Why you should always tailor your CV and how to do it - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

Why you should always tailor your CV â€" and how to do it - Viewpoint - careers advice blog If your job-hunting strategy involves firing out generic application letters and sending the same CV to everyone, then it could be time for a re-think. Sending  off dozens of generic applications can be counterproductive. Firstly, you may be wasting your time on jobs that you are under or over-qualified for. More importantly, recruiters can spot a generic application a mile off. It’s far better to limit yourself only to jobs that youre certain would be a good fit for you, and take the time to tailor your application. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter Consider what a recruiter or potential employer is looking for when they review your CV. They aren’t just checking that you fit the basic requirements of the job, they are trying to gauge whether your particular skills and experience make you a good fit for the role. The closer your CV fits with the culture and characteristics of the company, the better your chances of standing out from the crowd. Tailoring your CV for every application might sound like a time-consuming process, but it can dramatically improve your chances of getting to the top of the pile and securing an interview. The starting point: your ‘generic’ CV You should already have a ‘generic’ CV. This is the standard CV that includes pretty much everything an employer or recruiter will be interested in: your personal statement; your detailed employment history, complete with a list of duties; your skills, achievements and hobbies. This is your key  job seeking tool, which you will update as you go through your working life. But here’s the important thing. You must never send your generic  CV to an employer. Why? It is very unlikely that your  template  CV will be perfectly attuned to the requirements of any particular job that you’re applying for. Instead, every time you apply for a job, take this generic  CV as your starting point and adapt it to the position you are interested in. Taking the time and effort at this stage of the process will pay huge dividends. 3 ways to tailor your CV So, how exactly do you go about the tailoring process? Here are some important tips to help you adapt your CV so that it closely reflects what the job description is asking for, and speaks directly to the recruiter and  hiring  in a way that no generic CV can. 1. Look for key words and phrases The best place to start the CV tailoring process is to go through the job description, highlighting the keywords and phrases. List these on a separate piece of paper, grouping them into the following categories: soft skills, technical abilities and job experience. This will make it easier to incorporate the keywords and phrases into the relevant sections of your core CV: the personal statement, skills and employment history respectively. 2. Tweak that personal statement Next you should tailor your personal statement. Explain to the reader why you are keen to work not just in this specific industry, but with this particular company. Make sure that your personal statement mirrors the qualities, character and experience specified by the job description, and try to fit the tone of your statement to the style of the job description. This will grab the recruiter’s attention and pitch you as the perfect fit for the job. 3. Go over your work history Finally, take some additional time to polish your work history. It is important not to embroider the truth, so everything in your employment history must be true, but you should adapt it by making sure that you highlight those duties and achievements that are also mentioned in the job description. This will further underline how well suited you are to the role. Tailoring your CV does require a little extra time, and probably means that you can’t fire out dozens of applications a day. But when it comes to today’s ultra-competitive job market, quality always wins out over quantity. So give yourself the best possible chance of standing out and make sure every CV you send out is tailored and targeted towards the most important result: getting that interview. Updating your CV? Our CV writing tips and advice will help you get started   8 signs you’ve been in your job too long 20 questions to ask yourself before starting your job search 6 common CV mistakes to avoid 4 ways to give your CV a digital makeover When is the best time to have a job interview? What size company is the right fit for you // Top six CV tips from Hays