A few helpful tips

So, you draw up your CV and give it to everybody; the same pitch for every position. Think about this for a moment – your CV is selling you, and you are using the same pitch for everyone!

Why not tailor your CV?

If a car dealer is selling a car, they will tailor the sales pitch to suit the person they are selling to. Although they will tell everyone about how reliable the car is, they might sell economy to the family, or performance to the person who wants performance.

It’s the same with a CV. Although some qualities are universally important to all employers, each individual employer is going to require certain skills, which you can play up on your CV.

First, let’s look at the qualities that are a universally important:

  • Loyalty
  • Commitment
  • Reliability

How can you prove you have these assets? What is it about your history that can speak of your loyalty, your commitment, or your reliability? That is what needs to be on your CV.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, what unique skills is this type of employer looking for?

They might not want to know what experience you have gained over the last twenty years, but would love to know what relevant experience you have.

Once you’ve looked at your content, it’s time to look at presentation. Chances are, this employer is going to view dozens of CVs. After a while, they’ll all start blending into one. What can you do to stand out? You can try printing in landscape or on fluorescent paper, whatever you think represents you best. But remember, even if your presentation gets your CV read, it has to be worth reading! So, make sure you are 100% on your content first.

What is the interviewer looking for, and do you have it? Get in the CV.

Keep it clean and concise – and if you’ve remembered all the vital information, the employer will want to know more from you in the interview.

Employing you represents a big investment by this company; tell them what they are going to get for their money.

To sum up:

  1. Tailor your CV to the industry you are applying to
  2. Highlight relevant experience
  3. Only briefly mention non-relevant experience
  4. What makes you unique? Highlight it!
  5. Show the recruiter that you’re worth the investment.

What’s Next?

Send you CV to as many companies as your CV relates

Or

For each vacancy you apply to, tailor your CV to suit that particular vacancy.

Finally…

Keep a record of all the positions you apply for, and follow them up. If you were unsuccessful, ask why and learn from the comments you receive. Then adjust your approach accordingly.