Our last blog gave you some key principles for your CV; today we start to think about content – what should you include if you want to get that job?
As if applying for jobs wasn’t hard enough, these days you can never quite be sure who is going to read your application. In some cases, it is an HR department or Recruitment Team; other times, you should send it directly to the person who line manages the role. Just to make it more complicated, many larger organisations also use automated tracking software (ATS) to filter applications before they even get seen by a human being. Here are some top tips to make sure that your application gets read:
Personalise!
It sounds like a pain, but it makes a world of difference. Anyone who has to read a lot of CVs can tell if you have simply adapted from the internet, or if you are sending the same CV to loads of different employers. Even small adjustments make a big difference; if I am a hiring manager, I want to know that you are not just applying for a job, but my job.
Automated tracking systems? They sound scary!
It would be lovely if a human being was reading your CV every time, but companies receive hundreds of applications and so they may want to speed up the process. The good thing is that you know that the ATS is looking for – scan the job adervtisement (especially the person specification) and highlight the key skills. These are likely the words and phrases that the ATS is looking for, so if you can include these on your CV then you stand a good chance of getting though to the next stage.
Use strong headings and consider bullet points
Your CV needs to be easy to read; if I am a hiring manager with fifty CVs to read, I am not going to enjoy reading large chunks of dense text. Break it up by using headings, sub-heading and bullet points, and use these to help you avoid writing long paragraphs or stories.
Include evidence of the things you have done
Once you have got your headings sorted out, demonstrate what you can offer. Don’t just resort to narrative such as “in my previous jobs I have served customers, operated the till and restocked the shelves”. It is much better to lead with relevant skills, for example, “I have strong communication skills and flexibility, as demonstrated from my retail experience”. Remember, use the person specification to help you decide which skills are most relevant.
To whom should you address your covering letter/email?
Good question! Let’s start with something you should not do: “To whom it may concern” is not the best thing to write. If possible, find out the name of the person who will be reading your application; this might involve calling up the company, or doing some research on their website or LinkedIn. If you really cannot find out (or if they won’t tell you) it is usually safest to use “Dear Sir/Madam”*
I need to update my CV; I have had a few interviews but am not getting the jobs
Don’t worry, your CV is probably ok; it is a chance for you to show your suitability on paper (or the screen), and they wouldn’t want to interview you if you hadn’t done a good job with your CV. We will cover this situation in more depth in a future blog post.
* There is currently some debate as to whether “Dear Sir/Madam” is outdated, due to the binary gender distinction. At the time of writing there is no particular preferred alternative, but it will be interesting to see what phrases come into common usage over the next few months and years.
[Cover photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels]
Karuna CV 