Are you looking for a job? Does your CV have the simple resume hacks that most company’s HR department is looking for? If not, then the chances of you getting a call from the company for an interview are bleak.
With job-hunting becoming a complex task, there is a growing need to understand the importance of CV (Curriculum Vitae) in attracting the employer’s attention and arranging the meeting with the organization. Since it acts as the first impression of the job-seeker, it must possess the best CV hacks to ensure the resume leaves a good imprint on the employer.
To study the same, Oxford carried out a small research that concluded with the statistical information providing information into the facts that determine the key fields analyzed by employers before any CV gets shortlisted. According to the findings, 45% of the people hiring new talent views related work experience as the major determinant for the interview. Following which, it gives 35% weight-age to qualifications and 25% weight-age to the language used. Accomplishments and grammar rank below them at 16% and 14% chances of catching the attention of the eye.
While this data is crucial in deciding the trends that dominate the sphere of recruitment and selection process by HR departments, it also highlights the key areas that must be worked upon to translate the CV into a masterpiece.
So, to all job-hunters, here are some resume hacks and tips that must be incorporated to ensure that all your achievements are packaged in an attractive manner to capture the fancy of the employer:
#1. Skimmable Data with Enough Space to Breathe
Just like a piece of art that requires an entry point for the eye in the painting, CVs require space to allow the viewer to breathe through the content and select the piece of information that best suits their requirements. Probably that’s why; spacing becomes a crucial part of resume design and hacks. It allows the moderator’s eyes to travel through the information mentioned and shortlist the candidates on the basis of their achievements.
Not just that, the data must be presented in the form of bullets, with key qualifications highlighted in bold font to put emphasis on the most selling information on the CV. The bullet form of editing allows the moderator to skip through all the unnecessary information and pay attention to the main area that constitutes the most data about the job seeker.
(Image courtesy: tutplus)
#2. References in the Digital World
After ensuring all the basic information regarding experience and qualifications are put on the CV, add references in the digital world, if there are any. It differentiates the CV from most for their mundane format. Thus, if you have worked for the digital world and have live links to support your participation, flaunt in on your CV under the header ‘References in the Digital World’.
By providing these links, the job seekers add a touch of authenticity to their work experience. The live links serve as sample work, saving the employer from the task of verifying the information about the experience.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
#3. Tailor It according to the Job Opening
This phase of resume design and hacks is one of the most complex and time-consuming ones. Just like a suit is altered according to the perfect fitting of the user, CV needs to be altered according to the job opening in the organization. Thus, every post that you apply for will have a unique cover letter to support the resume. This adds a level of professionalism to your first impression on the employers.
Unlike other CVs which bear generic details in description, the CV with tailor made description shows the moderator that you understood their requirement and are applying henceforth. This attracts them as they shortlist the candidate for further rounds of interview.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
#4. Add a Dash of Color
In earlier times, color on CV was considered a bane, as it reflected the unprofessional attitude of the job–seeker. However, the trends have changed. To break away from the monochrome effect of the old CVs, the new types of CVs are adding a dash of color to highlight the sub-headers and bring it to the notice of the moderator.
Colors like red, blue, green and others are being adopted by the job-seekers as best CV hacks to differentiate their CV from others.
(Image courtesy: Venngage)
#5. Go With a Good Font
Out of all the fonts available on Microsoft Word, Comic Sans should never be used as the official font on CV. As a matter of fact, while choosing the font, you must be particular about the look, ensuring that only professional fonts are selected to present the information. As a matter of fact, there are limitations imposed on the number of fonts used in the CV.
Although designers for a professional looking resume are usually told to use only two fonts, however, up to three is permissible on the official piece of document.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
You can share more CV hacks with us in the comment box. We would love to hear from you.
Share
