How to make a compelling CV

In the world of recruiting, there is a saying that we have to be attracted to your CV within the first seven seconds. These seven seconds is when a recruiter makes the judgement of the candidate’s application. At Blakeney Point, we aren’t like other agencies. We take the time to get to know each candidate and understand what sets them apart to find the best position for them. We do, however, appreciate a very well-crafted CV that sets you apart from the crowd. Read on to see how you can transform your CV into a compelling piece of work that recruiters will stop to look at.

Context is Key:

Make sure your CV is unique to the position you are applying for. It is easy to see CVs that have been shared amongst a variety of positions. Take your time to tailor it.

Know what you are applying for:

Understand the role you are applying for. Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics if you need them. Make notes of keywords or phrases that describe the company culture, role purpose, the skills and experience required, to provide context for the evidence you need to demonstrate.

Order your CV chronologically:

Ordering your CV chronologically allows your career story to be easily read. When putting the dates next to your roles, make sure you include the months as well. Even if the years are only 1 year apart, this could be the difference between 1 month and 23 months in the role.

For example, if you only put "2017-2018" on your CV, this length of time could actually be perceived as anything from as long as January 2017 - December 2018 (23 months) or as short as December 2017 - January 2018 (one month).

Avoid ambiguity in your CV - you run the risk of hiring managers discounting you.

If you have gaps, be open and provide a brief, confident explanation, such as ‘career break to raise family’ or ‘time off to complete MSc Marketing’. This will provide a conversation point at interview!

If you have any questions about your CV, feel free to drop one of our team members line. To keep up to date with our latest job postings, follow our LinkedIn page here.