17 Apr 2023
Creating an impressive CV is often one of the toughest challenges when applying for jobs. What makes it even tougher is knowing that employers may just spend a few seconds scanning through CVs before discarding them, so you have to make sure your CV really stands out.
1) Tailor your CV for the Job
Most people will often have one CV that they use for all jobs they apply for: having a generic CV can mean you miss critical points that don’t quite meet the job description of the job you’re applying for.
A CV can’t ordinarily be one size fits all: instead, spend some time adding and highlighting the important skills and experiences you have which relate to the job description.
2) Add a personal statement
A personal statement is usually the first thing an employer or recruiter will read on your CV, so you need to ensure you include one! Being confronted by a list of your past jobs at the start of your CV won't look good. However, a well written personal statement can make a massive difference to first impressions when the recruiter is looking at a pile of CVs.
Your personal statement is important as it helps ‘set the scene’ and allows an employer to feel more engaged with you, and understand who you are.
Keep your statement brief around 150 words to avoid boring the person reading it.
3) Keep it concise
A CV that is too long is a big no no! Try to keep your CV to a maximum of two pages where possible. You can achieve this by only including relevant information and avoiding unnecessary personal details or repetition. The truth is that recruiters just wont read any CV that is longer than this size. It will go straight into the bin.
4) Make it stand out
If you’re not much of a designer, look for a downloadable template or use an online software such as Canva to find a CV template that’s easy to edit.
Having a CV that stands out will grab the attention of the employer / recruiter better. Some CV designs are also quite good at allowing more information to be added without it looking like there’s too much writing. Just be careful not to veer into the outlandish side of designs. There is standing out for good reasons and then there is standing out for bad reasons and you really want to be in the first of these categories.
5) Ask for feedback
If you find yourself making changes to your CV and still not having any luck, ask for feedback! Feedback is a great way to get free advice from the professionals. Try not to take the feedback too personally, it isn’t intended to hurt you but to help you up your game.
Alternatively, use a CV review service that will offer insights and valuable feedback on where your CV can be improved. Even the automated CV review services add some value.
Looking for a job?
