10 Great Ways to Improve Your CV

Your CV is the first point of contact between you and a recruiter and it is vital that you are able to meet their expectations for the ideal candidate for the job on offer. Taking the necessary time to layout your CV in a desirable fashion that is tailored for the job you are searching for will go a long way to getting you to the next stage of securing the role.

With this in mind, here are 10 ways that you can improve your CV:

1. Keep it Short 

Keeping your CV short and concise will benefit you in the eyes of the recruiter. Sticking to the traditional 2-page limit is a good marker and is more than possible when you cut out any waffle that clutters the CV. Some CVs will be longer depending on the role and level of position however, keeping it short and sweet is a good rule of thumb.

2. Tailor it to the role

One of the key goals of the CV is to help you stand out in the mind of the recruiter as someone who perfectly fits the bill for the role in question. Recruiters go through thousands of CV’s and if they see a generic CV, it will go straight to the “No” pile. It is important to tailor your CV for the exact role you are applying for to highlight your interest and suitability for the opportunity.

3. Be 100% honest

To improve your CV, make sure you stick to the facts and be as accurate as possible with the information that you are providing to the recruiter. Make sure that there are no holes on your CV and anywhere that can be questioned to ensure that you are able to answer questions surrounding this area.

From one of our recent Recruitment Insights, our Senior Recruitment Consultant, Kevin Hallissey had this advice for job seekers: “Honesty is another major factor for recruiters, ensuring that a candidate is honest about his/her work and credentials helps to build a trusting relationship from the start”.

4. Ensure accuracy

When aiming to improve your CV, it is highly important that you are cautious of your writing and use of grammar. You may have all the skills and qualifications necessary for the job in question but sloppy grammar mistakes on your CV may cost you the opportunity of a new job with 59% of recruiters rejecting CVS due to poor grammar or spelling. 

5. Make use of keywords/buzzwords

Make sure that you use a sufficient amount of key or buzzwords when submitting your CV. If the keywords that you included in your CV match the ones given in a job ad, your chances of getting an interview dramatically increase. Recruiters often use software programmes to filter out CV’s which means ensuring the words used in your CV are related to a specific job is important.

6. Include interests and hobbies

Including interests and hobbies is another way to improve your suitability for a role. For example, someone who has played team sports shows the ability to work in a team along with traits such as dedication and determination which are always valued in an organisation. It also gives the employer the chance to understand your personality and help judge your potential fit for the company.

7. Outline all relevant qualifications/experience

Skills that are useful to a business are a very important aspect that will improve your CV. Companies often search for a specific profile and highlighting what experience or qualifications qualify you for the role over other candidates is valuable.

Recently our Senior Recruitment Consultant, Ciaran Sheehan had this to say about the relevant experience on a CV: “including specific duties and responsibilities carried out on projects helps to qualify you for the job in question:.

8. Keep your CV in the correct order

CVs generally follow a fixed flow of your name, contact details, your opening statement, followed by your experience, education, skills/interests, and your references. This is a good layout to follow however it may change depending on the specifics of the job as some jobs are more focused on previous experience and others on current qualifications.

9. Cover Letter

A common mistake that job seekers make is forgetting to include a cover letter when submitting their CV. A personal statement helps a company to quickly identify your strengths and suitability to a role as well as developing an understanding as to how you could fit in within the organisation.

10. Value your CV

Your CV is a personal reflection of you, so make sure you take the time required to streamline all aspects of your CV to improve your chances of finding your next job. Ensuring that you are not careless with your CV and sending it everywhere and anywhere improves the value of your CV to a recruiter and highlights your serious aspirations for a particular job.

We hope that you have enjoyed our article on 10 Great Ways to Improve Your CV. If you have any further queries or wish to get in touch, email us at [email protected] or call us at +353 (0)51 355 704

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