WRITING A CV – TIPS FROM A RECRUITER
Writing a CV might seem simple: just update your contact details and latest jobs, then hit send. But landing an interview is another story. In this guide, we’ll show you what hiring managers are looking for, how to format your CV, and how to prepare for interviews so you can get the job you want.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Is your CV currently up to scratch?
Grammar is key – find out the must-have free tool to perfect your grammar.
Don’t be shy – note down your past experiences and lessons learnt.
Social Media – Are you showing your best self online?
Recruitment is a two-way street – how to get discovered by potential employers.
Watch out for simple errors – these could result in an employer not being able to reach you.
Do your research – Find out the name of the person who is conducting the interview.
Conclusion – see how Platinum Recruitment can help you land your ideal job.
Read on to discover our Recruiter’s top CV writing tips just for you.
WRITING A CV – ARE YOU UP TO SCRATCH?
Writing a CV is easy, but writing one that lands you an interview is not. Did you know hiring managers spend only 6-8 seconds reviewing a CV? If they don’t immediately find the information they’re looking for or dislike the format, your CV could end up in the “No” pile in under 10 seconds.
Finding the right job can take a long time. Millennials spend an average of 46 months of their lives applying for jobs. That’s 21 months less than Baby Boomers, but it’s still a significant amount of time. So, how can you find the perfect job faster and stand out from the crowd to secure an interview?
Nicky Faith, Associate Partner of the Platinum Elite Chef division, and Stephen Toevs, director of culinary development for Marriott International, recently shared advice on writing a great CV with young chefs. Their seminar was part of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy. You can read the synopsis here.
Read on as Nicky talks us through her top six CV writing tips to help you capture the attention of potential recruiters and employers alike.
CV WRITING TIP 1 – GRAMMAR
When it comes to landing your dream job and beating the competition, first impressions count. Before a business can decide to invite you for an interview, it must get a feel for your capabilities, your personality, and your work ethic, among other factors.
When writing your CV, grammar is crucial. Use a free writing tool like Grammarly to check for spelling, grammar, and tone. Adjust your language for each company you apply to. For example, a family-run gastropub might appreciate a more relaxed tone, while a five-star hotel in London will expect a formal, polished CV.
TIP 2 – PUT YOUR BEST JOB FORWARD
Your CV is a chance to highlight your work history, the experiences you gained, and the lessons you learned from each role. The key is to keep it clear and accurate. Nicky says: “The key is to keep it clear and accurate. Highlight key places where you’ve worked as well as any training or courses to show that you are invested in your development.”
Check out Platinum’s Meet the Team page to see how our recruiters wrote stand-out bios for the Platinum website.
TIP 3 – WRITING A CV & SOCIAL MEDIA
While you may not want to engage with social media, your potential employers are online. Increase your chances of landing a first-stage interview by creating or updating your social profiles before you apply for a job.
Consider your profile pictures carefully. That photo of you partying in Zante might not align with the “responsible, yoga-loving financial officer” image on your CV.
TIP 4 – HELP EMPLOYERS FIND YOU
Candidates often forget that employment is a two-way street. Whilst you are busy looking for your ideal job, employers are also looking for their perfect candidate. These days, online job boards allow you to upload your CV and usually ask if you would like to be discovered by potential employers. If you choose ‘yes, share my CV’, prospective employers can use job boards to look for CVs. They do this by using search terms such as “Pastry Chef, London”, “Hotel Manager”, or “Opera” to find CVs with these keywords in them.
When writing a CV, include keywords that are specific to the role that you’re applying for or looking for. This will ensure that you turn up in the right employers’ searches and increase your chances of landing your next job.
Try free tools such as Moz to see what relevant keywords are popular.
TIP 5 – CHECK YOUR CV WRITING
Nicky stresses the importance of including up-to-date contact details, a surprisingly common mistake. Mistyping your email address, phone number, or physical address can prevent employers from contacting you.
Nicky says, “After writing a CV, it is a good idea to ask a friend or family member to read through the CV for you. Often, a new pair of eyes will find spelling mistakes or formatting issues that we have overlooked.”
TIP 6 – DO YOUR RESEARCH
If you are applying directly to a company, find the name of the person conducting the interview. Ring the company and ask for the contact’s name, or look them up on the internet/social media. LinkedIn is an excellent source of information for business connections. Personalising your application email or letter shows you are attentive and serious about the job.
“Beware,” Nicky says. LinkedIn contacts can see who has visited their profile. Be sure your profile is up-to-date before researching employers or employees on this platform.”
Why not follow Platinum’s LinkedIn page for more recruitment tips and job offers?
WRITING A CV – CONCLUSION
As we have discussed, hiring managers spend only 6-8 seconds looking at a CV. Therefore, you must make sure your CV stands out from the crowd. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes, highlight your key experiences and don’t forget to update your social media profiles.
We hope these top 6 tips for writing a CV help you create a CV that enables you to stand out from the crowd. If you need help with your CV writing or finding a job, get in contact with the team today.
Sources: StandOut CV – Job Search Statistics in the UK
