How to adapt your CV for every application
You should consider tailoring your CV according to the needs of the specific role to which you are applying.
So many people use the same CV for every single application you make.
It stands to reason that every job and every organisation is different and every CV should therefore be suitably different.
Seeing the world from the recruiters’ point of view
The recruiters’ task is to indentify the best matches between the vacancy and the candidates. They are not looking to find you the job that is best suited to you. They are looking to find a candidate that is best suited to their vacancy.
So you need to look at your CV from the recruiters’ perspective. Instead of taking your skills your skills and experience as the starting point, your starting point needs to be the requirements of the vacancy in question.
Recruiters are purely interested in whether or not there is a match between your background and the requirements of the role in question.
Is it worth the effort?
Surveys show that around a quarter of recruiters will in fact give preferential treatment to CVs that they feel have been tailored specifically to the vacancy in question.
For every advertised position there will be a considerable amount of competition. The employer could easily have over 100 applications to deal with. If you take a few minutes to tailor your CV (and cover letter) then the odds should increase very much in your favour.
Key words
If you have a job advert or description then an essential technique is to actually repeat back to them the ‘key words’ the recruiter has used. For example, let’s say their advert states they are looking for:
A creative and innovative individual able to manage their workload on their own initiative.
It would not be a good idea to repeat this verbatim straight back to them in your Professional profile:
You should aim to weave the key words into the overall flow of your CV. This is much more suitable, but its effect should certainly not be underestimated.
Example:
A highly creative individual who excelled at University, gaining a 1st class BA (hons) in Graphic Design. Most recently responsible for managing a heavy caseload on own initiative, liaising directly with clients to develop innovative solutions to their design needs.
By carefully mirroring the recruiter’s own use of language you will definitely score points.
Which sections to tailor?
The Professional profile and Objective sections are obviously ideal places to tailor your CV but you may still need to tweak other areas, such as the descriptions you have given in your Career history.
If you have included a Key skills and/or Achievements section then this might well benefit from some rewriting – or at least reordering – of the points you have raised.
In fact, these are not the only sections that might need tailoring; it all depends on the circumstances. If, for example, you are applying to work for a charity, even if it’s not no a hands-on fundraising capacity, e.g. as an administrative assistant, then you might like to expand your Interests and activities section so that it highlights some of your charitable interests.
Next week, i’ll showing you how to apply for jobs online
