🎯 Quick Win: The 6-Second Rule
Recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds reviewing each CV. Make every second count with these proven strategies.
Clear Structure
Easy to scan sections
Tailored Content
Match job requirements
Quantified Results
Numbers tell stories
1. Tailor Your CV to Each Job
Generic CVs get rejected. Customize your CV for each application by:
- Using keywords from the job description
- Highlighting relevant experience first
- Matching your skills to their requirements
💡 Pro Tip: Use My CV Buddy to automatically tailor your CV to any job description in seconds!
2. Quantify Your Achievements
Numbers make your accomplishments tangible and memorable:
❌ Weak:
"Managed a team"
✅ Strong:
"Led team of 12 developers, delivering 15+ projects with 98% client satisfaction"
3. Use Action Verbs
Start bullet points with powerful action verbs to show impact:
Leadership:
Led, Directed, Managed, Coordinated
Achievement:
Achieved, Delivered, Exceeded, Surpassed
4. Optimize for ATS
75% of CVs are rejected by ATS before a human sees them. Beat the bots:
- Use standard headings: "Work Experience" not "My Journey"
- Include keywords from job posting
- Save as .docx or PDF
🎯 Read our complete guide: How to Beat ATS Systems
Perfect CV Structure
1. Contact Information
Name, phone, email, LinkedIn, location
2. Professional Summary
3-4 lines tailored to the role
3. Key Skills
6-12 relevant skills
4. Work Experience
Reverse chronological, 3-5 bullets per role
5. Education
Degree, institution, year
❌ Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
- • Spelling and grammar errors
- • Using personal pronouns (I, me, my)
- • Including a photo (unless required)
- • Listing references on CV
- • Using unprofessional email addresses
- • Making it too long (>2 pages)
- • Including irrelevant information
- • Using fancy fonts or colors
- • Lying or exaggerating
- • Forgetting to update dates
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