Keyword your CV
Including appropriate key words not only helps align your skills and experience to the job requirements but also makes your CV searchable in job board databases. When there are likely to be hundreds of CVs to choose from these key words will ensure that your CV is picked up by whichever scanning software being used.
The way to select the keys words is to identify them in the job advertisement and make sure you use these words in your summary, in describing your skills and in your career history section. Choose what you think best sums you up and match these characteristics to the job specification. For example, 'Skilled communicator and organiser with supervisory experience and a great eye for detail.'
Less is more
Only include what is most relevant to the job being advertised. Delete anything that could detract from your application, such as temporary work in a different sector, or unrelated skills.
What can you offer the employer?
Target your CV to the employer's needs by considering your application from their point of view and working out what you can bring to the role to solve their business problems.
Results, not descriptions
Focus on career successes rather than job descriptions. A SAR (Situation - Action - Results) format helps you frame achievements within the context of a business situation. Find examples where you took action to solve a problem, and describe the long and short term results of this action. Did you increase sales or win new business? Cut costs or save money?
Choose strong, positive vocabulary to showcase your achievements and support with figures to quantify your impact Action verbs such as 'increase', 'expand', 'manage' or 'deliver' create powerful images which sell your results.
As irmcallister in the forums recently posted:
"Results, more than anything, will speak to a level of leadership ability, and will provide demonstrable information without the hint of self-aggrandisement. Figures not only draw attention, they are hard to dispute as evidence of (leadership) ability."
Bullet-point these examples to make them clearly visible.
Using success-based stories is just as useful for career changers, as
most achievements (even small) are relevant whatever the sector or role. An employer can see the contribution you made and imagine you using the same skills and strengths to solve problems and add value in the new job.
Highlighting your achievements in this way will also help you prepare
for the 'Tell me about your strengths' type of question at interview.
More good advice from irmcallister:
"If you think forward to interview, then you can have that prime example
of the skills deployment, and a couple in reserve. It tends to guide the
interview to a 'and how did you do this' situation, which they can then
probe."
Avoid cliches such as 'results-oriented' or 'team player' which actually mean nothing without explanation. Instead, provide concrete examples to prove your qualities. Hard facts make you stand out.
Clear layout
Make it easy for the employer to see you as a strong candidate by
putting key information in the top half of the first page. Use a
straightforward font like Arial which prints well, and also looks good
printed from PDF. Avoid long sentences, and use headings, bold and
bullet points for emphasis. Plenty of white space around the text also
makes your CV easy to read.
A one or two-page CV is fine for most jobs. If you need to shorten
yours, include only the last five to ten years' experience. You can slim down your CV by just putting dates / titles for your earliest experience. If you've had a series of very similar jobs, avoid repetition by grouping the most relevant workplace skills into your skills section, then just listing employers (or temp agencies) with the dates.
Accuracy
If you can, get someone else to proofread for spelling, grammar and punctuation. If you can't, give yourself enough time to leave your application for a day or two before you send it. This will allow you to approach your CV with fresher eyes and you will be more likely to pick up typos.
Obviously ensure your contact details are correct. And always assume your references will be checked so don't stretch the truth about work experience.
If you have questions about your CV post in the forums.
