The 10 things you need in your CV
Having read more than my fair share of CVs, I can tell you point blank – a lot of them are bad. Outdated, poorly written, and ripped from the first page of Google. Here are the 10 best tips for a great CV, so you can polish up yours before shipping it out to the masses…
1. Have an ‘about me’ section:
Cringe, but necessary. CVs are boring and lack personality, so do what you can to sell yourself a little…
2. Add personality:
Once more for the people at the back. The best CVs show who you are, what motivates you, and what you bring to the table *beyond* the 9-5.
3. Remove your address:
Even if you’re not in the country. If it’s your dream job, you’ll move for it. Don’t let them count you out at the first hurdle.
4. Delete that selfie:
As they say, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t set yourself up for unconscious bias.
5. Remove skills:
Okay, not totally. If you’re including qualifications, languages spoken, software fluency – great. That can stay. If it’s a list of ways you think you’re amazing, you better backspace right now.
6. Don’t copy and paste:
Anyone can recite a job description, but can you talk about success in the role? The specific things achievements that set you apart? e.g. did you manage all social accounts, or did you grow the brand’s following from 100K to 1M in 12 months?
7. Evolve and update:
As you progress in your career, some experience will become less relevant. So don’t waste time on the ins and outs of the work experience you completed age twelve…
8. Check for spelling mistakes:
This one’s a biggie. If the job description asks for attention to detail and you’ve misspelt your job title, please take several seats... If you’re not a great writer yourself, ask a mate to proofread, no excuses!
9. Lean into the tech:
Some software can track your applications so you can stay on top of the hunt and know when to chase for responses. Also, it’s worth checking your CV is legible for recruitment software so you know exactly what they’re reading – or if they can even read it at all.
10. Less is more:
The hiring manager has a lot of CVs to review, do them a favour. No CV in marketing and advertising needs more than two pages - ideally one - to communicate your eligibility.
There you have it, the 10 non-negotiables you need to include in your CV to optimise your chances of getting a call back. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new gig or just testing the water, save this article to use as a CV checklist before you hit send on that application.