A good CV can mean the difference between you securing the interview and not. At BSS, our recruiters have viewed 1000’s of interviews, and know what makes a good CV. To ensure you the best possibility of gaining an interview, we’ve come up with 6 tips to make your CV stand out from the crowd.
- START STRONG – Make sure that your CV starts strong and catches the employer’s eye in the first 20 words. If this is weak, it will be discarded straight away. Keep it clear and structured & make sure that your important information such as your address, phone number and email are attached at the top of the page. This means the recruiter will be able to contact you more easily.
- HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT – What is it that you bring to the table? Is it that you’re an organised person? Are you a team player? Do you have a clean employment track record? It could be your skills and education that put you at the top of the pile…Whatever it is, your unique selling point is by far one of the most important points as to why someone will want to employ you.
- DON’T OVERDO IT – It can be very tempting to list every single job that you’ve ever chucked a hammer at, but think about the most relevant, recent positions or, list the projects that you are proudest of on your CV. Think of your CV almost like you are telling a story. Make it succinct – try to keep your CV at only 2 pages maximum.
- TAILOR YOUR CV FOR EACH JOB YOU APPLY FOR – In the past, just using one CV for all job applications would’ve been satisfactory, now, employers are looking for more specific information in your CV related to that position you are applying for. The generic CV is a thing of the past. Customise your CV for a position, and you will slowly move to the top of the recruiters pile.
- PROVIDE 2 REFERENCES – Long gone are the days of ‘references available upon request’. In the digital world we are now living in, we’re able to contact people faster than ever. Put 2 references on your CV – this can be past employers or educators. Provide their relevant information and of course, pre-warn them that you will use them as a referee.
- PROOFREAD IT – This is possibly one of the most important of all the tips. Often, you will be unable to spot all of the mistakes and errors that you’ve made, therefore, get a friend of family member to go through your CV with you and proofread it from start to finish. It often helps for you to hear it being read to you, because 9/10 how it is read out loud is how it sounds to an employer when they are reading it.
So there we have it! Our 6 tips on how to make your CV stand out from the crowd! At BSS, we want you to know that despite the pandemic, we are still working for you. Check out our social media channels in regards to our upcoming positions and send your CV and information to info@buildstaff.ie or give us a call on 017071012.
