How to Write a Compelling CV That Gets Noticed

Writing a CV that makes you get noticed requires keenness and understanding of the recruiters’ goals. Your CV is often the first impression an employer will have of you, so it must stand out from the crowd and show why you’re the perfect candidate. Your resume alone may be the only chance you get to impress that potential employer.

Here are a few top tips to help you write a CV that sells your skills and experience and gets you noticed by recruiters.

1. Start with a powerful career profile

This is your elevator pitch – a short 2–3-line summary of who you are and what you have to offer. How you present it will be the reason why the recruiters call you for that interview.

Remember to keep it positive and highlight your most relevant achievements, qualities, and skills. The employer only has a few seconds to read your profile, so make it impactful.

2. Use a clear, easy-to-read layout and format.

The presentation of the resume says a lot about you in terms of being organized. Cramping together your work might make it difficult for one to stay on your CV because of the strain.

Break up blocks of text with headings, bullet points, and white space. Make it visually appealing and scannable. Recruiters often spend only 5-10 seconds reviewing each CV initially, so you need to guide their eyes to the most essential information quickly.

Choose a simple, professional font like Arial or Times New Roman, and use a font size between 10-12 points for readability.

3. Tailor your CV specifically for each job application.

You may be skilled in several fields and have a lot of experience. However, it is better when you only focus on some of those skills and experiences related to what you are at the moment applying for.

Research the company and role, then highlight the experiences and qualifications that are most relevant. Carefully select the information most pertinent to the job at hand.

Weave in keywords from the job posting throughout your CV so it is picked up by applicant tracking systems.

4. Emphasize your achievements and impact

At times we tend to focus mainly on responsibilities leaving out our impacts and achievements. It is essential to focus on quantifiable results and outcomes.

For example, instead of “Managed customer support team”, say, “Led a customer support team of 5, reducing average response times by 30%”.

Hiring managers want to see what you have achieved, not just what you did. This will give you a stable footing making you stand out.

5. Keep your CV brief

A brief CV is easier to read and peruse. It is advisable that the resume should be not more than two well-formatted pages for most roles and three pages maximum for very senior positions.

Your most recent, relevant points should be at the top. Avoid including unnecessary points like your primary education, your gender, and your hobbies, as this lengthens your CV. Recruiters are interested in your professional outlook; what have you accomplished as a professional in the job market?

Creating the perfect CV takes time and effort, but it is one of the best investments you can make in your job search. A well-crafted CV is your opportunity to take control of the hiring manager’s first impression of you.

Do not undersell yourself – highlight your actual value and make a compelling case for why you are the top candidate. You can consider taking on our professional CV Writing services to get yourself the right presentation of your skills, qualifications, and achievements to get noticed.