In a sea of resumes, how do you make yours stand out?

Job hunting can be tough and now with applicant tracking systems used by many recruiters, you only have one shot to get your CV in front of the right person.

Performance Education’s top tips to nail your CV:

1. Always tailor your resume – Not every job is the same, and therefore not every CV you send should be the same. Ensure you understand the company and the role and modify your resume to fit the criteria. This will show the recruiter you have a genuine interest in the role.
2. Hone your profile – Write a short, sharp, interesting and relevant introduction that sits at the top of your resume. An employer can see who you are and what you can offer, all in a few short sentences. Often with large quantities of applicants to sort through you, it’s crucial to get to the point!
3. Avoid clichés and over used phrases – Sell “YOU” by differentiating yourself from the competition with descriptive phrases that you would use in real life.
4. Include your Linked In profile – Make it easy for the recruiter to find out more about you.
5. Back yourself – Don’t just say what you have done, explain HOW you have done it. This shows the recruiter you have the skills you say you do, and you can demonstrate them.
6. Choose your words – Often people use passive words or phrases like “I think”, “I guess”, “I hope” in their CV – this can showcase or highlight your own uncertainty. As per point five back yourself and use stronger language where appropriate. This includes: I will, I’m ready, I can, I’m certain, I believe!
7. Keep on point – Be precise, summarise and don’t ramble. Most CV’S are initially glanced at for five seconds, so anything too long will likely be disregarded. Two pages maximum.
8. Include achievements – Showcase any examples where you have gone above and beyond the job requirements, it will show you in a positive light.
9. Attention to detail – So simple, but often overlooked. Ensure your CV is 100% error free, one spelling mistake could put you on the “No” pile. Ask a friend or colleague to review and give feedback.

Most of the above mentioned are simple tips but can be very effective.

Take the time to perfect your CV, remembering this is your first impression and you don’t get to make it twice!