Recruiters spend ten seconds scanning a CV – how to make yours stand out

According to three industry insiders, a CV is still an important part of the recruitment process.

The job market has changed considerably in recent years but experts maintain that a good CV is still the first step to getting that much-coveted position. Aine Crilly, HR consultant for The HR Elephant, provides career mentoring and crafts professional CVs for job seekers. CV’s are crucial to creating a good first impression, according to Aine.

"There is essentially a 10-second window for recruiters to scan CVs, therefore it is vital to make an instant impact."

Likening a CV to a passport, Aine says a well-written CV will take you to your dream job.

"When individuals are able to demonstrate in writing on their CV - how they can purposefully think, outline their drive and identify how they add value to the business they can guarantee themselves an interview at the next stage of the hiring process."

CV’s are a crucial snapshot of making an impact that matters!! @Herdotie https://t.co/UZ2uBLtyOz

— TheHRElephant (@AineHrElephant) April 23, 2019

Aie says that 50 percent of individuals who see a job advertisement that requires a CV don't actually apply for the role, "as the dread of drafting a CV puts them off applying." Aine aims to take the stress out of creating a CV. She advises keeping them short and to the point.

"Recently we are seeing more advocates of the one pager CV. Personally I prefer a two-page CV that is still short and sharp as this provides enough detail but is not overwhelming to read." "Always include a paragraph for your summary/personal profile, in this think strategically: what is my why? what is my purpose? what am I passionate about? what is my value? This is your opportunity to describe what you do to the world and grab their attention!"

People, particularly women, are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all the requirements, though Aine says job requirements should be viewed more as a "wish list" by job seekers.

"When you see your dream job but stop yourself from applying because you don’t meet every single requirement, apply anyways as getting no response is the worst thing that can really happen." "Success is a numbers game. The more you play, the more likely you are to win."

Norma Carr and Karyn Williams run Independent Solutions, which provides consulting and placement services to the life science industry businesses. Norma and Karyn's clients all require CVs as part of the hiring process.

"They remain a key part of the hiring process. Your CV should be truthful, concise and above all address the requirements of the job specification."

Aside from a strong CV, Norma and Karyn specifically look for evidence of what they call ‘soft skills’ on a CV.

"A strong work ethic is one of the most important qualities hiring managers look for in a candidate."

Other desirable soft skills specific to the life sciences are positivity, accountability, willingness, adaptability and being an effective communicator. Norma adds that their hiring managers may also look at the applicants Linked in profile to get an overall picture of the candidate".