You’ve taken the leap and decided to look for a new job in Ireland. Now comes the hard part: the CV. In a world where employers may receive hundreds of very similar CVs from candidates with 2:1 university degrees, how can you make yours stand out?
We asked the recruitment specialists about how to put your best foot forward.
Standing out
“Sometimes candidates leave out important information about their work experience and their key achievements,” says Michelle Murphy, director at recruitment firm Collins McNicholas. “For people moving into senior roles, I advise them to showcase the key responsibilities and achievements for the roles they were in.”
Size matters
“Two pages for a CV has always been a good rule of thumb but it’s not a perfect guideline,” says Avril McHugh, marketing director of recruitment firm CPL, which runs the OneTribe programme to help returning emigres find work in Ireland. “If you have over a decade of experience then two pages are unlikely to capture it all. Really think about the job you want: to create a truly sharp and effective CV you need to be brief.”
Murphy says that, for a more junior role, two pages may suffice, but a senior person should make sure that key attributes are highlighted – even if that means three pages.
Stay focused
Only focus on the relevant information about your career, says McHugh. “It’s vital to have relevance at the forefront of your mind. Focus on the roles and successes that are most relevant to the role you are applying for. Pepper your CV with essential keywords. If a recruiter was to use ‘Ctrl+F’ on your CV, would they find the experience they’re looking for? Make sure that you’ve included any skills that are listed on the job specification.”
Words have power, so use power words, advises Collins. “Don’t say: ‘I was responsible for’. Instead, words like ‘adapted’, ‘compiled’, ‘completed’ ‘established’, ‘managed’ and ‘maintained.’”
Your impact
“Were there initiatives or cost savings you brought to previous roles?” asks Murphy. “State them.”
McHugh concurs. “The one area that people often neglect when writing their CV is the outcome of their experience. Instead of saying you managed a project, explain that you managed a project that increased sales by 10 per cent.
“What impact and business outcomes came from your time at that company? Think about how you helped the business grow or what goals you helped to achieve. Are there any outcomes you achieved that are particularly applicable to the role you’re interested in? This is what the company will have in mind when they read your CV.”
Don’t forget LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the perfect platform to go into greater depth about your roles and responsibilities, says McHugh. “Use it to highlight anything that you couldn’t fit into your CV. Furthermore, being more detailed about your entire work history will also increase your chances of getting found. Don’t forget to connect with former work colleagues and tag the companies you worked for to add more credence.”
Education doesn’t end
Education doesn’t end after college, and continuous professional development is a must these days. So if you’ve taken any online courses or been given any accreditations, they should be on your CV, McHugh advises. “Online courses, night classes and half-day courses all demonstrate ambition, passion and a dedication to upskilling. While these extras may seem small, they go a long way to differentiating your CV from the pack.”
The soft skills
Communication and teamwork matter, and companies want to know that you have these skills. “Don’t underestimate their importance on your CV,” says McHugh. “Instead of saying that you a ‘good communicator’, you should reference the fact that you worked with or led teams of people from different business functions to achieve positive results.”
About you
“Voluntary work, serving on committees and contributing to the community give employers a sense of who you are,” says Murphy. “Be sure to include this information.”
References
Giving references? Make sure that your referees are aware that their name and contact numbers are being given out, says Murphy. “You really don’t want the referee to be contacted and not know who you are. ‘Available on request’ is a good rule of thumb.”
Lastly, proof read. Pay attention to commonly misspelled words, like “liaised”.