Recruiter Friendly CVs

How to ensure your CV makes the short list

Whether applying for an advertised position or sending your CV speculatively to a recruitment agency, it is likely that the recruiter will have a large number of CVs to wade through in a limited time. So keep your target audience in mind as you prepare your CV.

The Master CV

You are more likely to get an interview if your CV is tailored to your target company. The easiest way to do this is to maintain a "master" CV, a document that holds the following:

• Personal information: name, age, nationality, address, telephone number
• Employment history: company names, job titles, dates
• Training and education history: courses, dates, qualifications obtained
• Achievements summary: a list of the things you have achieved (rather than the jobs you have done) such as major projects or implementations

Tailoring the CV

The master CV can then be tailored to suit the requirements of each job application. When doing so consider:

• What are the two or three things you want the recruiter to remember at first glance
• Which of your strengths are most relevant to the application and should therefore be emphasised
• If you know what the recruiter is looking for (from a job advertisement of an agency brief) make sure that you highlight how you meet the criteria
• If your application is speculative, make sure you know what strengths are likely to be relevant in the role applied for, and why

Chronological or Targeted CV Format?

Decide which CV format is best suited to each application:

• The (reverse) chronological CV gives a history of your achievements in each job, starting with your most recent and working backwards
• The targeted CV gives your experience in a particular field of endeavour, starting with your most recent achievements and working backwards. Employment history is summarised in just a few lines.

Finding the Right Position
Things to keep in mind when looking for your next position
learn more...

Interview Techniques
Use these tips to make sure your next interview is successful
learn more...

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