3 steps to sharpen your CV
Let’s make sure your CV is a cut above the rest!
Have you been applying for jobs recently?
If so, you’ve probably got a copy of your CV. Before you send it off with your next application, we’ve got some tips to help you make it as polished as possible.
Step One: Cut out the fluff
For starters, fluffy language, and vague phrases dull the impact of your profile. Consider the following overused buzzwords:
- Specialise
- Experienced
- Skilled
- Leadership
- Passionate
- Expert
- Motivated
- Creative
- Strategic
- Focused
These words are quite generic and don’t add much value to your profile. Instead, make your CV cutting edge by using them sparingly.
Also, make sure your CV is as easy to read as possible by breaking things up; looking at a large block of text can be off putting! Consider dicing up your employment history descriptions into bullet points. Get rid of flowery language in your personal profile and cut long sentences into short, sharp ones.
Basically, less is more!
Which brings me to my next point…
Step Two: Show don’t tell
The real meat and potatoes of any CV are the accomplishments. These help you stand out, and show the recruiter how you can add value to their organisation.
However, don’t just say what your accomplishments are. Stating that you are successful isn’t very convincing. Instead, we want to show them the evidence and let your accomplishments speak for themselves.
Showing the evidence to back up your success is far more persuasive than just stating your success.
Here are tools to help you show and not tell:
A) Action Verbs
Action verbs such as ‘implemented’ or ‘created’ are a great way to introduce your strengths and talents.
Consider the two sentences below:
A: I enjoy using software for original video content for Instagram
B: I designed, edited and published original video content for Instagram
See the difference?
The action verbs in the second sentence creates an ‘active voice’, which is clear and direct.
This gives the recruiters the impression that you are someone who takes control, can add value to the company and acts independently — all desirable traits in a candidate.
So, use strong action verbs throughout your CV to highlight your strengths.
Here is a list of action verbs to help get you started.
B) Figures
Achievements are much more persuasive when you can quantify and compare them. For example, instead of saying “I helped my department save money”, it’s much more interesting to read that you “ decreased departmental costs by 15%.”
Numbers are a distinctive way to show the recruiter how you added value in the past, so definitely include them in your CV.
Here are some more examples:
- Time — “I logged 20 hours with my team”
- Finances — “ I decreased departmental costs by 15%”
- Percentages — “ I single-handedly increased sales by 10% in the first quarter”
- Size — “ I looked after 20 clients for 3 months”
Step Three: Tailor each CV to the job description
Applying for jobs can be very time consuming, so it’s understandable that you may want to submit the same CV for different applications.
However, when it comes to CVs, one size doesn’t always fit all.
Sharpen up your CV by taking the time to tailor it to the job requirements of each role.
This doesn’t mean than you need to start from scratch every time you apply for something new.
Instead, create a master CV template and tweak it when necessary so that it better fits the role.
Look at the educational requirements, day to day tasks and skill-sets that have been listed in the job description: does your employment history demonstrate that you meet those specific requirements?
After all, it’s highly unlikely that any two roles would have the exact same job description. So your CV should adapt accordingly.
A good way to think about this is to put yourself in the employer’s shoes — based on the job description, what kind of candidate would you want to see?
Whilst the job description will usually give you many clues about the type of attitude they want, it’s good to also do your own research on the company culture.
Understanding their values and mission statement will give you a better picture of the type of personality they are looking for. So, be sure to visit their website and research the company to identify their core organisational values.
Then, you can use your CV to demonstrate how you’d be a great cultural fit.
For example, if the company values excellent client service and you’ve worked in hospitality, you could discuss how you delivered excellent customer service in your previous roles.
Or, if you’re applying for a not-for profit organisation, you could give examples of volunteer work you’ve done to show that you genuinely care about social causes.
In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to stand out. With these three tips, you’ll be able to polish up your CV and stand a better chance of getting through to the next stage: the interview.
