READ TIME – 5 MINUTES
Are you on the hunt for a new job? Well, did you know that in the UK, a “low-skilled” vacancy receives an average of 506 applications? And if you’re going for a “high-skilled” vacancy, you’ll only be up against 55 other applicants!
That’s a lot of competition.
But worry not, there are ways to make your application stand out. You need to go the extra mile and make it unique. And one of the best ways to do that is by creating a tailored CV that aligns with the role you’re applying for. This blog has got you covered with everything you need to know to make your application shine!
Why Is A Tailored CV Important?
Having a tailored CV can increase your chances of standing out and securing interviews. Here are a few reasons why:
- Emphasises Your Interest – Creating a tailored CV takes much more time and effort than a generic one. Employers will appreciate the efforts and feel more intrigued because you’ve shown them you’re genuinely interested in the job.
- Highlights The Requirements – Tailored CVs let you understand the employer’s needs. This is because when crafting your CV, you can exclude any work experience or skills that aren’t relevant to the job. This means that you’ve got more room to elaborate on the relevant details and keep it straight to the point.
- Shows That You Understand The Company – When tailoring a CV, you must refer to the job description and also research the company. When doing this, you can gain a good understanding of the company and the culture which can help to make a great impression on the employer.
How To Tailor Your CV
When crafting a tailored CV, it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of the company and the job requirements. To achieve this, you should explore the company’s website and delve into the job description to learn more about the ideal candidate. While researching the job, you must look for keywords and phrases throughout the description, focusing on the duties, skills, and experience required. These aspects should be emphasised in your tailored CV to increase your chances of landing the job.
After you have thoroughly examined the employer’s website, you should also look at their social media profiles, blog posts, and company review websites. This will provide valuable information about their objectives, values, products, and work environment. By conducting extensive research, you can tailor your resume to fit the job requirements and be well-prepared with potential conversation topics in case you get invited to an interview.
After conducting your research, you should have an idea of what the employer is seeking in a candidate. Consequently, you can now prioritise your skills according to their requirements. When discussing your skills, it is recommended to use real-life examples. Instead of simply stating that you have good problem-solving skills, you should elaborate on a time when you had to utilise them.
When writing the experience section on your tailored CV, re-order it so that the most relevant experience is at the top. It’s vital to make an impact right from the start. Therefore, start with whatever is most likely to catch the hiring manager’s eye.
CV Tips
- Proofread – With any application materials you submit, it’s always crucial to proofread. You don’t want to let a grammar error get in the way of you securing a new career. Hiring managers see mistakes as a lack of effort and therefore you must always ensure you check your CV before applying.
- Use A Professional Email – Your CV should present you as a professional – this includes your email address. 76% of CVs are ignored if you have an unprofessional email address. Therefore, if you’ve not already got one, then it’s wise to go and create one and keep simple – stick to something like firstname.Surname@gmail.com
- Use A Professional Format – CVs don’t need much designing – they should be kept simplistic with all the correct information. You should avoid including images in your CV and try to stick to basic colours whilst ensuring there’s not too much writing and that it is easily digestible.
- Tell The Truth – When you really desire a job, it can be tempting to exaggerate your CV. This is the worst thing you can do. By lying on your CV, you won’t do yourself any favours – it’s likely that you’ll risk damaging your reputation or even running into legal trouble!
- Create A Compelling Cover Letter – In order to strengthen your application even more and get ahead of the crowd you could create a cover letter. This will give you the opportunity to elaborate on your CV and tell the hiring managers why you would be a good addition to their team. 49% of hiring managers expressed that a strong cover letter can convince them to interview an otherwise weak candidate.
Kickstart Your Career With AvA-V
After reading this blog, you should now understand the importance of creating a tailored CV. Though it requires more time and effort than a generic CV, the benefits are significant and could help you land your dream job.
However, before you can tailor your CV, you need to find a potential opportunity that matches your career aspirations. Hence, we can assist you with that. You can find all our latest job opportunities right here!