Writing the perfect CV can be the difference between you getting your dream job or not. However, writing the perfect CV can also seem virtually impossible. There are so many different intricacies and tricks that can help your CV stick out from the rest, but how can we know what exactly the employer is looking for in a CV?
While we may not be able to perfectly predict exactly what employers and recruiters are looking for, we can make our CVs as foolproof as possible in the hopes that they tick all their boxes.
In this article, we will take a look at everything you should be adding to your CV and everything that you should avoid adding. This will then help to give you a much clearer idea of what an employer or recruiter is looking for in the perfect CV.
The Do’s Of Writing The Perfect CV
These are the things that you must add to your CV in order to ensure that you add all of the most important and relevant information. The Do’s of writing the perfect CV are, but limited to:
Tailor Your CV For The Specific Industry/Role
This one is very much a given, but you should make sure to tailor your CV and all of the information you add to the specific industry you are applying for. This is because hiring managers will be looking for candidates with the most experience and hands-on experience in that specific job role/industry.
Adding other roles that you have had in different industries is still important. However, you should always put a particular focus on the information most relevant to the role you are applying for. This will help to impress the employer and recruiter and therefore give yourself the best possible chance of getting the job.
Keep It To 2 Pages
While you may want to add loads of information about all of the wonderful things and experiences that you have had in your life, your CV is not the place. The rule of two pages remains pretty firm so if your CV goes over it, then you have probably added unnecessary amounts of fluff.
Unless you have had 50 years of experience across 10 different industries and roles, it should be very difficult to fill 2 pages. You should be adding all your experience, all the necessary information and experience related to the role, but anything more could be considered unnecessary and irrelevant to the job role.
Follow the Correct CV Formats
Another important tip that you should always try and remember is to not try and be too out there and different when it comes to the format of your CV. Sticking to a traditional format is much safer and much easier for an employer or recruiter to understand and scan.
The traditional format that you should try and stick to features personal details (name, address, contact details), personal statement, education, work history, skills, achievements and hobbies. This is all the relevant information that an employer needs in order to gauge how suitable you are for the role.
Keep It Neat & Tidy
Your CV is the first impression that an employer or recruiter will have of you. That is why it is hugely important to make sure that the CV is neat and tidy. The easiest way of ensuring that your CV is nice and tidy is to ensure all sections are easy to read, ensure there is plenty of white space, and other things that make the overall aesthetic of the CV more appealing.
By neat and tidy, we do not just mean the formatting and layout, it also means that you need to make sure that all spelling and grammar are free of any mistakes. If an interviewing manager notices any mistakes at all, then they will almost always completely disregard and avoid the CV meaning that your chances of advancing are slim.
Backup Claims
Our CVs are the place where you make all of the claims about how amazing you are as a worker and how you have so much unbelievable experience that makes you good for the job. That is all good, but you need to back it up. Whether that is by giving examples of work, mentioning certificates, etc. This is because employers want specifics.
Adding in these specifics just helps to back up what you’re saying and also helps to make you look even better. In addition to this, don’t be afraid of gloating, your CV is your chance of selling yourself to a recruiter.
Include A Personal Statement
This is such a vital step that way too many forget to include. Most businesses when hiring will not even look at a CV which is missing some kind of personal statement or personal introduction.
The personal statement should immediately identify your strengths and weaknesses. This instantly shows the employer that you have all the skills for the job and that they are not wasting their time reading your CV.
The Don’ts Of Writing The Perfect CV
While there are so many different must-ads when creating a CV, there are also a number of must-not ads. These are incredibly important to remember and can be the difference between you getting the job or not. The don’ts of writing the perfect CV are:
Lie About Any Experience Or Qualifications
This is a huge no! Hiring managers will perform in-depth background tests on you so any lies or fabrications will be found very early on. For that reason and for the reason of common decency, you must always be truthful about any grades, qualifications, or experience that you have or do not have.
Include Irrelevant Information
Too many people fill their CVs with completely irrelevant information that overshadows the important information. Things such as nationality, age, marital status, sexual orientation, health status and other similar things are not necessary on a CV. While employees are not legally allowed to discriminate on things such as age, not mentioned just to avoid all potential possibilities of discrimination and it is not a relevant piece of information for a hiring manager.
Add Any Negative Information
This one should be obvious. Your CV should only mention the good things that you have to offer. Never mention any skills that you lack, any disciplinaries that you have had, divorces or any other unnecessary and negative information. For most roles you apply for, you will be up against very tough competition. Any negatives give the hiring manager a reason to discard your application.
Mention Salary
You should try to save any mention of salaries or other benefits until the interview stage. This is only because your current salary should have no relevance at all to your potential new salary. Mentioning salary could also give off the wrong first impression to the hiring managers and recruiters.
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