Recruiters receive 100’s if not thousands of CV’s every month! How do you ensure that your CV gets noticed and looked at midst the masses? You will need to ensure that your CV stands out from the rest! Herewith a few easy to do tips to ensure that you get past the initial screening & noticed by the recruiters.
Are you a good fit for the Job?
The first thing is to ensure that you meet the qualifications and minimum criteria for the position. If not, you are wasting everyone’s time, your own included.
Customise your Resume
Don’t send the same generic CV in for every job. Take the time to customise it by highlighting your relevant qualifications and experience.
Include your most Relevant Skills
List all your most relevant skills on your CV. Including job-specific skills, soft-skills, hard skills as well as interpersonal skills. Make sure that you highlight your skills that are listed as a minimum requirement for the position.
Include a Cover Letter
Add a cover letter to your application, even if it is not required. It is the best way to highlight your qualifications and suitability for a position. You can use your cover letter to focus on the experience that best suits you for the job.
Focus on Formatting
Be sure to use a readable font size – 10 to 12 works well. Use a basic, simple font like Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman. Use bold and italics to highlight job titles and employers. Ensure your spacing is correct and similar throughout the document.
Easy Flow
Your CV must have an easy flow, must be easy to read, uncluttered and relevant. A more compact and shorter CV is more appealing to recruiters and employers. Ideally, your CV should include the following Information:
- Full Name & Surname
- ID Number & Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Contact details, including telephone numbers, mobile numbers, email addresses
- Address (Physical and Postal).
- Gender
- Marital Status & Dependants
- Transport, including Drivers License Code
- Languages
- Professional Associations like the HPCSA, SAOA etc
- Educational Information
- Secondary & Tertiary
- The year started & completed
- Subjects & Distinctions
- Achievements, Awards and Leadership Roles
- Institutions
- Course/Degree Name
- Duration of degree/course
Profile, Heading, Photo & Interests
It is important to add a profile where you describe yourself in a few sentences (professional capacity). List your characteristics, ambitions and future plans. Include a professional yet friendly head and shoulders photograph. An eye-catching headline is a great way to grab the readers attention. Focus on what you can offer employers. List hobbies and interests, including special professional interests.
Employment - Reverse Chronological Order
Ensure that you list your current/last job first (reverse chronological order). Ensure that your work experience is listed accurately and that your dates are correct. If there are gaps between jobs, note it and let recruiters & employers know what you were up to when you did not work.
Employment History (for each position held)
- Dates from and to (Months and years worked) Eg, Jan 2017 – Dec 2019
- Name of Company
- Type of Business
- Role
- Duties
- Contact Person, Telephone number & Email Adress for a Reference Check
Social Media
It’s a good idea to include the URL of your LinkedIn profile on your CV. Do take the time to make sure your resume matches your LinkedIn profile. Avoid inappropriate content on your Social Media Profiles. Recruiters and Employers look at your profiles– if you like it or not!
Before you send your CV
- Check for Typos and grammatical errors.
- Give your file a recognisable Name: Eg, CV Peter Pan April 2020
- Where possible, include both a PDF and a Word Copy of your CV. Avoid unknown formats, programmes & links.
- When completing your details online – ensure that the information is accurate and complete. List/Update your CV with Optivet
- Include certificates, qualifications and other relevant documents. Save each document separately.
Once your CV gets noticed, the Recruiter will get in contact with you to discuss the available opportunity. A phone call is often part of the screening process, so don’t get caught off guard. Be prepared to answer questions related to your CV, current employment and expectations.
