Creating a CV can be as easy as 1-2-3, if you know what you’re doing. That’s where the knowledge and experience of Nomad HR and Recruitment can really count.
At the start of the year, I helped my six-year-old daughter Matilda apply for her first job as Chief Play Officer(aged 4- 12 years) with IKEA. Just like the vacancy itself, the whole process was a lot of fun.
We created her CV and even made a short ‘pitch’ video on why she was the best fit for the role. Video biographies, or Digital Bios, have become increasingly popular over the past year, especially due to the impact of Covid on the recruitment process.
These short videos give an employer the chance to actually see you before deciding whether to offer an interview, while you get the chance to shine and show some of your personality. I’ll talk more about digital bios in a future post.
For the CV document, we used lots of keywords that demonstrated her skills in relation to this unusual new post. It showed how much she enjoyed drawing, taking photos, singing, making things and playing with her friends.
Personal Statement
The personal profile, also known as a personal statement, is one of the key ingredients of your CV. It’s a short paragraph that sits just underneath your name and contact details and gives prospective employers an overview of who you are and what you’re all about.
Remember to tailor your profile to each job you apply for, highlighting specific qualities that match you to the role. Read the job description carefully to pick-out important strengths. Don’t make it too long, just a few sentences that will help you stand out from the rest.
Sometimes it can be really difficult to self-analyse your qualities and skills for a certain job and describe them in an effective way. That’s where Nomad HR and Recruitment can guide you in the right direction.
But if you are at the stage where you’re not even sure if the job is the right one for you to apply for, the national careers service has a skills assessment toolkit to help.
Beat The Bots
Using the right keywords and setting everything out in a good format is even more important because it is highly likely that your CV will be analysed by a machine before a human looks at it. In order to deal with a large number of applications, many employers use software for an initial screening process.
These systems can reject some CVs simply because they are formatted in a way that the software does not recognise. But if you take this into account and use accurate and appropriate keywords, the systems should notice you.
When a vacancy requires a candidate to have a particular skill or qualification, it’s likely the recruiter will use an applicant tracking system to search for CVs which include that specific qualification. So remember to list all your relevant skills and qualifications. This article on CV writing offers more ideas.
I hope you’ll agree that the creative appearance of Matilda’s CV demonstrated that she was exactly the right kind of imaginative candidate for the job. When it comes to CV templates, there are many online to choose from. Microsoft Word has a range of templates too.
Jargon Buster
Another top tip is to avoid using jargon. A CV must be easy to understand, so make sure you use plain language and avoid ‘text speak’ like ‘atm’ (at the moment). Matilda described how she enjoyed ‘exploring and learning about the world’ and liked ‘looking after her pets.’
One of the first people to see your CV could be a member of the Human Resources team or a recruitment agency. They may not have the same technical knowledge of the role that you have. So always spell out acronyms the first time you use them and avoid technical terms.
It’s also vital that you check spelling and grammar, as any mistakes will count against you. The Department for Work and Pensions has some useful advice on this and other aspects of your CV.
Song and Dance
When you’re writing about your experience and work history, make sure you include specific facts and figures to illustrate the tangible results of your work. But remember you may be asked about them in an interview, so be ready to explain the background details if it was a project you were involved in.
Detailed references on your CV are not essential these days. If you have room, add ‘references available on request’. For Matilda, it was a case of ‘teacher knows best’ and her CV included some sparkling references from Miss Baker and Mrs Brown (‘she oozes creativity and imagination’ – again, these were qualities to match the job).
These are some of the basic building blocks that can form the foundation of a great CV. Just like Matilda, if you showcase your talent and skills in the right way, your CV can be something you can really make a song and dance about.
