Tips to make your CV stand out

A well-written CV is important to companies and recruiters, as it is the first thing we will see and make an initial impression about you. On average recruiters will only need 6-8 seconds for interest to spark in candidates when they are reviewing a CV. Although this may seem extremely short, it is a reminder of how competitive the market is and how many candidates you will be competing with for your next role. 

To help you to create a strong CV that will stand out from the crowd, we have collected tips from our candidate sourcing specialists. 

A STRONG INTRODUCTION

This section doesn't need to be masses of text, a couple of sentences would do. The introduction should summarise who you are, showing your interests, personality, and passions to further your career. 

SHOW OFF YOUR SKILL SET

Add your skills in either bullet points or a list where you can show what you can provide to a company. This should be a mix of your soft and hard skills, both are important to employers. However, if you have industry-related skills you should prioritise your CV. 

There are plenty of reasons why you should advertise your soft skills, but it is mainly to show your transferable skills that reflect your personality, work ethic, and ability to adapt. 

SHOWING YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Your employment history is key to creating a strong CV. Both companies and recruiters like to see where you have worked as it helps us to understand the details of your previous role and capabilities. 

Always ensure you bullet point your responsibilities for each role so it’s clear and easy to read. You should also cover achievements from these roles to show how you have added value to your previous companies.

ADDING DETAILS OF YOUR EDUCATION

Make sure you include dates, as well as the name of your school/college/university. This is particularly important when you apply for a role that your studies relate to, especially if you have only recently left education.  

For example: if you are applying for Marketing roles, you should always add your place of education, the University attended, and any specialist modules which developed your skillset further. 

ADDING QUALIFICATIONS AND COURSES: 

Always add any completed courses that enhanced your skill set. It shows your passion to develop further in your career and shows your willingness to learn – something most employers would value in a candidate’s profile. 

ADDING YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

Although this may seem obvious, you would be surprised how often we see contact details missed from a CV. Without your contact information, recruiters and hiring Managers will not be able to contact you about job opportunities and you could miss out on an opportunity that is perfectly suited for you.  

We always encourage CV’s to be regularly reviewed but one of the main reasons is so that your contact details are up-to-date and correct. 

Overall, your CV doesn't need to be in a fancy layout, it can be simple and contain lots of detail about you. This is everything we all look for as recruiters and we’re always happy to help you to improve your CV. 

Remember, the goal of your CV is to make a strong first impression and to demonstrate why you should be put forward for a role over other candidates, so checking for silly grammar and spelling mistakes is one of the most obvious steps to improving your CV. 

For more support with your CV or guidance to help you find a role that suits you, please contact our teams.