Landing a job, and a dream one at that, is getting increasingly difficult in today’s economy, because employers are extremely picky. They know they will get to have their pick of the best candidates because of the stiff competition, and one of the things they will use to narrow down their selection, apart from the skills and education of the potential candidates, is their CV. Yes, one of the main reasons why you are not able to land that job, or even an interview, is because there is something missing in your CV.
Your education and your skills may be stellar, but if they are not presented in such a way that the recruiters will simply have no choice but to call you, you will face rejection time after time. However, you shouldn’t despair, because we have come up with a list of tips and tools which will help you craft a compelling and detailed CV that will capture the attention of the recruiters and leave them no choice but to extend an invitation.
1. Don’t Send in the Same Resume Every Time
Not all companies are the same, which means you can’t use the same approach when sending in your resume. For instance, some companies prefer to receive CVs which stick to the traditional form and layout, while others like their candidates to show off their uniqueness and personality. Now, most of them won’t tell you what they like, but you can do some research on each of the companies you will be applying with.
Some places, such as Google, are very unorthodox, and having an original CV can come in really handy if you want to separate yourself from the rest of the crowd.
2. Your Writing Should be Concise and Clear
There are many limitations that you have to deal with when writing a resume and that includes having limited space to present yourself and your skills. Always aim for brevity. Also, breaking up your writing into sections and bullet points will also make it easier for the recruiter to go over your CV, and if all of the key points are carefully highlighted, they will be more likely to capture their attention. This will leave more room for you to add some other skills and experiences which you consider essential, but which wouldn’t have been inside your CV due to word count limitation.
3. Make Sure That Your Grammar Is Perfect
If you send in a resume that has spelling or grammar mistakes, it will most likely end up and the top of the rejection pile. On the face of it, grammar and spelling may not seem that important, especially if you are applying for engineering position, for example, but it does show the recruiter that you have failed to put in the effort to go over your CV one last time and spot the mistakes that might have found their way onto the page.
They will figure you will do the same on one of their projects, and they will move on to another candidate.
Consider using one of these tools in order to write and proofread your CV:
Hemingway Editor – This is without any doubt one of the best and widely used tools for improving writing, period. It is simple, effective, and functional because of the design of the app, which is essentially a writing environment.
Aussiewriter – Another reputable tool in the world of business writing. Aussiewriter, has professionals that can help with composing business letters, emails, resumes, reports, and other pieces. It is known for not only helping with producing great pieces but also giving advice to the clients about specific methods and approaches related to business writing.
4. Social Media Presence Matters
One of the key differences between applying for a job now and applying for a job 15 years ago, apart from the more unfavorable economy, is the existence and relevance of social media. Because you only have so much room inside your CV to present yourself, your social media accounts can act as an extension of your resume, especially when it comes to your LinkedIn profile. These days, recruiters will check absolutely everything about you, and that includes your online activity, and the first place they will look is your social media accounts.
So, be careful about what sort of stuff you post on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other profiles that you might have, because they can make a world of difference. If the recruiters find that your experience matches what there are looking for, or that if you are influential on social media, they will become intrigued, and will most likely call you.
5. Quantify Your Success and Your Experience
Although you will find plenty of advice online telling you to use certain “power” words, they are nothing but meaningless filler the recruiters will simply gloss over. Not only are they too vague, but the fact that nearly everyone is using them diminishes their impact in a big way. Instead, try and provide the recruiters with some numbers and facts. All those awards and accolades you have accumulated over the years should be mentioned.
They will allow the recruiters to get a better idea about your skills and experience. You can brag about yourself for days, but writing down facts and numbers inside your CV is one of the most powerful things you can do to increase your chances of landing that job interview.
The Final Thought
As you can see, writing a compelling and informative CV is not exactly simple, but when you are looking for a job, you have all the time in the world to make it as good as possible, so don’t shy away from spending as many hours as you need in order to perfect it. Also, using tools and professional help is also perfectly OK. Once you have landed that dream job, nobody will care about the way you have put together your CV. But they will care about your skills, and that’s what you have wanted all along: a chance for you to show them off.
