CV Tips: 7 questions to ask yourself

As a Recruiter, we spend a lot of time reviewing candidates’ CV’s, in fact, that’s a huge part of what we do. Every time we submit a profile to one of our clients, we are at stake.

 

We are representing that candidate and letting our reputation and credibility in their hands. So personally, therefore, I only send profiles I have total faith in and the ones that I deem as reliable after they have confirmed their application. Nonetheless, their CV is like their “business card” and there is only one opportunity to make a good impression.

 

So dear job-seeker before you go ahead and start editing your CV, here are 7 questions that will help you write your CVs to get these interviews!

1) Does my CV look professional?

It goes without saying that if Mr Candidate you want to appear professional in the eyes of my clients, your CV must reflect this. A logical structure – chronological with the most recent one at the top, some clearly defined sections and bold headings are must-haves. Typos and grammar mistakes are no-goes for me so please use a spelling tool or corrector!

2) Should I tweak it per opening?

The answer is simply YES, the same way a Salesperson tweaks its pitch depending on who they are talking to, you need to adapt your CV according to the role you have applied to. If you want to impress your CV must create a big impact upon opening. Ensure you include a punchy line that sells your profile to ensure that it is heavily tailored to the role you are submitting it for.

3) Is it easy to read?

HR Manager and Business Manager are busy people and they don’t have time to waste, therefore Busy hiring managers don’t have the time to waste please avoid big chunks of text and highlight the details that you want to stand out. You need to break the information on your CV with bullet points. You must ensure that the key requirements for my client’s roles are made prominent throughout the CV.

4) Is it under 2 pages long?

No one wants to read a CV that’s more than 2 pages long so make sure that you keep it short, sharp and to the point!  If you are a senior professional with a lengthy career feel free to cut down older roles and remove any irrelevant details.

5) Does the CV reflect the requirements for the role?

If your CV doesn’t meet the expectations of my client, you won’t be getting an interview. You must always tailor the CV specifically to the role spec forwarding it. If there seems to be a big difference between the experience and the CV don’t be afraid to re-write it.

6) Does it prove your value?

Employers want to see a return on investment when they hire a candidate, so your CV must show the value that you can deliver. Your CV should include plenty of examples of the impact you have made on previous jobs, include achievements and key examples of successes.

7) Does it include numbers?

Numbers are extremely important to defend your candidature. Without them it’s very hard for a reader to understand benchmark you against the competition. Figures such as team size, budgets managed or length of projects are great ways to quantify the impact.

Bear in mind the above tricks when writing your CV for an application. You need to make an impact and your CV is the best way to do so.

 

For more advice and recruitment tips feel free to contact me! We care about you and want to help you in finding the right job opportunity.

 

 

DIANA HALTERMANN

CEO & Co-Founder

Talented International

 

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