Seven reasons your CV may be letting you down

Felicity Evans • March 11, 2015

Your CV is packed with buzz words and jargon

Are you a ‘forward-thinking problem-solver’ or a ‘dynamic, solutions-focused individual’? These sorts of phrases irritate human resources staff no end as they tell them next to nothing about what you can actually bring to the company, and they make the process of ‘sifting’ CVs that much harder. But using buzz words and jargon is a trap many fall into in the mistaken belief it will somehow convey added cleverness, so by avoiding them – and using clear, fact-based descriptions instead – you not only stand a better chance of your true values being recognised, you’ll stand out from the crowd, too.

You only have one CV

Now, we’re not suggesting that you begin a collection of wildly varying, illicit CVs, each reflecting a fantasy job you are in no way qualified to do (‘Hmm, this here’s my airline pilot CV, and this is my heart surgeon CV…’). But the flipside is almost as daft: having one ‘standard’ CV that you send for every vacancy, effectively disregarding the person specification. In a competitive job market, you must make sure you take every opportunity to shine, and the person specification is that opportunity..’

So, read the specification carefully and go through your CV, ensuring required skills are emphasised; for every post that interests you, there will be certain strengths you have that are more, or less, relevant. This may take a little longer in the short term, but it will help many more of your applications to hit the mark.*

Your Facebook page really doesn’t show you at your best

Whether or not it seems entirely reasonable, the fact is that some potential employers will try to uncover more about you by viewing your social media output. With this in mind, either make sure your Facebook pages and/or Twitter feed are well populated with content showing what an all-round good egg you are – or be prepared to switch settings to ‘private’. If your prospective boss finds evidence of what she or he considers anti-social behaviour, then your CV could come gift-wrapped with a free unicorn – it will still go in the bin.

Your skills are creative or practical, and you’ve only got a paper CV

If your job involves making or designing things, performing or coaching, then take full advantage of easy and accessible content sharing by creating showreels, videos or websites. It’s not hard to do – there are plenty of how-to guides online – and even something simple will not only showcase your talents, but also prove you understand how important and relevant the multi-media approach is.

Your CV doesn’t reflect the career stage you’ve reached

This is something even the most conscientious CV writer can be guilty of, especially if, like many, your CV doesn’t really get an outing from one decade to the next. But the fact is, at different stages of your career, your CV will almost certainly benefit from following different formats. Recent graduates should put their qualifications at the top, plus any skills gained through attending courses or in a work environment (this could include volunteering). Those beginning to climb further up their chosen career ladder can use a ‘reverse chronology’ format, where they begin with their most recent post and work backwards to their first (or first relevant) post. Finally, a change of career means you should begin your CV with the transferable skills you’ve gained, detailing where appropriate how those skills proved invaluable to past employers. For example: your strong negotiating won several blue-chip clients; your knowledge of IT meant you saved time and money by implementing a new system, and so forth.

Your CV is perfect! (But your cover letter is awful…)

Now, you’ve taken all our advice and your CV could not be better. But do remember that the covering letter is just as important, because it’s what most hirers will read first. As with the CV, make sure all spelling and grammar are accurate, but also refer back to the person specification, highlighting how you fit the bill. Last but not least, demonstrate why you find working for the company appealing, and make it clear you’ve researched them and are keen to join the team.

You’ve used Comic Sans

Don’t. Just don’t.

* Here at Recruit Mint, we sit down and take time to work out what your strengths and weaknesses are, enabling you to improve your CV in the process and to work out what kind of jobs require which of your skills.

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