What Recruiters Want To See In Your CV
What Recruiters Want To See In Your CV If this is your first time applying for a design job, you know how confusing it can be. And if you’ve never been through the process before, you really don’t know what to expect. However, just remember one thing: Your CV is crucial. I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Numerous times in numerous different articles and books. We all know it’s true though. I mean, recruiters and employers want to see experience in there – that goes without saying – but what do they want to see specifically? However, to ensure that you make a great first impression. You will have to include the most important things, which a recruiter wants to see on a CV. This guide will help you understand exactly what you should keep in your CV and what not to. Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for and for recruiters: This does sound “obvious” doesn’t it? Yes. Well, you will be shocked to find out that a lot of candidates make the mistakes. They put unnecessary information that does not relate to the job they are applying for. Recruiters like it when potential candidates put just the exact information. They like what is needed, like relevant experience, a desire to do the job that is being advertised. Before you hit that ‘submit’ button, make sure that your CV is tailored to the job you are applying for. Be selective about the information you include for recruiters: As a potential candidate, you should not put information in your CV that may come back to haunt you. For example; Never put your full address or your picture in your CV. Why you ask? This is because having a photo of you opens up to a lot of discrimination. Whether intentional or unintentional. The way you look will not hamper how you do your job so your photo should not be in your CV. As far as address goes, you would not want someone knowing “exactly” where you live now.Do you? So, do not put this information. While drafting your CV, you should select relevant information and opt out of putting any details that seems unnecessary. List your work experience in chronological order to show recruiters: A recruiter receives huge volume of applications. Just for one role so you should make sure that the first work experience they see is relevant to the position you are applying for. If you are looking to work as a Social Media Manager. But the first experience that you have put in your CV is about a ‘Food Taster’, then the recruiter will discard without even taking a second look. Your most relevant experience should be at the top, followed by recent work experiences. For example: Social Media Manager will be at the top, followed by your previous experiences, differentiated by dates. [Also Read: What To Include In Your CV] At the end, As a graduate recruiter you can receive a huge volume of applications. That is for just one role and so you need to have a clear list of essential skills or experience that are a prerequisite for the role. The first thing I do is briefly scan to see which of these they tick. If they tick most of the boxes then I will usually call them as soon as possible or read further into their CV. Things I look for in their CV are minimum educational requirements, relevant experience. Also, a desire to do the job I am advertising and the ability to work in that location. From an applicant’s perspective, they can identify this list from the job ad and any information they have about the company. More on what recruiters want to see in your cv: Once you know this it’s all about making it leap off the page in the first ten seconds someone looks at your CV. A great way to make these obvious to someone scanning your CV is to put it at the top so it’s the first thing they read. For example, “Having just graduated from a UK top 10 University with a 2.1 in Economics. I am now looking to work for a large multinational corporation within the finance sector in London. My previous internships within this sector have given me a passion for this as a long term career.” Something like this tells me they match what I am looking for before I even read the CV. And, I am then just looking to the CV details to back this up. Specific and matching information is much better than the usual “I am a confident, motivated, punctual…” which is something your interviewer will be the judge of! 2) What are major CV mistakes that recruiters and you notice when you’re looking for potential candidates? Clearly stating at the top of the CV they want to work in another sector or job than the one they have applied for is a common mistake. This tells me immediately the role I am recruiting for is their plan b, or c and in this job market that is an immediate turn off. I want candidates who are going to commit to the client and be a long term and beneficial employee and that won’t happen if they have somewhere else they really want to be. Also, presentation of CVs is very important. If a CV looks bad the implication is that the candidate is bad and they are either too commercially unaware to know how important a CV is or too apathetic about their job search. At the end, Some examples of ‘bad presentation’ include shabby formatting which makes it hard to read and follow, bizarre pictures, floral borders, a Graduate CV that covers six pages or just no content at all. Consistent formatting with bold headlines, clear dates and headlines such as achievements, awards, education and duties really
