𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐕 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔

 Your CV should say as much about you as concisely as possible, and it will need to reflect what keywords and content are being sought precisely, verbatim. Research. You will need to read the job description, job advertisement, and the company’s mission statement and website content thoroughly before applying for that coveted job. Emulate. Remember that you might think you are working with a human but, in the first instance, you may not be. It all sounds like sales and marketing because that is exactly what it is, and the commodity you are trading is you.

Highlight any personal tools or qualities you have that is relevant to the current role you are applying for, e.g. the most sought-after key skills within the specific industry involved (which you will have researched beforehand). Buzz words are only good while they are relevant. Once over-used, they become naff (as ‘naff’ has become itself), obsolete. Use them if the company uses them as keywords. Power phrases are different because they are not trendy. They are naturally strong and often industry-specific.

Anything you claim in your CV needs to be true and provable. Facts and numbers – you must be data-measurable to the organisation. If you say, for instance, that you have strong attention to detail, make sure that your formatting is consistent, and your spelling, grammar and syntax are impeccable. Use the active voice by avoiding passive verbs and phrasing. State it, don’t suggest it. Proofread.

In Conclusion

What changes do you need to make to be successful in your next application? Your CV should say that you are professional, trustworthy, capable, consistent, and concise. You need to be quantifiable. Adaptability and learnability are the most important attributes because they make you valuable, but only if you show your willingness to contribute. Remember that your CV is marketing you, tailored for a specific industry, company, and role.