Just writing a CV and writing one to make it stand out are very different things!!!
Whether you’ve recently finished school or university, or you’re an experienced professional and have just started searching for a new position, preparing a unique CV is essential for you to land an interview for your dream job. Fortunately, there are many tips to do so. Some of the few simple ways to what makes a resume stand out are listed below,
Personal Statement Matters: Pay attention to what you mention
One’s personal statement / profile summary is the first thing a recruiter looks at when they open your CV. This implies that getting it attractive is absolutely for them to be interested in you and carry on to understand your CV.
Firstly, focus on covering who you are, what are your key skills / offering, and what your career objective is. Make sure that this section of your CV is in complete tune with the job description, so that the employer gets interested in you.
Secondly, make it unique for each job you are applying for. Almost everyone writes about what they can offer basis what they have done, but to stand out it is important that you lucidly write about what you bring to the table for the require role emphasising on your most impressive, interesting, relevant skills and abilities.
The key is to use situations to back up your claims, however don’t exaggerate it. Put all your specific skills and experience that make you perfect for the position you are applying for while keeping it short and succinct.
It is advisable to aim for around 150-200 words (five or six lines), and you’ll be on the right track which is what makes a resume stand out.
Find your Strengths or USP
Finding Job is not an easy task, especially if it’s your dream job. We are in a highly competitive world.
Which implies that for every application you submit, you are going to face numerous candidates with similar qualifications and experience. Then it becomes important to stand out by knowing yourself better.
Luckily, your strengths can set you apart from the others. So what are the things that set your apart are your interests and extracurricular activities that you do outside your regular activities, such as, writing your own blog, volunteer work for an NGO, or your use of social media to network with others in your field and learn from them through internships, it will all help you to stand out from the crowd.
Of course, these things should be of relevance to the recruiting organizations. Thus, it becomes important that you emphasise the learning from them, and show your ability to carry out the role effectively based on those learning.
For e.g., if you have a blog focussed on your field of expertise, then you should definitely draw attention to your blog’s reach to the audience and deep knowledge on the subject area which would be the basis of the blog’s content. Additionally, you can highlight any other impressive achievements such as publications or displaying your work at an event.
Also, never forget to add the links to your portfolios, blogs, or anything else that not only demonstrates your skills, which also makes you unique.
Also Read: Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid on Your CV
Choose your keywords wisely while writing your CV
Keywords are an important part of your CV writing. Having relevant keywords makes it possible for the recruiters to identify you from numerous available candidates. That is making you stand out from the rest. Hence, it is very important to keep this in mind while preparing your CV.
This is primarily because recruiters across the world use keywords to search for candidates. They often pick the candidate basis job title they are hiring for, keyword from the job description and responsibilities of the role. In-case the recruiter uses software to filter out the candidates, then it is way more important to choose the right keywords for your CV.
Therefore, ensure that you are ticking all the right boxes. For this it is important that you check the job description and company website for specific words and phrases the employer might be looking for.
This need not be restricted to just the job role but also the designation the recruiter is looking for hiring. In such scenarios, you can make the most of synonyms to cover a range of different job titles (e.g., Financial Advisor, Investment Manager, etc.), to use industry specific terminologies and expand on your qualifications which are relevant to the same.
Proactively describe yourself
It is always tricky to back up your claims about yourself with examples or situations.
Thus, worldwide it is a good practice to always use the “STAR” model to provide tangible examples for every skill you mention on your CV. So, what is this STAR model? Simply put it requires you to identify ‘Situation’, ‘Task’, ‘Action’ and ‘Result’. Then, answering the requirements you should formulate them into key points (keep it short), including your objective, result achieved, and the actions taken to address the task or situation.
This helps you to communicate your strengths clearly and in a concise manner, within the work experience section of your CV.
It will also demonstrate to the potential recruiter that you have gone beyond your past responsibilities, in order to achieve results. And let’s face it, demonstrating what you’re capable of is more effective and impacting.
For example, saying you ‘worked on DCF model’ doesn’t really mean much to the employer other than stating an obvious fact. But saying something like ‘I used DCF model to evaluate Aviation Sector for the client to help them with their M&A decision making’ is a much better way of quantifying your abilities and application of skills.
Also Read: Top 5 ways to tell if you need a new CV
No job is the same and hence, your CV must be tailored to each job you apply
CV is not a ‘one size fits all’ document which means that applying with the same CV every time is not at all a good strategy. Each job role needs a customer CV to impress the recruiter.
Instead, you should alter your CV every time to suit the job role you are applying for. Make utmost use of the available job description, company information, and any other details you find from your research on the industry as a guide.
Remember, a CV is all about selling yourself effectively. Emphasizing your skills and experience, which are relevant to the role you are applying for will make world of a difference.
Honestly, it does take a lot of time, but it is all about securing that dream job you have always been looking for.
Don’t forget the basics
Finally, let’s face the fact, you and your CV don’t stand out if your basics are not right.
Hence, in addition to the above points, it’s vital to write a CV that’s clear, concise, and to-the-point and, ensure that it is free of common grammar mistakes or typos. Always give your CV a final read before submitting that application you have been waiting for.
Lastly, make sure your CV layout can be easily navigated with your personal details, personal summary, work experience, achievements, education, and hobbies listed in a logical and chronological order, that is what makes a resume stand out.
Further Learning
Smart English Basics for Professionals
Quantitative Aptitude Basics
Mathematics for Job Interviews
