How to impress a recruiter with your resume/CV

In my previous blog ‘A simple guide to writing the perfect resume/CV’ I detailed exactly how you should be structuring and ordering your CV. In this blog, the second of a three-part series, I’ll be providing advice on how you can take your CV to the next level; making it stand out from the crowd and, in turn, securing you that sought after job interview. 

Top of the pile

As someone who’s worked in the recruitment sector for a cool couple of decades I’ve vetted a fair few CVs in my time – as a business Hays receive over eight million of them each year. With an average of 250 CVs being submitted for each position, making yours stand out is an absolute necessity.

Getting your foot in the door

The secret to grabbing a recruiter’s attention with your CV is understanding that its direct purpose is not to secure you a job – that’s the end goal – but for it to be enticing enough to take you through to the next step of the selection process.

On paper there may be more qualified and experienced candidates than yourself but, come the interview, everyone is on a level playing field. Therefore, for now, your focus needs to just be on getting your foot in the door.

Here are a few tips to help you out:

Your personal statement

Try to use adjectives similar to those used in the job description

A concise personal statement directly beneath your contact details provides employers with a snapshot of your key skills and work ambitions. It’s the first place an employer is likely to look, so succinctly detail your proudest achievements here.

One research body have put together a heat map based on an eye-tracking study of recruiters that they conducted, so you can see exactly what part of a CV recruiters prioritise.

Matching the job description

Try to use adjectives that are similar to those used in the job advertisement, without replicating it word for word. If the employer prioritises someone with “effective leadership skills” then make sure you demonstrate yours during the early part of your personal statement.

Avoid clichés

Remember that employers are interested in tangible evidence of your abilities, not just a list of overused adjectives. It’s not enough to just say that you’re hardworking, loyal and a good team player, you need to be able to demonstrate it with solid evidence.

Provide hard evidence of your achievements

Keep in mind what really impresses employers is data

Similarly, when listing achievements, keep in mind that what really impresses employers is data. If you can illustrate your achievements with facts and figures – how much revenue you brought to the business that year, how much the client increased their investment by and so on – then do.

Your job is to prove to the recruiter that you’re going to be more of an asset than you are a liability. You can do so by being specific with your numbers and data. Consider the differing impact of the following two statements: 1. I consistently exceeded sales targets in my last year. 2. I exceeded sales targets in the last four quarters by x%, x%, x% and x%, resulting in an overall annual increase in turnover of £x.

Put yourself in the thick of the action

Remember that you are trying to sell yourself. Using phrases like “was involved in” and “assisted” implies that you were more of a bystander than an instigator – recruiters pick up on these things. Use strong action verbs and take credit where credit is due.

A couple of caveats, however: never claim involvement in something that had nothing to do with you and don’t bad mouth former colleagues or employers – this is one of the most frequently cited reasons for candidate rejection.

Make it accessible

Use strong action verbs and take credit where credit is due

Finally, and perhaps the most obvious but often overlooked point, is to make your CV as accessible as possible. Send the document over as a PDF so there is no chance of the recruiter not being able to view it, make sure all the font is of a legible size and ensure your contact details are current and correct. Recruiters appreciate a streamlined process and will reward you favourably for it!

A final thought

Of the many CVs I review each week it’s those which are clear, concise and accessible which I appreciate most. Build your CV around a few key achievements which relate directly to the job advertisement and you’ve got every chance of progressing to the next stage of the process.

• A simple guide to writing the perfect resume/CV
• How to optimise your LinkedIn profile
• How to make full use of technology during your job search
• Common cover letter mistakes
• How to market yourself in your job search
• Focus your interview on fit
• Stop making these common job search mistakes