Your CV is reviewed (by a person if you are lucky) and decided upon in the first 15 seconds. That's how long you have to match the job.  

🌟 Your opening statement should be specific about your job experiences, qualifications, core skills and personality.  We want to assess very quickly, if you can do this job.  Also, if you are relocating, please state this as commuting distance is calculated and we will reject those that live too far to travel daily.  

🌟 Have the right phone number on your CV -this is so annoying and you will miss out on the job if the next person answers their phone.  

🌟 Use bullet points rather long paragraphs as it is easier to read.

🌟 Keep it to 2 pages where possible – get good at making it concise.    

🌟 Concentrate on achievements in your last jobs rather than listing responsibilities.  This will bring the role to life and showcase your skills.

🌟 If you have finished your last role, make sure the CV states the end date so it is obvious you are not working now.  This is very helpful for some sectors if you can start immediately.  

🌟 You can probably just list the jobs you have had beyond15 years ago.  It’s enough to get a flavor of your career history, the pace you have progressed at and how long you typically stay with a company.  

🌟 Include hobbies and personal projects.  This gives an insight into you as a person beyond work and gives interviewers something to chat with you about.  I was recruiting for the RNLI a few years ago and when headhunting for candidates, it was a brilliant ice breaker if the candidate had a love of sailing or boats.  

Actions which help you get the job:

🌟 If a candidate calls or emails me, this is the first CV I will go and find.  Make yourself stand out from the crowd.  One vacancy last week was up to 107 applications and it had only been live for 13 days.  

🌟 Look up the job you have applied for before ringing the Recruiter back so you know exactly what you are talking about. Don’t say you are looking for “just any job,” as this doesn’t go down well.  

🌟 Follow up promptly with phone calls and emails from the Recruiter / company to demonstrate your efficiency and interest in the job.
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🌟 You will be googled.  Let’s face it.  So make sure your LinkedIn is up to date and check settings on your socials.  What does your photo say about you?

🌟 Listen to voicemails – this function has definitely gone out of fashion but you may be missing something important. 

🌟 Text messages work very well now as a quick communication tool for updates and simple questions with the Recruiter to speed up the process.

🌟 Ring the Recruiter with feedback straight after your interview to let them know how you felt it went.  They will compare this with the Hiring Manager’s feedback.  

I’d love to hear if any of these tips work particularly well for you.  

Good luck with your job search 🍀