Morning all - here is the second in our series of blogposts from Peter in CPL - some great advice regarding writing your CV and what NOT to do...
A candidate’s cv is the first thing a recruiter sees, so make this count!
Your cv has one purpose, not to get you a job but to get you an interview. These 2/3 pages are your primary selling tool so why do so many people take insufficient time to put the work into their cv?
The obvious mistakes are grammar and spelling - over 80% of cvs would still have grammar, spelling or formatting errors which is unbelievable. If you get past this the biggest frustration regarding cvs is that they are written as a list of responsibilities not achievements. Think about this from an agency perspective, how can they differentiate on paper between two candidates who write down the duties of the job even though one may have been a stellar employee and one may have been fired!
You need to ensure an employer sees what you have done well, not what you have done.
So when a recruiter looks at your cv is it full of achievements, measurables or does it look the same as the previous cv? In this marketplace you have to give the recruiter a reason to pick up the phone and talk to you as there are so many cvs coming in, they need to want to talk to you.
This is not just the cv but also how you email it in. Phrases like “I am desperate for a job” or “ I will do anything” may be written with a well intentioned mindset but do not endear you to any recruiter. Employers are not looking for an employee who would take any job, they want one who wants their job. So have a world class cv and be clear that you are applying for a specific job/ job type not just any job.
Feel free to comment below.