The job application process is never easy, at any stage of your career. What is often the case, perhaps ironically, is that those at the top end of the career ladder can find it more difficult to move from their position. This may be because the talent pool is smaller but more contested, or the requirements for the position are increasingly specific. Whatever the reason, any way to stand out to a potential employer is crucial, and with all job processes, it starts with the CV.
We have listed 4 tips to help ensure your CV is as effective and impactful as possible, giving you the best chance to succeed in your next application:
Highlight Your Aims
When looking for your next role, you often know exactly what you are looking for, especially at executive level. This may be based on title, content or company. Being sure to tailor your CV to the specific requirements of a role can make the difference in the hiring process. Yet, how do you go about highlighting your aims? If you’re looking to move into a operational oversight role, such as a COO, then highlighting your experiences and achievements that may have been outside of your remit could be the key to shine a light on your resume.
Understand your Personal USP
Identifying and bringing to the fore specific examples of your work, great achievements and impacts during your time at a company, can really keep your CV at the top of the pile. Thinking about what you have specifically brought to employers in the past is the best way to inform your next employer of what you can offer.
Less is More
When applying for roles, especially those with increasingly specific requirements, it can feel tempting to list every single point in details to ensure there is no doubt of your suitability. However, this can often be a detriment to your application. CV’s serve as a précis of your career, education and lifestyle, it is crucial to keep it clean and simple.
Be Persuasive
Try to move away from the idea of your CV being a proposal to a company, think of it as an argument for yourself. For the employer, or recruiter reading you CV, often they have never spoken to you or seen you, this document is your first impression and it needs to be a good one. Build a case for your value to a company and the skills you have acquired. You need to persuade whomever is reading it, to want to meet you