If you want to be considered for an interview, your CV must capture the recruiter’s attention within seconds. Recruiters and hiring managers receive hundreds of applications for a single position and may only have time to skim resumes before determining which candidates to interview. This article will discuss essential aspects of your CV recruiters are most likely to glance first to refine those parts and increase your chances of getting to the next step. Read on!
Things Employers and Recruiters Look For in a CV
Your CV should present the following information in the most concise yet understandable manner to create a lasting impression.
1. Roles and responsibilities
Your employer should be able to see at a glance what your roles and responsibilities were in previous roles.
Your CV should include the names of the companies you have worked for and the roles you have carried out for them. Employers also like to see that you have held various roles in the past and have taken on new challenges at different points in your career.
2. Experience
Your career history is key to any CV, and you should list any tasks, responsibilities and achievements you have achieved for each role you’ve held.
The most important thing for a recruiter or hiring manager to see is that you have experience relevant to the position you’re applying for.
3. Key achievements
Recruiters and hiring managers are always looking for ambitious and driven employees who can take on new challenges and help the company expand. It would help to highlight the key achievements you have made at previous jobs.
Doing so will demonstrate to employers that you have the confidence to set goals and achieve them.
4. Skills
Your CV is also a great place to highlight skills relevant to the role.
For example, suppose you are applying for a role as a marketing executive. In that case, it will be necessary for a recruiter to know that you have excellent copy-editing and communication skills.
5. Education
It is not necessary to give your entire education history on your CV, but you should include the name of each university you attended and the degree you received.
It is also good to include the grades you achieved at school, and any personal awards like prizes won on sports day or volunteer stints.
Other Things to Keep in Mind When Writing Your CV
Once you’ve nailed down the necessary details, your next priority is to ensure your CV looks, feels and reads well enough to grab the recruiter or hiring manager’s attention successfully. Achieve this by paying close attention to the following details:
Easy to Read
An employer will not take the time to read your CV from start to finish. Make sure that your CV is formatted so that the recruiter can quickly scan it once or twice and get a good idea of your skills, qualifications and experience.
The format should be consistent so that it is easy to follow. You should use headings and bullet points to summarise your experience and achievements, and it should be easy to see where you have worked, what your role was and what your key achievements were.
Make sure that you include your contact details neatly at the end of the CV, as well as an email address, phone number and LinkedIn URL if you have one.
No Inconsistencies
If the CV is for one professional role, it should not include anything unrelated to the role. Recruiters and hiring managers will not appreciate extraneous information. Try having a family member or friend read your CV to check for inconsistencies so you can address them.
Proofread
Recruiters and hiring managers will not look favourably at spelling and grammatical errors, as this shows that you are unprofessional and not detail-oriented.
If you are using a CV writing service, a professional CV writer will check for any inaccuracies and proofread the document for you before returning it to you.
Conclusion
With a suitable CV and cover letter, you can get the opportunity to interview for the job of your dreams—as long as you ensure your CV is formatted well and uses the right keywords, employers and recruiters will be much more likely to read it and possibly consider you for the job.
If you’re currently looking for employment, look no further than Start in Recruitment! Our company can provide you with new job opportunities to land your first recruitment role. Register your CV on our website today!