Recruitment experts share their top tips on crafting a standout CV, optimizing it for applicant tracking systems, and showcasing your skills and experience to stand out in a competitive job market.
This time of year, many of us rethink our working lives. But how can you craft a CV that will catch an employer's attention and then pull off a winning interview? Recruitment experts share the secrets to getting hired. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, experts emphasize the importance of tailoring your CV and demonstrating your value. 'There are more people looking for jobs relative to the number available.
So it is really important to make sure you’re applying for jobs for which you are particularly well suited,' says Reed. 'Ask yourself, do I genuinely want this job? What is the point of applying for something you haven’t got any real interest in doing it? You’re wasting your time.' The role of a traditional CV remains significant, though platforms like LinkedIn or video CVs hold relevance in specific sectors. 'The demise of the CV is often overstated,' says Reed. 'I think of it as potentially a life-changing document,' he adds. 'Make sure that it is a good summary, but doesn’t go on too long. One page is sufficient,' advises Reed. When crafting your CV, think of it as solving a problem for the employer. 'Begin with a short, simple paragraph stating why you’re a good applicant for this opportunity,' says Reed. 'I always say to people, a job is a problem to be solved. How do you position yourself as the solution to that particular problem?' Tailoring your CV to each job is crucial. 'Tailor your CV depending on the role,' says Reed. 'If you are applying for a sales job, emphasize your sales experience.' However, avoid misleading information. 'We have a screening business where we check CVs on behalf of our clients: 40% of the CVs we screen have errors in them,' warns Mills. Mills advises against simply copying and pasting job descriptions into your CV. 'When writing a CV or job application, some people, 'get out the job description and then cut and paste it as part of their CV', says Mills. 'That is probably the worst thing you could do, because job descriptions rarely bear much resemblance to the actual job. It also doesn’t give a sense of you as a person: you have to say who you are, what you have to offer and why you are a great match for this particular job.' Be specific about your skills and experience. Recruiters look for concrete examples. 'Recruiters will tell you in the selection criteria, we want somebody who is a great communicator,' says Mills. Just stating you have good communication skills won't suffice. 'You have to give specific examples, such as: 'I presented at this conference or team meeting or to the board',' advises Mills. Use words such as ‘spearheaded, optimised, innovated’, says Juillet, and then quantify them: it doesn’t have to be numeric, as long as it shows the impact. Julyet also warns against using empty cliches such as “team player” and “results driven”; employers will think: “We’ll be the judge of that.” If you want to make such claims, “you have to demonstrate those things”, says Juillet. 'Avoid adjectives,' says Yeung. 'Anyone can describe themselves as passionate and determined. Be sure you can prove it. Use verbs to describe the steps you took to achieve tangible results', Yeung concludes. While AI tools can assist with grammar checks, keyword optimization, and formatting suggestions, Mills cautions against solely relying on them. 'I think AI has definitely got a place for grammar checks, optimising keywords and formatting suggestions. What is really important is that you don’t just use AI. There can be a tendency for people to upload a job description and their CV, and ask AI to churn out something, which on the face of it looks fine, but it’s very easy to see that there is no authenticity behind it.
CV Writing Job Search Recruitment Interview Tips Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
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