Authored by: Leo Rowell

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.

  1. 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, when they have finished looking at your application.
  2. 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?What is your unique selling point? It could be your skills and education that put you at the top of the pile…
  3. 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. Make it succinct – try to keep your CV at only 2 pages maximum. Don’t try to make it fancy – as long as important information is included you can keep it to a simple layout. 
  4. 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. If you have multiple different positions you’re going for, it might be a good idea to have CV templates for those roles. Customise your CV for a position, and you will slowly move to the top of the recruiters pile.
  5. 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 – and provide their contact information. Make sure you check with your referee’s that it’s okay you are using them as a reference. Having 2 strong references can be the difference between getting or not getting the job. Choose wisely!
  6. 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 and the forthcoming second lockdown, we are still working for you. Check out our social media channels in regards to our upcoming positions and contact using the information above. Until next time, goodbye!