5 Basic CV Rules That Will Always Put You Ahead Of The Competition

“I have been applying for many jobs but have never been shortlisted. How do I ensure that my CV is shortlisted?”

“What do employers want to see in a CV?”

“How do I polish my CV to make it professional and impress the employers?”

Above are some of the questions I receive on a daily basis about CV writing. When it comes to job hunting, writing a winning CV is the most important thing.

When was the last time you updated your CV? When did you last read through the job description to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for? These are important questions your CV should always answer whenever you’re writing your CV or applying for a job.

Why is it that other people seem to be getting jobs and you are not?

Well, here are 5 basic CV rules to put you ahead of the completion.

1. Keep it as short as possible

Here is the truth; employers are not impressed with a very long CV. In fact, what you are doing is just telling them not to go through your CV.

Yes! There are instances where your CV might be longer; like someone who has a lot of years of experience but if you are a fresh graduate, your CV shouldn’t go past one page.

When writing the CV, ensure that you are listing only those experiences that will play a role in getting you a job. Even if you have a lot of experience, not every position you have held is relevant to every job you apply for.

For instance, those internships and entry-level positions you held over decades ago don’t add much value to the senior position you are applying for.

2. Always tailor the CV to fit the job description

What is it in your application that will convince them to take their time and even call you for an interview? It’s the way you have tailored it to fit what they are looking for.

Start by matching the most important things on the job description with the most visible areas on your CV. Highlight keywords and specific skills listed in the job description, and include them in your CV.

Lots of employers now use ATS software to scan applications before they’re seen by human eyes.

ATS software scans CVs for specific keywords or phrases related to the role. If your CV doesn’t include these words and phrases, it probably won’t make it past this stage.

3. Explain your employment gaps if necessary

It is important to give a brief explanation on your CV to account for the time spent outside employment only if it makes a wide gap that many signal a red flag on your CV.

Few employers want to hire a person who makes technical appearances into employment and then vanishes without a satisfactory account.

To fill career gaps on your CV, talk about a course you resumed or part-time jobs you have done while you were out of regular employment.

4. Showcase your key achievements

When you get to a certain level in your career, employers become less interested in what you can do but more in what you can deliver, that is the achievements you have already made so far.

Even if you are an entry-level job seeker, what difference did you make at that internship? Don’t underestimate yourself into thinking that you don’t have much to offer an employer.

5. Finally, sell yourself!

Just like a product, having its unique selling points could set you apart from your competition. It might be a particular skill, success story, or maybe you have a qualification or previous experience that will be beneficial to the role and put you ahead of the competition.

Think of applying for a job like a sales scenario where the employer is the customer, and you are the salesman.

Why should they buy from you?

What is different from what you have to offer compared to other people?

When you’ve identified your unique selling point, highlight it on your CV. Keep it compelling enough for a potential employer to be interested and give them no choice but to schedule an interview with you.

Conclusion

Before you submit a CV, review it thoroughly for typos, unclear language, or formatting errors. Also, keep your CV to a maximum of three pages and use bullet points so that it can be easily read and digested quickly; be clear, concise, and be the best ‘you’ you can be.

For a CV makeover, get in touch with one of our professional CV writers today.