As an ex-recruiter, I have read thousands of CVs and usually within 7 seconds of reading one, I would decide whether this candidate would progress to interview stage.
Here are my top 3 tips for improving your CV. Implement these suggestions and you might just find yourself being invited to interviews for relevant positions.
1. Have a targeted professional summary
A well written professional summary instantly portrays you as a credible candidate, but get this wrong and the employer or recruiter might not read the rest of your CV.
A professional summary:
- contains highlights of your relevant experience and skills
- mirrors the language used in the job adverts/specifications of the positions you are interested in, portraying you as someone who knows what they are talking about
- is between 4-6 lines in length and compels the reader to read the rest of your CV
2. Include a skills section
No matter what stage you are at in your career, whether you are just starting out or are working at an executive level, your CV should have a skills section.
A skills section:
- goes underneath your professional summary
- lists 5-8 skills and gives concrete examples of how you have each skill
- contains skills relevant to the jobs you are applying for
3. Mention your achievements from your jobs
Employers and recruiters love seeing relevant achievements on CVs as they portray you as a go-getter and someone committed to going the extra mile.
An Achievements section:
- is mentioned before the responsibilities of your jobs
- should contain 3-5 recent achievements
- should show the effect of each achievement e.g. saving the business time, money or solving a specific problem
These tips will make your CV more targeted to the roles you are applying for and portray you as an employee who goes beyond the basic job responsibilities. Apply them to your CV and you will stand out from the competition.
About the Author
Shilpa is an ex-recruiter turned CV Writer and offers CV Writing, LinkedIn Writing and Cover Letter writing assistance. Shilpa is currently offering free CV reviews where she will personally review your CV and give you clear recommendations to improve your CV. Connect with Shilpa on LinkedIn here or email her at snayya307@hotmail.com for a free CV review.