Job hunting is never easy and can be a long, disheartening process which involves rejection after rejection.
According to StandOutCV, just two percent of applicants actually make it to an interview, with advertised jobs receiving around 250 CVs on average. That means that applicants who may be a great fit for a role might miss out on opportunities just because their CV wasn't convincing enough.
Thankfully, careers expert Robbie Bryant, from Open Study College, has shared some of the key things needed for an interview-worthy CV that could increase your chance of joining the 'two percent club'.
Robbie said: "Start your CV with a short personal statement. No more than three to five lines that summarise who you are and why you’re interested in that specific job role.
"This is where you should detail the skills, experience, and attributes that the employer is looking for, and why you’re going for that job."
He said that the most important thing here is to ensure you address the job you're applying for, and to do so it may be worth thinking outside the box.
"Everyone applying for the job will have a CV and probably a personal statement too, so try to think about something you could do to stand out from the crowd," Robbie explained. "For example, if you’re applying for a social media-based role, why not show off your skills and turn your CV into a TikTok series?"
The expert adds that a personal touch and lasting impression goes a long way, which you can do by connecting with them on LinkedIn and messaging them. According to Robbie, this small gesture "goes a long way".
However, the added flare must not lower the quality of your application. A CV should be "relevant, professional, and free from inaccuracies", says Robbie.
He goes on: "If the job you’re applying for requires specific skills that you don’t have, don’t fabricate them on your CV.
"You’d only be setting yourself up to fail further down the line which doesn’t benefit anyone. Spend time searching for the right job role for you.
"Looking for one that fits with your knowledge and experience is a much better use of time than applying for endless jobs you know you aren’t quite right for and give you a much better chance of joining the elusive two percent club.”
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