It is estimated that a recruiter will take 6 seconds to read your CV (and an ATS – Applicant Tracking System – even less time). This is the first reason why it is vital to ensure your CV is impactful. It must summarise all your curriculum and your competencies.
That being said, the document summarising your career is a showcase that helps you show your achievements, and competencies and differentiate yourself from other candidates. It will help you get a recruiter’s attention and be invited to a first interview. Your CV shows your curriculum and who you are, and it is important to respect certain codes, to integrate key words, to be complete but not too much, to show you as confident but not arrogant, etc In other words, you need to find a good balance when summarising your career in only one or two pages!
Also useful to know : there is no one-size-fits-all CV template. The question is more about how to organise your CV, considering your experiences and the position you are applying for.
What are the ESSENTIAL elements?
Some elements are essential to get a recruiter’s attention when they read your CV for the first time. For example, they will be looking at elements including:
- impact of the CV in general – professional, dynamic, related to the position
- style – simple, easily readable
- length – maximum 2 pages
- layout – nice layout, structured, airy
- highlighted competencies – show one’s strengths for the position
- experiences to the job – will be reassuring for the recruiter, as they are looking for the right candidate with the necessary set of skills.
Writing an impactful CV will help you get noticed and get you invited for a first interview by a recruiter, and they will want to know more.
5 practical tips for A CV WITH IMPACT
Here are my 5 most important practical tips that can really make a difference:
1. Adapt the CV for each position. Work with keywords from the job description, organised into highlighted competencies.
2. Have a great “pitch” (short summary at the top of the CV). This is about summarising, in a few lines, your experiences, achievements, and major competencies that will make you stand out.
3. Ensure the layout and look are neat, but it doesn’t need to look like an artistic creation.
4. Include tangible results, figures, and measurable elements. Don’t hesitate to prune a little, to keep only what is really important for the position.
5. Have the CV reviewed by a reliable native person, for their feedback and to correct possible typos.
How do I know if my CV has an impact?
The best way to measure if your CV has an impact is your interview rate. If your CV gets you invited to an interview, it means it’s doing what it has to do. However, rework your CV if you are not invited to an interview for a position where you know you have competencies and required experiences.
The CV is a vital element in a job search and is (re) worked thoroughly with clients who work with us on Transition de carrière , Recherche d’emploi, Outplacement. It takes time and thought to review a CV. The good news is that this time will decrease.
If you want to know how to materially improve your CV’s impact, contact us now! We are here to take you there, step-by-step; you can also call us on +41 79 464 92 70 or drop us an e-mail under info@leadingenius.ch.
At Leadingenius – HR Consulting and Coaching, we have a passion for career and leadership coaching; we help companies and individuals understand their talents to realise their full potential. We offer coaching programmes to support you in the important stages of your career and reach you most important career goals.
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