A Guide to a Great CV - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

A Guide to a Great CV There are studies that have shown recruiters spend about seven seconds on a CV on average before they decide if the candidate suits that role or not. This is why first impressions are very important when it comes to CVs. Below are some effective tips from Australian resume writers on making your CV stand out from the rest.   1. Starting Strong Start off your CV with a summary of your skills and some of your accomplishments. Doing this will help you in attracting and grabbing the attention of the recruiter from the word go. The recruiter will be able to learn more about you by looking at this summary, so it is important to make the best impression. 2. Focus more on results instead of responsibilities Many people like to list their responsibilities in their past roles, but you can stand out from the crowd by focusing on the results. When doing this, try using quantifiable data to show the results you were able to achieve. Say “I was able to increase sales by 23% for company Z” instead of “I increased sales for company Z”. 3. Customizing your CV for the job You should carefully read the job description you are interested in then use your CV to explain why you are the right choice for the role. Relate your accomplishments to the elements of the job. Employers like it when candidates have a good understanding of the role they apply for, and you can make your CV stand out by demonstrating this. This can mean taking a lot of time to write your CVs, especially if you are sending them out to different roles, but it will be time well spent if it helps in finding you your perfect position. 4. Highlighting changes and growth You should also give personal developments some focus. This will show how you have changed and grown in your roles, and what you have been able to accomplish over the years. It will let the recruiter know that you have learned from your past roles, and you are ready to expand your skill set if you get the new role. 5. Demonstrating that you are connected Whether it be past job roles or university, you will have met different people. You should try showing this in your CV. Networking shows that you have good communication skills. This is great because most employers value such skills. 6. Showing industry insight An awareness of the industry you are in will show that you keep up with the latest trends in the industry. This is attractive to employers because they like people who demonstrate knowledge of the industry. This is why it is important to keep up to date with the latest news and changes in the industry. This can also be of help when you get to the interview stage. 7. Using power words The use of power words is a good idea because it will help in giving the CV more impact and emphasizing your accomplishment. Some common power words include; innovative, adaptable, achieved, implemented, etc. Use them for each of the roles, and also include the results you were able to get. There are many recruiters using software to filter out the applications that don’t have certain keywords. This is why it is very important for you to have a good understanding of the job and what the employer is looking for. You will be forced to invest a lot of time in creating a perfect CV, but this is your chance to show off your skills and accomplishments. Studying the job description and industry will help you in making your CV stand out from the rest. We hope the above tips will help you.