Writing a CV can be quite daunting, especially if you’re either well experienced or barely have any experience. Pages and pages of experiences can be generated, which can be overwhelming for recruiters and employers and may lead to your CV being overlooked. On the other hand, a poorly produced CV or one with irrelevant or insufficient information may also lead to your CV being overlooked.

To avoid these scenarios, here are some useful tips on how to make your CV stand out. 

Cut the Clichés

Empty phrases, like those at the top of this article, don’t mean anything without being quantified: “Good communicator”, “dynamic”, “team player” – while they are soft skills, they are also clichés. When did you demonstrate these qualities? Why are you an “effective member of a team”? Also, be wary of outdated skills. “IT literate”, “Proficient user of Microsoft Word”… most candidates will have these skills in an increasingly digital-first society. 

Avoid Waffling

Don’t make your achievements become a needle in a haystack by giving the reader your life story. Instead, ensure your CV shows what you can offer. Avoid waffling about what you’ve done. Don’t have 10 pages of copied and pasted job specs – repeating details that your job title would infer anyway. Summarise your duties and your role’s purpose over a few bullet points, then portray what you have achieved and the difference or impact your achievements had on your team or the company.
 

Lose the Unnecessary Personal Details

Get rid of your ridiculous MSN email address you had 10 years ago: replace it with a professional one. Putting a photo on your CV, disclosing your age, or telling your potential employers that you’re a three-time divorcee with two children can lead to discrimination. Don’t do it. Do consider including a link to your LinkedIn profile, and don’t forget to put important contact details at the top of your CV such as your email or phone number. 

Show Personality

Remember, employers aren’t just looking for someone with an appropriate career history and education; the candidate who gets the job is often not the person with the best experience but the one who best demonstrates the characteristics and determination they are looking for to make a difference at their company.

Do you bungee jump off cliff edges in your spare time? Are you a five-time world champion at standing on your head?

That’s cool. It makes you human. It makes you interesting. Put it on your CV.

Don’t just be CV number 283; be you!