“Your first impression is your main impression”
Although not always true, it is most definitely the case when it comes to job hunting, interviews and CVs. The job market has changed significantly in the last few years and it has become increasingly hard to stand out. Due to COVID and fewer in-person interviews, recruiters are placing more value on your CV (and online presentation) than ever before. A recruiter will spend an average of ONLY 6 seconds on your CV, SIX SECONDS! In these 6 seconds, they will decide whether your application is fit for further investigation.
We are here to help you avoid that seemingly endless “No” list.
Here are 5 key components to include on your CV to set you apart from the rest:
1. Contact Information
Arguably the most important piece of information to have would be the contact information. Correct, up-to-date and reachable contact details. Recruiters need to have a clear line of communication with you to notify you on the progress of your application or invite you for a second interview. A cell phone number or email address should be enough.
2. Professional Experience
This has been widely debated as the most important part of a CV because it gives the recruiter an idea of what you can do based on what you’ve done. Include where you have worked, for how long and what your roles and responsibilities have been. Include important details while keeping it short and sweet. What did you learn? How did you add value to the role? Include numbers, for example, “I was responsible for corresponding with 16 clients on a weekly basis.”
3. Reword your CV to be relevant to the position you’re applying for
Get the attention of your recruiter using keywords from the job posting itself. For instance, if the posting states that it is looking for internally motivated, independent workers, use these words to describe yourself.
4. Skills and Competencies
Paint a picture of who you are in a professional (and even in a personal) capacity. Describe your soft skills (or transferable skills), for example, good communication, conflict management, and creative problem-solving. You should also include hard skills: physical or tangible skills you have, for example, being able to use certain software’s or being proficient in computational languages such as Python or JavaScript.
5. Make it Interactive
An amazing way to set your CV apart from the rest is to make it clickable. This allows recruiters to interact with your CV, especially since CVs are generally submitted electronically, this provides an easier stream of access to your portfolios, which is a unique feature 4Time Creatives provides when revamping your CV.
Every job and every person is different, your CV should reflect that. Ensure you’re your CV is an accurate representation of you, your unique traits and your skills. Lastly, remember to always tailor your CV per application and get someone else to proofread it.
Stay true to yourself and what you stand for and let your work do the rest!
Written by
Thato Maja
Social Media Strategist at 4Time Creatives
