One common misconception about CVs is that they are a mere listing of the work you have done in the past – but they are much more than that. CVs are a way to market yourself to potential employers to get an interview and show how you can contribute to their company.
Simply Hired has put together some CV tips to sell your abilities to potential employers and help you stand out against other applicants:
Focus on Accomplishments. Getting your CV selected from hundreds of other applicants’ is a challenge. But a simple way to do this is to convert a CV that lists the job description for each position held into a listing of your accomplishments while in each role. Instead of describing your responsibilities at each job, show what you specifically accomplished. For example, instead of “Sold advertising space and sponsorship opportunities to clients in the healthcare industry,” you should say “Sold £3 million in advertising space and sponsorships to 300 clients in the healthcare industry.”
Tailor Your CV. Another way to stand out against other applicants is to specifically tailor your CV to the position you are applying for and prove you have the expertise to be successful in that role. To do this, look closely at the job description in the listing and address the job’s requirements within your CV. Your CV should show how your accomplishments and duties at previous jobs relate to the position, and include in your skills section any technical abilities you have that the position requires. This extra step may take some time, but it will pay off long-term.
Proofread! Finally, and it might sound obvious, but proofread your CV! It should not include any spelling or grammar mistakes, or a single typo. If an employer finds a mistake on your CV, they may think you didn’t care enough to proofread. And don’t just look your CV over once before sending it off. Read through it again after taking a break. Then send it to your friends, your parents, your dog Fido (okay, maybe not your dog) – anyone who can be a second set of eyes and read through your CV coming from a fresh perspective. They may catch something you didn’t notice or identify an awkward sentence.
Your CV usually is the first interaction between you and a potential employer, so make it a good one. Following these CV tips will help your CV stand out among the rest of the competition and land you an interview at the job of your dreams!
