You’re starting a new year and maybe you’re wanting to start a new job as well, but that CV you wrote 10 years ago needs a re-write and you’re not sure where to begin.
The first key point to consider is: who is your audience? Are you sending to a recruiter or directly to your future employer? A recruiter and an HR manager will approach your CV in two completely different ways.
The recruitment consultant, as we’ve heard on multiple occasions, will only spend a few seconds scanning your CV for key information. If you’re sending to a recruitment agency, keep it simple: show where you worked, for how long, and who for. Outline projects and your responsibilities. Highlight your qualifications and key skills. Recruiters tend to be very clinical, and unfortunately, if you don’t tick the right boxes they will dismiss you pretty quickly. At Linum Consult, however, we always advise our candidates to be succinct and straight to the point by highlighting their strengths in relation to the key duties and responsibilities of the job they’re applying for.
Sending your CV directly to an employer requires a more personal approach: they’re looking for someone who will not only be able to do the job, but also fit in well with the company’s culture. Highlight your soft skills and training. Give examples of your achievements and show how they will help you in your future role. If you’re applying for a creative position, then be creative on your CV! Showcase your talents, but do not lie on your CV! Always include every employer you’ve worked for, make sure the dates are correct and do not over-exaggerate your duties and responsibilities as you will get caught out at interview stage.
Even though it may seem like more work, it’s highly conducive to have extra versions of your CV tailored to different positions you may wish to apply for as well. If you have the skillset for multiple roles, then you can highlight your strengths for each individual position. This makes you a more attractive candidate for whichever job you apply to since you have obviously made more of an effort than the other applicants. There is nothing worse than receiving the same CV over and over again for every job being advertised.
As we are all aware, knowing your audience is the key to being able to write well and to sell yourself effectively. Showing that you are considerate of who is reviewing your CV will help you stand out in what is currently a highly competitive market.
For more information on Linum Consult, please visit our website www.linumconsult.com and check out the various sectors, services and jobs within our global network.