5 Ways Your CV Is Selling You Short

In today’s job market, most employers rely on recruiting technology to screen potential candidates. As a job seeker, you may need to think not only about impressing employers with your CV but also whether it makes it into their hands.

What does this all mean for you? With all the obstacles of the hiring process, your CV might not be hitting the mark and getting you in the door. Here are five ways your CV could be selling you short.

1. It is getting stuck at the ATS

Most employers nowadays rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen through potential candidates before calling them in for an interview. The ATS is designed to evaluate CVs and eliminate the candidates perceived to be least qualified for a particular position. Between keywords and formatting, making it through this digital gatekeeper is a careful science — one that you need to know how to manage.

RELATED ARTICLE >>> 6 Simple Tips To Make Your CV Beat The ATS Robots

2. It doesn’t present a compelling career narrative

A strong CV tells the right story to the employer. Keep in mind that your CV is a marketing document that should be written with two objectives in mind: showcasing your job goals and impressing your target audience (employers). Therefore, every single piece of information written in your CV should highlight your qualifications and achievements. Employers want to know whether you’re the right fit for the role that they’re interviewing for at the moment. This means creating a powerful narrative from your career history will help you stand out from the competition.

3. It lists responsibilities instead of describing your impact

Your CV shouldn’t just be a list of responsibilities from each of your job roles up to now. Instead, it should showcase your achievements throughout your career and outline the impact you have made in the organizations. Instead of writing that you “processed recruitment paperwork and maintained personal files,” for example, write that you “ensured both legal compliance and employee engagement by managing an interactive orientation program.” Without utilizing quantifiable results and impactful action verbs, your CV has no chance of making its way to the employer’s desk.

READ ALSO >>> 3 Common CV Mistakes To Avoid

4. Your achievements aren’t quantified

Employers will gauge your potential based on your past accomplishments, which means quantifying your achievements is extremely important. Anyone can claim that they have a certain talent; however, the candidates who show proof of their skills are the ones who will catch an employer’s attention. Rather than saying you “improved sales,” be more specific. Stating that you “increased revenue by 50% last year” will surely get the recruiter’s attention!

5. It is incorrectly formatted

A polished CV clearly articulates what you do, outlines your goals, and tells your narrative. However, you also have to balance the visual elements in your CV so that readers can quickly scan it and understand your story.

Employers want to see an uncomplicated CV format that strikes the right balance between content and white space. If your CV is not easy to read, employers will simply move on to the next application.

Ensure that your CV does not sell you short this year by sending your CV to brenda@corporatestaffing.co.ke for a review.