Sitting amongst a pile of CV’s, you’ll likely only have a few seconds to make an impact to make it onto that all important “yes” pile. But what makes a CV jump out from all the others? Is it an unusual font? Or the fact it’s delivered on a surfboard? Or maybe even it’s a 30-page document that details every inch of your life since you started education at 5.
Well, it’s definitely none of the above, but it is well written, well laid out and factual. But we’ve listed some other top tips to make your CV really stand out.
Make it short and sweet
With a small timeframe to impress, the all-important skills and experience the employer has specified need to jump off the page. “Yes, I have them!” Do you fit the bill? If so, showcase it. A punchy CV is your most powerful tool to get an interview.
Not all CV’s are equal
It’s tempting to check that ‘completed CV’ box on your list and simply fire it off to every job you want to apply for, but hold back on doing that just yet. Each role may want different skills, or each employer may place more emphasis on some experience over others. You may have them, but tailor each application using your CV by drawing on the experience they are asking for. Take a moment to ask yourself, “How does my experience fit?”.
Focus on your achievements
Don’t just list your roles and responsibilities at each role. For example, a marketing manager will know roughly what a marketing assistant role entails, the details of which can be talked about in an interview, but use this opportunity to focus on what you actually achieved. So instead of saying, “Day-to-day running of the social media”, say something like, “I ran social media campaigns that delivered XXX in conversions, and increased brand engagement by XXX.” This is your chance to blow your own trumpet!
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