Your CV is the first impression you make on a potential employer. A well-written CV highlights your skills and experience but also demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail.

HOWEVER. Systems are reading your CV’s and are helping it bubble to the top of a list, or fall like a lead weight to the bottom of the rejection pile.
Understand the Purpose of a CV
A CV/Resume is like an advertisement, it’s a document that summarises your education, work experience, skills, and achievements. Its job is to showcase your suitability for a specific role and convince employers to invite you for an interview.
In the old days, your CV was to show you off - now it needs to be tailored to the role more than ever to highlight the most relevant parts of your background.
Start with a Strong Profile Statement
Your profile sits at the top of your CV and is your chance to grab the employer’s attention. In a paragraph or two, summarise who you are, your career goals, and what you can bring to the role.
For example:
"A highly motivated marketing professional with over five years of experience in digital campaigns. Skilled in SEO strategy, data analysis, and content creation. Currently seeking a role to drive innovative campaigns and contribute to organisational growth."
You can also get in some keywords that relate to soft skills here too (motivated, dynamic etc).

Structure Your CV Correctly
A clear, logical structure makes your CV easy to read. Use the following sections:
1. Personal Details:
Include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if relevant). Avoid including unnecessary details that can cause bias like your date of birth or marital status.
2. Profile:
As mentioned above.
3. Work Experience:
List your employment history in reverse chronological order. Include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and key responsibilities or achievements. Use bullet points for clarity.
4. Education:
Summarise your qualifications, starting with the most recent. Include the institution name, qualification obtained, and dates attended.
5. Skills (optional):
Highlight specific skills relevant to the job, such as technical abilities, languages, or soft skills like communication and teamwork.
6. Additional Sections (optional):
Depending on the role, you might include sections for certifications, volunteer
experience, or hobbies and interests.
Just remember to keep it relevant to the role.

Use Keywords from the Job Description
Tailor your CV for each application by including keywords from the job description. Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen CVs, so incorporating these keywords increases your chances of passing the initial stage. You need to be ruthless with this. 5 years ago, it was good practice , now with more people applying for jobs
all over the world, you need to be spot on with it. Great people are failing at the first hurdle because their CV doesn’t have the right keywords and is being rejected by a computer.
Quantify Your Achievements
Whenever possible, use numbers to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
For instance:
Increased website traffic by 35% through targeted SEO strategies.
Managed a team of 10 to deliver projects on time and within budget.
Keep It Concise
Your CV should ideally be no more than two A4 pages. Use clear headings, professional fonts (like Arial or Calibri), and plenty of white space to make it visually appealing.
Proofread Thoroughly
Spelling and grammar mistakes (especially when your role is detail oriented) can undermine you. Use tools like Grammarly and ask a friend or mentor to review your CV before submitting it.
Include a Cover Letter
A tailored cover letter complements your CV and gives you an opportunity to explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the role. Use it to expand on specific points and show your enthusiasm for the job. Don’t just rehash your CV. Be memorable!
Most of the time, if a role does not ask for a cover letter, I’d not be bothered to do one, unless it doesn’t make obvious sense why you are applying (10 years experience as a Project manager and now applying to work in a retail store). Or you have a really strong connection to the role (applying for a pet rescue centre because you and your family have rescued dogs for 3 generations).
Final Thoughts
Writing a great base CV takes time and effort, but can be sped up by getting some help. You might find reading this that you have already applied for 100+ jobs with very little return. Tailoring your CV and following the points above should get you to about 15%. By tailoring your CV to each job, focusing on achievements, and ensuring a clean and
professional presentation, you’ll increase your chances of landing an interview.
Remember, your CV is a living document—update it regularly to reflect your latest experiences and accomplishments.
I offer a CV build service, where I do the first CV for you, as you watch, where you are then gaining the skills to be able to replicate this process of tailoring your CV to each role. After our session, you should be able to complete further tailored CV’s in under 15 minutes.
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