As was discussed in this blog post, many companies may reschedule workplace activities for the Ramadan period, in most companies, it is practically business as usual. The wise thing for a job seeker to do would be to take advantage of this period to land the job they want. By striving hard during the Ramadan period, they would have an edge over other hibernating job seekers who may have concluded that their (the other applicants) chances of landing a job are slim.
One good way in which a job seeker could go about this is to make necessary changes to their CV. When was the last time you reviewed and evaluated your CV? Do you have a CV with old trends? Making relevant changes to your CV can go a long way in impressing the recruiter and helping you score points with them.
But fear not! Even if you didn’t have a chance to work on enhancing your CV during Ramadan, it’s not too late to do that. So, here’s a list of 6 changes you should make to your CV this summer:
The way your CV is formatted will impact the recruiter's first impression of you as a candidate. As they say, there is never a second chance to make a first impression. This means that your CV format has to be —quite literally—perfect.
Make sure that your formatting is consistent across your CV. All indentations must line up, all bullet points must match, the styling must not look sloppy, and the headers must be in the same style. You must also ensure that your font is readable and that your CV has enough white space.
Additionally, you must carefully decide which CV format would be best for you, chronological format, functional format, or combination format. Consider your professional history and the role you’re applying for and choose accordingly. For example, a job seeker with limited work experience would be making a mistake in choosing a chronological CV. A functional CV for example in which the applicant might instead focus on academic performances, volunteer roles, or internships may work better.
A job position is deemed irrelevant when it doesn't add anything to your CV. Job positions of the past 10-15 years, for example, would be unnecessary in the work experience section of your CV. In the same vein, mentioning short-term job positions would be unnecessary as the recruiter may not think that it adds anything special to your CV. You may save conversations about your short-term jobs for the interview —assuming that the interviewer mentions something closely related to the skills you gained from the short-term job.
Another example of a job position you should leave out of your CV would be one that took place in a company that currently doesn't have a stellar reputation or one with values you'd rather not be associated with. The last thing you want to do is hurt your chances of landing the job. Also, if the company values of the job you intend to land contradict that of a company you have worked with, it is best to not include it in your CV.
Most ATSs (including iCIMS, Bullhorn, and Greenhouse) are not programmed to recognize acronyms such as MBA, CPA, and PMP when recruiters search for the long form of those words. To this end, you must ensure that you find all acronyms and write the title, certification, or the full name of the organization. Spell out the keywords, then use common acronyms in parentheses to ensure that your CV doesn't go unnoticed. This way, you will now be shown as a search result no matter which version the applicant tracking system is looking for.
For example, Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Not every word belongs on your CV. Consider making a list of key phrases, terms, or skills that are repeated throughout all of the job listings. If you possess these skills or qualities, incorporate this language into your CV. Doing this will guarantee that your CV passes the applicant tracking system's (ATS) initial screen and into the employer's hands for further assessment.
Another step in using the right words on your CV is to get rid of filler words. Focus on demonstrating your qualifications instead. For example, rather than using the adjective “specialized” or the noun "expert" to describe yourself, list the results you've achieved in your field that qualify your expertise.
Get rid of weak action verbs too. Words like “responsible for," "managed," or "assisted with" are redundant. They may even irritate the recruiter so as much as you can, ensure you avoid using them. If you must use them, do so sparingly. Using other words like "directed,” “facilitated,” “recruited,” “mentored,” “cultivated,” “coached,” “represented,” “clarified,” “referred,” “facilitated,” "designed," "shaped," etc. would make your CV sound better to the recruiter.
A CV headline is a short introductory statement at the top of your CV that describes who you are to the recruiter. An effective CV headline should concisely summarise your value as a candidate. A CV headline could distinguish you from other applicants in the sense that recruiters and hiring managers often have to go through many CVs so taking the time to write a compelling headline can help you capture their attention and even retain it. Ensure that; it is short, you place it at the top, you use attention-grabbing words, and you tailor each headline to the specific job.
While it's commonplace to include a professional headshot on your networking social sites, on your CV you must leave it out. For one thing, having a headshot on your CV could cost you the job you have applied for. It could result in discrimination based on race, age, gender, or other factors —inadvertently or not. Some recruiters automatically reject CVs with headshots attached to them to avoid being accused of discrimination. Play it safe and leave the headshot off your CV.
Besides, frankly, it is unnecessary. Perhaps the hardest thing about writing a CV is fitting all your relevant skills, qualifications, and experience into those 1-3 pages. So why take up a room with a photo that is irrelevant to your job application? Rather than adding a headshot, use that space to sell your abilities.
Which one of those CV changes are you making first? Let us know in the comments below!
