… in 5-7 seconds …
The Curriculum Vitae is considered to have been around since Leonardo da Vinci wrote out a letter of his capabilities to one of the Dukes of his era, in 1482 war times. Remarkably, over 500 years later the humble CV is still very much a valuable and strategic piece of personal marketing when it comes to securing a new job.
As technology constantly changes the landscape of traditional recruitment however, there is a growing need for your CV to both navigate digital processes AND be attention-grabbing. It’s a well-known fact that most recruiters will spend just 5-7 seconds skimming a CV, and with automated digital hiring at risk of rejecting the best of application, how exactly, can you leverage your talent and get noticed?!
First Impressions DO count
The general format of a CV is a fairly straightforward with guidance widely accessible; the trick is to be consistently aware of who is reading it. One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to being noticed.
Whether registering your CV through a database or submitting as a direct application to an advertised job, you would be wise to consider the reader’s natural curiosity of why, who, what, how, and when.
If the recruiter has a quick understanding of why you are interested in their vacancy or is able to gain insight to how you will be valuable to future company success, the chance of interview verses file ‘B’ is greatly increased.
Emotionally connect
Leonardo’s competitive edge was to tailor his achievements to the Dukes need, focusing on what was important futuristically. He did not just list his achievements and skills of the past, he customised the letter to connect with what was important to his potential employer going forward. Below is an example of one of his capabilities –
‘I know how, when a place is besieged, to take the water out of the trenches, and make endless variety of bridges, and covered ways and ladders, and other machines pertaining to such expeditions’. Leonardo da Vinci
By sharing a more personal vision, rather than list job duties undertaken, you will be able to show how your skills fit with those reading your CV, who are seeking a professional.
Top tips to get noticed!
- Don’t churn the same CV – tailor it by researching the company you are applying to, matching words used with keywords in their advert.
- Keep your CV short and simple – two A4 pages is plenty. Use headings, a clear font eg. Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman, size 11 or bigger
- Fulfill the curiosity – create a concise, punchy paragraph that draws attention and markets you
- Remember to keep your CV up to date with no gaps and correct employment dates!
Formatting your CV by targeting the job role will definitely improve your chances of getting noticed. Leonardo got the job and it’s fair to say he went on to achieve much greater things ….
