are most proud of and keep it concise. Most importantly, this will help the recruiter to understand what makes you different to other applicants
don't overdo the formatting
When it comes to the overall design, less is more. Choose a font and size that is easy to read, and if you do want to add colour, limit it to a maximum of one or two colours. Be sure to add subheadings so that recruiters can find the information they are looking for at a glance.
let someone else review your cv
While your CV might look great to you, a second set of eyes is the key to ensuring perfection. Please keep in mind that bad grammar and/ or spelling mistakes can leave the recruiter with a negative impression of your profile. It is always recommended to check your CV (using the latest tech) before sending to the recruiter, as a great first impression will always help increase your chances of a successful job application.
