You applied to many vacancies, but have gotten little to no answer, so you start to wonder what happened. How can you make your application stand out? The answer is quite simple: your CV should have the answer to six key questions.
In the next few minutes, you will learn how to make a complete killer CV that will get you further up the selection process.
Your CV As Your Personal Pitch
Think of your CV as the first encounter you will have with the company. What is the impression you would like to leave the organization with? The idea is to summarize your experience, knowledge, and abilities into one or two pages, and the degree to which these questions are answered will have a huge impact on whether you are called for an interview or not. So, your answers must be strong, relevant, and with purpose.
The 6 questions your CV must answer:
1. What are your main skills?
Your potential employer will spend a few seconds reading your CV, so you need to make it easy for them to see what your main skills are and that you have got what it takes to be successful in their organization. The best way to do this is by listing your skills and the most relevant ones to the position near the top of your CV. Bullet points always catch more attention than a small paragraph, so go for it! Remember to list your technical skills and soft skills, this will give the reader an idea of what your potential is, and to what extent it can grow.
2. What is your current, and future potential?
The world keeps changing, and with it, the working environment. That is why now companies are turning their focus to your potential rather than your years of experience. To do this, first describe your current potential: what are you good at now and how can you apply this to the role? Try using some words in the job description that are relevant to your experience, this will help you engage the reader and continue checking out your resume.
On top of that, recruiters would also like to know you have visionary goals and plan to keep moving forward in your career. To do this you could describe your ambitions in the personal statement, and link them to the role you are applying to show how this position can help you achieve them.
3. What is your practical experience?
Give a clear description of your professional experience, with details like the name of the company, location, start and end dates, and job responsibilities. Providing straightforward information in this area of your CV is crucial, as recruiters will truly appreciate it. If you have any large gaps between professional experiences, be ready to explain them in the interview!
4. How have you developed during your career?
After each professional experience, add a short sentence highlighting your achievements and personal growth in each company. This will show the recruiter that you have grown professionally and that you have a capacity for continuous learning and development. Also, adding a few skills you have picked up from that experience will demonstrate your self-awareness and honesty. One thing is to say you are skilled in an area, another is to show that you have actually put it into practice.
5. What value can you add to the company?
Adding to the previous point, when describing your experiences in previous companies, you want the reader to understand the accomplishments and strengths you have gained while working there. The idea is not to list your responsibilities and duties, but rather show how you added value to that role, the same way you could add value to the position you are applying to. Focus on your biggest accomplishment for each role!
6. Why are you interested in this job and organization?
Remember that your CV should be tailored for each job you apply to. Recruiters want to know you are genuinely interested in the position, the organization, and industry, and they look for this in the words you use to describe your passion and experiences. So, before adjusting your CV, think and reflect on what it was about the job that made you want to apply, and why do you think you are a good fit? Researching the company and the industry can greatly help you answer these questions. Maybe the company’s mission aligns with your values, or there is a particularity in their working culture that you are attracted to. Once you have this clear, write your personal statement. Make sure you show you have done your research on the company, as this will get you positive points!
Make an effort to ensure that your CV has no errors. As we have established in this blog, your CV must be relevant to the reader, but even if you tailor it to the role you are applying to, your hard work will be lost if it is full of errors. Proofreading your CV and checking for any grammar, format, or any type of mistakes will show your commitment and proactive attitude.
Now you know what key questions your CV should cover, so, make sure you spend some time tailoring your resume and making it relevant to the company! Looking forward to a change in your career path? Check out our opportunities here!
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