On average, recruiters spend just 8.8 seconds reading your CV. This means you have less than a sixth of a minute to sell yourself and your strengths to the reader.
This is easier said than done: three quarters of CVs are rejected due to bad grammar, spelling and poor visual layout.
So what makes a successful job application? We asked career experts for their tips. Here is a step-by-step Guardian Jobs guide on how to create the perfect CV.
The general writing style:
It's vital your CV is as tailored and concise as possible. One of the simplest mistakes job hunters make is not matching their experience to the new job role. "It's essential to look down the list of requirements and show against each point how you can do each one," says Jon Gregory, a job search, application and interview coach.
Sometimes it's not enough to match your skills, you have to use the recruiter's language too. "Some recruiters score CVs point by point so it's important to state your skills and experience explicitly. For example, if the job description says they want 'public speaking skills' and you write 'I held regular presentations' you should instead explicitly state 'I have developed my public speaking skills by holding regular presentations' this will make it easy for them to quickly pinpoint your skills."
It's also important to drop the cliches. "Words like passionate and phrases like 'I'm excellent at' are overused," says Gregory. "Show your passion rather than say it. Don't use subjective statements like 'I can hit the ground running' instead use objective proof that you have demonstrated those skills – such as a list of numbers and achievements."
Lis McGuire, founder of Giraffe CVs, agrees you should avoid cliches: "The most important thing to leave off a CV is white noise – essentially anything that isn't directly relevant to the job role you're applying. For non-relevant work simply give the bare bones and instead focus on explaining relevant experience that will win you the role."
In summary, your writing style should be professional, concise and specific to the job you're applying to. Make it as easy as possible for them to scan your CV and tick boxes, advise the experts.
How to write a personal profile:
The personal profile is often tricky. How can you strike the perfect professional yet enthusiastic voice? Without a profile your CV is just a list without context, points out McGuire. "Use it to show the reader who you are and the value you can bring."
But how exactly can this be done? "Your CV profile should strive to provide a balanced complement of skills, achievements, and softer attributes that will engage the reader," advises Debra Wheatman, founder and owner of Careers Done Write. "I generally recommend that the summary comprises 4-5 lines with a relevant example to quickly engage the reader."
Your profile should sum up exactly who you are and whether you're a good fit for the role, says Gregory. Likewise, Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree, says: "Make it specific, interesting and relevant to the job. Highlight the key skills and experiences you have and the kinds of environments you have worked in."
How to format your CV
Your CV should be easy to read, says Archer. "Choose a clear font and use 11pt font size as a minimum. Make sure it is not text dense: use bullet points to help your achievements stand out and keep plenty of space around the text."
Clarity for the potential employer is important, agrees McGuire. "Make sure all your relevant skills and attributes are prominent on the first page of your CV and easy to see."
Regarding job descriptions, research suggests three bullet points per role is the optimum number for a CV. "I personally favour short paragraphs followed by three bullet points. Recruiters scan a CV very quickly so make it easy for them to tick boxes," says Gregory.
However, whether you use bullet points or paragraphs make sure your text is bite-size. "Blocks of text are very off-putting so keep it short," says McGuire. "Also make your CV a visually appealing page – use clear headings to signpost the reader."
On the other hand it's important not to be too brief. "Make sure your bullet points contain a bit of substance and evidence rather than just subjective statements," says Mark Ferrer, senior recruitment partner at Macmillan. For this, numbers are a handy tool: "Show you have delivered the results they are looking for by using data to quantify your achievements."
Final tips:
Lastly, it's important that your CV has a confident voice. "Feel good about your skills and experience. You need to believe in yourself that you're right for the role to get someone to believe in you," says McGuire.
High-energy is another attribute valued by employers, so it's a good idea to show you are somebody who makes things happen. "This can be more difficult than you think," says Gregory. "Pull out examples of times when you've taken the initiative and made things happen to show you're proactive."
Essentially, you want your CV to reflect your skills, achievements and experience in a way that is tailored to the job role, confident and enthusiastic. "Nowadays, everyone has to up their game with CVs," says McGuire. "You've really got to make every sentence count and quantify all of your achievements."
Content provided by Guardian Jobs
