From crafting the perfect CV to knowing what hiring managers look for during the CV selection process, we’ve got you covered. But first things first: what is a CV?
Usually, CVs are used in Ireland and the UK, while resumes are more commonly used in America. However, both terms are used in Australia, so while they’re similar documents, there is a difference between a CV and a resume.
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is an in-depth document that contains a high level of detail about your achievements, covering your education, accomplishments, skills and awards. It’s usually organised chronologically and candidates don’t usually change them too much, as their career history doesn’t change. However, we would encourage you to tailor your CV for each job application, but more on that later.
In contrast, a resume is usually a one-page overview document designed to really make a candidate stand out. These are more commonly adopted and specially tailored for each job application. It is often not ordered chronologically and may not cover your entire career history.
As mentioned, a resume is the most common application document in America as well as Canada, while CVs are more common in Europe. Ireland and the UK don’t tend to use resumes at all, which is why some of the traditional characteristics of a resume can come into play when jobseekers in Ireland are compiling their CV. For example, CVs in the US are typically used by academics, scientists and other such specialists and can often run up to and above four pages. In contrast, an Irish CV should be kept to two or three pages max. This is why adopting some of the practices of resume-building, such as considering it your own personal marketing document, will make you stand out.
While the biggest differences are often between Irish CVs and American resumes, there is also differences even within Europe. For example, here are a few differences between Irish CVs and French CVs.
While researching the length of a CV, it’s important to remember that its true meaning refers to a very detailed document with no limits on its length, which is why American CVs can often be more than four pages and can even go up to 10 pages if a candidate has a long career history. However, for those applying for jobs in Ireland where the term resume isn’t really used, your CV should be much shorter and only contain relevant information.
If you’re using a CV in Ireland or the UK, your CV should generally not be more than two pages. For very senior people, three but mostly you should always aim to make it as short as possible. You can read more about how long your CV should be here and get some valuable tips on how to shorten it.
In the age of social media, candidates often have their career history and achievements mapped out online, particularly on their LinkedIn profile. They might even be headhunted through their LinkedIn profile, leaving them wondering how valuable their old-school word document CV really is. Do hiring managers still use them or do is it more important that their online profile is up to date?
Firstly, it’s vital that all jobseekers understand the importance of their CV, no matter how you came across a job or how you’re asked to apply for it. In fact, the need for a CV or resume may never truly go away, but how they are formatted, how they are presented and how they are selected may change, and this is what you need to be mindful of.
With AI becoming a major part of the HR and talent acquisition sphere and the majority of CVs and job applications coming through electronically, it’s vital that jobseekers know how to make sure their CV passes the initial checks, especially if it’s being ‘read’ by AI.
In fact, even when a CV is read by a human recruiter or hiring manager, they will more than likely search keywords related to the job description to see how well candidates match the required skillset in order to create a shortlist of candidates for interview.
For this reason, it has never been more important for your CV to be tailored to each job application, matching the key requirements to the skills and experience you have gained. The more closely your CV matches the job spec, the more likely you will be selected for the next stage, be that by a human or a bot.
While your CV is and will continue to be an integral part of your job application process, there’s no denying that your LinkedIn profile will also play a role. After all, hiring managers and recruiters are likely to look you up on LinkedIn once they have your CV – so you may as well use it to your advantage.
LinkedIn is more interactive, more visual and can often better demonstrate your skills and personality than your two-page CV. It gives you the opportunity to hyperlink to particular projects and achievements, it allows you to gain endorsements and references from your online network and it gives you the opportunity to have a voice in your industry through blog posts.
It’s important that your LinkedIn experiences matches your CV experience. Recruiters may look for gaps or discrepancies between the two profiles so make sure both are up to date, correct and matching. When it comes to your CV and your LinkedIn profile, one will rarely cancel out the other but it’s important that they complement each other instead.
Whether you’re looking for a new job or not, it’s important to constantly review and update your LinkedIn profile. Whether that means reviewing your profile section, updating your skills or expanding on your experience, it’s a good way to keep your ‘online CV’ polished and ready to go. Find out more ways to improve your LinkedIn profile here. Remember, staying engaged online is a good way to find new job opportunities. Even if you’re not ready to move yet, it will help you stay connected to your professional network, hear about possible opportunities and get an idea about the skills you need to brush up on.
When it comes to the ideal CV layout, the most important factor is whether or not it’s clear. The page should look clean and tidy, with distinct and consistent sections. Headings should be clearly defined, either by bold, capital letters or underlined.
You should also use bullet points to make your CV easier to read and help hiring managers spot the most relevant information instead of needing to hunt through large blocks of text. A clean, neat CV will tell the hiring manager you most likely present yourself well without needing to read a single word.
The font you choose should be simple and professional but above all else, it should be consistent throughout. Make sure each section is consistent in size, spacing, font, and alignment. If your headings are size 14, make sure all your headings are size 14 and so on. These may seem like small and inconsequential things but in reality, they stick out a mile away to recruiters and hiring managers and it may show that you’re lacking in your attention to detail.
We can't overemphasise how important it is for job seekers to use all the online tools available to them when it comes to ensuring a captivating CV layout. Since 2006, we've seen every CV template and builder there is and our partner company, Resume.io, consistently ranks as our top CV builder every year.
In general, your CV should start with your personal details, education and experience, which should be laid out in chronological order, starting with your most recent experience and working its way back through your relevant experience. Double-check your employment dates and make sure your CV is chronologically correct. You don’t want to set off unnecessary alarm bells because of a disparity with your employment history.
For most jobs, it’s advisable to keep your CV style simple and professional. Any jazzy fonts, mix of colours or pictures will more than likely distract from the important information. There is a case to be made for a more stylish CV when applying for more creative jobs such as marketing or graphic design. A more creative CV can be way to showcase your talents a little bit and highlight your personality. However, they are a risk. Much like what you wear to an interview, hiring managers will often still expect a certain added level of professionalism so even in certain creative roles, a straightforward CV format is best.
Do you want to build an interview-winning CV with a similar template?
When designing a creative CV, make sure it is still clear, easy to read and that no design elements are too distracting. If you’re unsure, get a second opinion. It’s a good idea to have both a creative CV and a simple CV prepared. Creatives can always use a separate portfolio to display their creative flair and design skills.
Remember: Try to make your CV as short as possible, keeping in only the most relevant details. When listing your achievements and responsibilities, consider how they will answer the job description and present you as the best candidate for the job.
It can feel a bit overwhelming if you feel the need to completely overhaul your CV, but don’t worry, we’ve got a number of free CV templates and different types of CV samples for you to download and work from.
We have a variety of templates to choose from, including modern styles, creative styles and a number of different CVs for specific industries. Simply choose any CV format and input your information.
When you’re finished working on your CV, don’t forget about that all-important filename. Again, it seems like a small detail but saving your CV document as Firstname_Lastname.pdf will make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to access your winning CV quickly and easily. While most organisations will accept both Word documents and PDF files, PDF files are universal, whereas a Word document on a Mac may not visually transfer properly to a PC and vice versa.
A good CV starts with layout, design and formatting as outlined above. However, when it comes to what will get you hired, the content is the most important part. As mentioned, a CV in America is very different to a CV in Ireland. While an American CV is a long, rigid, detailed document, which includes your entire career history, an Irish CV is much shorter and should ideally only include relevant experience. For this reason, it cannot be said enough that your CV should ideally be tailored to suit each job application.
You may be wondering how to write a CV to suit each job when your experience hasn’t changed, but how you phrase your key skills, responsibilities and achievements can change to best showcase those that are required for each job.
Check out the infographic below for a quick guide on how you can tailor your experience to match each job description.
For every responsibility you had or for each requirement on the job specification, ensure you have at least one example of an experience or a transferable skill. Avoid cliché language and CV buzzwords such as “I am a good communicator”. Instead, write about a time that proves your communication skills such as a presentation.
Think about what makes you stand out as a candidate. What is your USP? Is it exceeding targets, coming up with innovative ideas or confidently leading a team? Think about other candidates that might go for this role and really spend some time looking at your own experience, skills and achievements and think about what makes you stand out.
As mentioned, your personal details, education and relevant work experience are all staples in your CV, but what else should you include?
When it comes to a personal statement, CV profile section or summary at the top of your CV, the jury is out. Space is a sacred commodity on your CV and many hiring managers skip this section altogether and go right to the experience and skills.
However, if you can use it to sell yourself in an effective way, it can sometimes be beneficial. You might even use it to put your biggest professional achievements or top skills at the very top of your CV and help to showcase that USP we talked about. It is advisable to leave out elements such as gender, marital status, date of birth and photograph. For a start, they are unnecessary and don’t do anything to prove your competence at the job and for another, it helps to strip away any biases.
You may wish to include hobbies and interests on your CV, which you definitely can but remember the golden rule: Make every sentence count towards your goal. So, when it comes to adding hobbies and interests to your CV, ask yourself how relevant they are. What skills or achievements do they highlight?
Once again, you want your CV to be personalised for each job application and this should go for the hobbies and interests section too. Don’t add this section without a purpose and don’t let it be the reason your CV trickles into a third page unnecessarily. Find out more about hobbies and interests on your CV here.
Again, sections such as this one come down to how much space you have to spare on your CV. If you have the room to sum up your top skills and biggest achievements, this could be the best way to showcase your USP and make you stand out from other candidates.
Another way to achieve this result is to incorporate a list of skills and achievements obtained under each job heading. This may require some restructuring and rephrasing when it comes to the information around your responsibilities to ensure your CV is still neat, clean and legible but could be a strong way to put your capabilities front and centre.
When one job blends seamlessly into the next throughout your entire career history, it can be incredibly easy to explain that you simply grew, upskilled, got promoted and grabbed opportunities to progress your career. But not everyone’s career is quite so straightforward and if you have a gap on your CV, a recruiter or hiring manager is going to spot it.
There are plenty of reasons why one might have a gap in their CV and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Whether it’s for family reasons, unemployment, illness, travelling or for another reason, the main thing you have to do is think about how you’re going to explain the gap. In fact, if you’re comfortable, it might be a good idea to put the gap in your CV to account for the missing time. But whether you include and label it on your CV or not, you will need to be prepared to explain the gap to recruiters or hiring managers. In this case, it’s important never to lie about a CV gap, but you will still be able to talk about it in a positive way.
Think about what you did during your time off. Did you study or upskill? How did you stay in touch with your network and industry? Why have you decided to return to the workforce now? Whatever your situation, it’s important to be honest about your CV gaps but focus on how you used your time proactively. You can find advice on more specific reasons for gaps in your CV here.
So, we’ve gone through what you should include in your CV, but what should you leave out? In case we haven’t already hammered it home enough, the most important thing to leave out is unnecessary or irrelevant information.
Another thing to strip from your CV is any personal information that has no bearing on your job such as a photograph, your date of birth or your marital status. Aside from the fact that it is more irrelevant information taking up your precious space, it opens you up to unconscious bias from the employer. While it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against you on various conditions and hiring managers will actively try to avoid bias, keeping as much personal information off your CV as possible will help both you and them in that respect.
Another element you should avoid, which was once much more common is references on your CV. Firstly, hiring managers are unlikely to need references at the early stages in the process when you’re submitting your CV – and what have we said about taking up valuable space with unnecessary information? The other reason to leave your reference details off your CV that it gives you a chance to speak to those references before they can actually expect a call. Simply including a line that says: “References available on request” will do.
The short answer is yes, you should always include a cover letter, unless explicitly asked not to, which is unlikely. Much like your CV, your cover letter should be tailored to suit each job application. In fact, your cover letter will more than likely be even more personalised because it’s not as restricted by format and work experience.
Speaking of your work experience, your cover letter should not simply reiterate what’s in your CV. This will be a waste of your time and the hiring manager. Instead, use it as a way for you to explain a little bit about yourself and more importantly why you’re the right candidate for the job, showcase your skills, how you will be able to contribute to the business and why you’d be a good fit for the company.
Remember, length is always an important factor, so while your CV shouldn’t be more than two pages, you should keep your cover letter to one page. There are a few other cover letter dos and don’ts such as getting the recipient’s name right and making sure there are no spelling and grammar mistakes (Once again, don’t just rely on spellcheck, get a friend to read over it).
While you have a lot of necessary information to pack into your CV, giving you very little space to add in flourishes that might show off your knowledge of the company and interest in working there, a cover letter for a CV gives that opportunity back to you.
A good exercise to start with is to think about all the points you want to include that might prove you’re the best candidate for the job without talking about your work experience at all. Of course, your experience will be how you prove your skills and abilities, but it’s good practice to force yourself to think about what’s really important without falling into the trap of repeating your CV.
Hopefully, with all of our tips and other articles about CVs, you should be well equipped to have a strong CV and accompanying cover letter to give you the best possible chance of being called for an interview.
But it’s not enough to simply look at the job description and figure out what skills and relevant experience you need to highlight. It’s important to know what hiring managers look for when selecting CVs. At RECRUITERS, we take the time to find the best jobs for candidates but we also want to help our clients find the best talent, and to do that, we advise them on how to streamline their hiring process and how to select the right CV.
This is valuable information for candidates to have as well because it will help them get inside the minds of recruiters and hiring managers alike to make sure your CV is the absolute best it can be and stands the best chance of being selected.
Unsurprisingly, hiring managers are told to look our for spelling mistakes, poor formatting, drawn-out, descriptions and long CVs, all of which we’ve already talked about. However, another important detail hiring managers will look at during CV selection is how well your experience matches the role they’re looking to fill – and this won’t just be to do with your skillset. They will be looking to see if you’ve ever managed a team of similar size, or dealt with a similar calibre of clients (such as a Big Four or a Fortune 500 company). They will look at the size of the companies you’ve worked for, whether you’ve mostly been working on the B2B side of things or B2B.
These are details and matches you may not think about when trying to match your skills to their requirements, but they’ll look for them all the same. When giving your CV that final check, look at the bigger picture – the team you’ll be with and the company as a whole. What similarities can you draw from your previous experience that further highlights your fit?
A perfect CV takes time, especially since you will be tailoring it to each job application. But Resume.io can help simplify and speed the process up significantly!
If you take the time to ensure it’s formatted correctly, and that every sentence works for you and proves that you are the ideal candidate, you stand a great chance of being called for an interview. Even if you only have 10 minutes to improve your CV, there are a few quick things you can do.
Ready to submit your perfect CV and find your next job? Simply register your CV with us and/or create job alerts tailored to your specific career preferences. Sit back, and let us do the hard work on your behalf.
Laptop and notebook photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash
