You’ve found your perfect role! They offer great pay, hybrid working, and a fantastic benefits package. You’re about to upload your CV when you see 200 people feel the same way and have also applied. How do you stand out from the rest?
Your CV is the first hurdle in a job application. It’s your chance to persuade the consultant/hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. Your CV is one of the first things your consultant/hiring manager will see in the hiring process. This will be their first impression of you and first impressions are important! It may all be in the experience and academics, but it’s also about the visual aspect. The majority of CVs are likely to be read digitally therefore your CV must look good visually too.
Do you want your CV to stand out from the crowd? Check out these tips below.
1. Tell the truth
When competition is high, 52% of candidates believe it’s necessary to lie to secure an interview. However, this is in no way advisable; 47.3% admitted that their lies didn’t even help them secure the role. As mentioned above, the CV is the first thing an employer sees to gain an impression of you. Once you’ve lied, you’ll then have to keep up that lie if you don’t get caught out.
You’re most likely to be caught out in the pre-screening process. Lying on your CV isn’t technically illegal as CVs aren’t legal documents. Nonetheless, if you falsify other legal documents such as an educational diploma or passport, this could result in prosecution.
Although, it’s interesting to see what candidates lie about to progress further. The most common lies include being in a particular job, lying about the date they were employed, exaggerated job titles/duties which look more favourable or different reasons for leaving a job.
2. Neither first nor third person in your CV
43% of CVs are discarded because they are written in the third person! Writing in the third person can sound strange as its use is already applied. A CV is based on your knowledge and skills, therefore neither the third nor first person needs to be used. An example includes:
Third person
‘He managed over 50 employees’
This explains the role but sounds odd.
First Person
‘I managed over 50 employees’
A nice line which displays management skills.
No pronouns
‘Managed over 50 employees’
Straight to the point. This also avoids repetitious ‘I did this’, ‘I did that’.
For a standout CV, adopt the absent first-person approach and remove pronouns, both first and third. This helps keep the CV business focuses and to free up space to write about that matter.
3. Keep your CV simple
A CV is used to show a small insight into your professional and academic history. You should talk about your strengths within your previous roles as well as your academic success. You shouldn’t cram in anything irrelevant info. If there’s anything you’d like to further discuss, you can bring it up during your interview.
4. Format your CV correctly
CV formatting is another crucial step in your job search success. If you’re struggling to land interviews, the format on your CV may be the issue. If your CV format is poor, it will be hard for your consultant/hiring manager to pick out your skills and experience – likely leading to a rejection.
Columns
The use of columns may look great on your screen, but when sent to someone else, likely, they won’t. Word has many different formats as well as versions, which may not support your format. The consultant/hiring manager will then have to re-format your CV, which could delay your application.
Obscure Fonts
It’s important to use a standard font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri. Like columns, fancy fonts may appear different due to the many different formats and versions of Word. When a consultant/recruiter opens your CV, random fonts and sizes may be displayed instead of fancy writing. How long did you spend choosing that font when you could’ve chosen a basic one to save yourself time?
Tables and Boxes
Tables and boxes can be hard to remove from Word. Each piece of text has to be moved out of the table and moved elsewhere. This could then move everything else including the header/footer – the whole CV then falls apart. All of this can be a huge headache for the consultant/hiring manager.
5. Facts and figures
Facts and figures are significant indicators of value for consultants/hiring managers. They give an idea of the impact you have created in the past and your current role. Adding in some measurable achievements can help improve your CV; these could be the deciding factor between you and another applicant. However, it’s important to back these up. Referring back to the first point, no one likes a liar.
We’ve given you the tips, now go perfect your CV! However, if you do need a little more help, we’ve attached a template to help you get started.
Once you’ve created your CV, don’t forget to send it to us so we can find you your next opportunity!