Updating your CV? Read this first!

Read time: 00:02:58

Alec Brownstein bought Google ads against names of directors at his dream ad agencies. The PPC campaign had a message: "Hey, David Droga, Googling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun, too." with a link to his website to let the creative directors contact him. This ingenious tactic landed him many interviews and a successful placement at one of his targeted companies.

Truth is, people have to start viewing their CVs as marketing tools to landing their dreams jobs and should treat them as such. A compelling CV should stand out from hundreds of job applicants applying for the same job ergo everything on there has to be tightly edited. There should be no room for inconsistencies and recounts of your life history, in fact, you only have so much room on your CV and need to make sure you use that space wisely.

Here is your guide to editing your current CV the right way:

Look back

Start by looking back at how your job or responsibilities have changed over the years, this includes those all-important but easy to overlook skills like a new language you might have learned or new responsibilities that have been recently assigned to you. Analyze all of these things and highlight them in your current CV.

Make the top count
The top one-third of your resume is what a recruiter or hiring manager scans to determine if they will read the rest. Make yours an attention grabber.

Pay attention to the format
Design matters, depending on the industry you are in. What you want is a balanced and clear look with just enough flair to stand out. For example, a PDF file extension ensures that recruiters can open it on any device and it will also maintain the formatting, so you can be sure that employers are seeing your CV as you intended.

If designing an intricate CV using software like Adobe Photoshop and the likes is not your forte a simple step, such as adding hyperlinks that direct a prospective employer to any work you have done will make it easier for them to get to know you better or alternately use free templates.

Do your research first, have a look at CV templates suitable for your industry and profession then adopt one that is more 'you'. It could be that people in your industry have placed preference on video CVs over a snazzy template.

Get rid of the old stuff
Be ruthless in cutting down unnecessary details on your CV. In all honesty, it should be no more than 2 pages. When you add new information to your CV, something old must go. The older the job and the less relevant it is to your target position, regardless of the length of time you were in the post, the more likely it is you should cut it from your CV. Be selective in the information you retain, sometimes a job and organization title, with dates is enough.

Think digital
We're living in a digital age, and so your CV should show that you are fairly tech-savvy. These days, chances are slim that you will be sending your resume via post as most people advertise jobs online and job seekers usually email their CVs in. Think of the different ways employers can consume your information online and work within those lines.

Customize your CV to reflect relevant skills
One of the trickiest aspects of writing a resume is highlighting your skills. The goal is to match your skills together in a way that shows you can do the job. Look at the job description thoroughly; it will serve as a guide. Bear in mind that some roles put a heavier emphasis on certain skills than others. It is important to customize your CV to reflect the skills that are key to the job you are applying for. 

Your resume is not just a representation of your past details but a promotional document. It should tell your potential employer about your career details, achievements, experience, relevant skills, and highlight whilst explaining how you are qualified for the job. Contact us today to find out how we can help you position yourself better. Communicate Recruitment is a specialist recruitment company with over 3 decades of experience. We connect great people in the IT, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Freight industries throughout Africa and South Africa on a permanent or part-time basis.