When applying for jobs, it’s important that you customise your CV specifically for each role you are applying for. Generic CVs sent out en masse are unlikely to capture the recruiter’s attention. By tweaking your CV each time, you can match your skills and experience closely to the job description and demonstrate why you are an ideal candidate. Follow the tips below to learn how to effectively customise your CV for every application. Taking the time to tailor your CV shows you are detail-oriented and serious about the role. Don’t just make minor tweaks, fully adapt your CV content and structure for each application.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience
Read through the job description closely, identifying the main skills, qualifications and experience required for the role. Then adapt your CV to highlight how your own skills and experience directly match these. For example, if you are applying for a shop assistant role, ensure duties like customer service, sales, cash handling and product knowledge are emphasised in your work history by creating a tailored CV for shop assistant positions. Use bold, italics or underlining to draw extra attention to these matched skills. You can also list them in order of importance based on the job description.
Emphasise Transferable Skills
You may not tick every single box in the job requirements. Focus on transferable skills you do have that are relevant. For a social media manager role requiring marketing experience, highlight any blogging, content creation and analytics skills you have used in previous jobs or education. Transferable skills show you have the capability to learn and adapt. Don’t underestimate their value and how they translate across roles. Soft skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving are also highly transferable.
Quantify Achievements
Use facts, figures and data to quantify achievements and demonstrate the impact you made in previous jobs. For example, “increased sales by 15% over a 6 month period” or “managed social media channels with over 10,000 followers”. This makes your abilities more tangible and convincing. Make sure to only include accomplishments that are relevant. You don’t need to quantify every job, focus on the most applicable.
Adapt the Structure if Needed
Certain jobs place more importance on particular information. For example, academic CVs for teaching and research roles should have an in-depth list of publications and conferences. Hospitality CVs may benefit from putting the work history first. Adjust your CV’s structure to put your strongest selling points first. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different CV layouts and orders. Just ensure it flows logically and is easy to skim read.
Check the Length and Format
Stick to standard CV length of 1-2 pages, unless the job ad specifies otherwise. Ensure there is adequate white space between sections. Follow the requested file format, e.g. .doc, .pdf. Name the file clearly including your name and the job title. Double check the formatting across different devices and software if you will be sending it digitally. Consistency is key for a professional application.
Tailor the Content to Company Values
Research the company and identify their values, mission statement and culture. Look for ways to demonstrate how you align with these values through your CV content. This shows you take a genuine interest in the company. Reference company values directly or work them into your personal profile. But make sure to keep it genuine rather than forced. You can visit the company’s website, social media, and press releases to get a good sense of their values and culture.
Get Feedback from Others
Ask other people to proofread each tailored CV and provide feedback. Fresh eyes can judge how well you have matched the CV to the job and tailored it effectively. Accept feedback graciously and make improvements. Don’t rely solely on spellcheck apps and software. Ask real people like colleagues, friends or mentors to review. Choose people familiar with your background who can provide honest, constructive feedback.
Customising your CV requires some extra effort, but it can give you a major advantage over candidates sending generic applications. Take the time to carefully adapt your CV to every job ad and you’ll find it pays off with more interviews and job offers. Just remember to highlight relevant skills, quantify achievements, emphasise transferable skills, tweak structure if needed, and follow length and format guidelines. With some practice, you’ll find adapting your CV for every application becomes quick and easy. Keep your master CV file safely stored so you can easily adapt it when needed.
