Why is your CV going unnoticed?

Having trouble landing your next gig? In this article, our recruitment experts delve into some reasons why your CV may not be performing as well as it should and share their advice on how it could be improved.

 

You’re waffling 

 

Let’s be honest, the person hiring you doesn’t want to read a novel when they open your application. Be to the point about your skills and hireability and save your creative writing skills for the cover letter. A good way to reduce word count is to go through your CV and remove all the words you don’t need i.e. does the sentence still make sense if you remove those words? Refining your CV will significantly enhance its conciseness, ensuring clarity and impact.

 

Your CV looks messy

 

A messy CV is a recruiter’s worst nightmare. Make sure your CV follows a traditional format with your experience laid out in reverse chronological order. It should look something like this:

 

-Name and current title in bold

-Contact information 

-Summary

-Work experience 

-Education 

-Extracurricular 

Also ensure you are consistent with your choice of font. We recommend using something basic like Arial, Cambria or Calibri so that your application can be read easily by screening software programmes. 

 

You’re being rejected by a robot

As mentioned above, some companies use screening softwares to filter applications based on suitability. Often, a candidate’s suitability is decided based on the keywords used in their CV. This is why it’s important to do some keyword research and adjust your CV accordingly. Start by mirroring the wording used in the job description and then expand your search either organically (which words would you search when looking for a candidate to fill this role?) or using an online tool

 

Your achievements aren’t tangible

If you can, try using metrics to back up your achievements (e.g. grew X by 80%). Being specific helps your hiring manager better visualise what you’re capable of and why you should be shortlisted for an interview!

We hope you found this blog useful. Send us your CV today and we can help you find your next interim role quickly and effectively. Give us a call on 0203 929 4017 today.