3 Things Employers Actually Need To See In Your CV Versus What You Think They Want

CV-Resume

“Please, help me check. What is wrong with my CV?”

I have received this request time and again from job seekers who are damn frustrated with the dearth of interview invites, talk more of nicking the job. And of course, you have to understand their plight and feel sorry for them. How can they even get a job when they are not afforded the opportunity to be assessed and interviewed in the first place?

(I digress briefly – Your CV is a live document. It grows as you grow. It changes as you change. It should be flexible enough to suit the requirements of a particular job opening. I have seen applications for sales roles where the career objective of the applicant reads that (s)he is “seeking an entry-level position in Finance”! Your CV is a response to an organization’s need. Therefore, before you apply for that next job, read the requirements of role and then go through your CV to see if it sufficiently addresses the recruiting organization’s needs. So, it is advisable you have more than two different CVs on ground which you can easily tweak for various applications).

NOBODY WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO GET THAT INTERVIEW/JOB! YOU HAVE TO GRAB IT!!! Take a long, hard look at your CV and ask if you could do better. It is your advertising page to market yourself. Is it selling you hot or short? Here are three (3) things you think the recruiter wants versus what they actually want to see in your CV.

1.   Achievements versus Duties: Every time I take a CV for review, the first thing I (unconsciously) search for is your achievement. Whether a graduate entrant or an experienced hire, companies want to know that they are taking up achievers, success stories, go-getters, and people with the x-facor in their DNA. Don’t just give a list of chores you did in your last job. Let them know you have achieved so and so while on the job. This lends credence to your ‘right’ to the job. Ideally, your achievements should be specific and measurable. Give figures and percentage of increase in turnover rate, time taken to get a job done or complete a process, ideas you brought to the table, etc.

2.   Deliverables versus Autobiography: No one is interested in your autobiography, at least not yet. Reserve that for when you have grown biiiig. Of course, certain bio-data are needed from you. But focus more on what you are bringing on board. What are you offering? What transferrable skills are you bringing that will have immediate and significant, positive impact on the organization? Someone once “boasted” that if given the job, he will increase the company’s sales figure by at least 20% guaranteed. Now which employer will not be eager to put this to test? What core competencies do you possess? Please don’t just mention you are a computer literate! In this age and time??? Being “proficient in Microsoft excel, word, powerpoint, outlook, access” or what have you no longer cuts it! There are thousands of applicants who are competent in Microsoft as well. What else sets you apart? This brings us to the third thing an employer wants to see in your CV.

3.   Development path versus Experience: Experience is key, sure. Many recent graduates are caught in the experience catch-22 (we will discuss this sometime soon) and just wish they can buy the experience somewhere especially as most jobs you come across these days require years of experience from applicants. However, experience is not the end in itself. Employers may consider you for your years of experience, but they will be more interested in your development path through the years. If you are on a job for 5-8 years, show the recruiter how much you have grown on the job; how more versatile you’ve become. I have seen people who spent so many years on the job but have failed to advance. They are stuck in the monotonous routine of their role and are  fast becoming obsolete dispensable while their peers have advanced by learning new things, updating their skill sets, attended various trainings and acquired more certifications. This sets them apart and gives them the competitive edge.

Now, you know what is missing in your CV. Take the time to tailor it to build your brand and open more doors for you. As a giveaway to our readers, the first ten people to subscribe to this blog will get free CV review, the first five will get a complete makeover. Leggo!