The 3 Rs of a great CV

A great CV is more than a just dry account of your responsibilities and career history. To truly shine, you need to catch the recruiter’s eye by showing that you have recent, relevant experience with a strong record of results delivery. Here are some tips on how you can incorporate these three Rs into your CV, to help you stand out in the jobs market. 

Recent

A recruiter is more interested in what you’ve been doing recently than what you did 20 years ago. Too much focus on historical information makes you, and your skills, look out of date. Therefore, it makes sense for your most recent job to be placed at the top of the CV, working backwards. Roles over 10 years ago can simply be summarised to show your career progression. More than 30 years ago should probably be deleted (or at least have the dates removed), to avoid potential age discrimination. 

The same rule applies to your qualifications – work in reverse chronological order and place them below your career history, unless you’ve recently finished your education. Take a moment to critically re-evaluate your CV, looking at what the recruiter will see first. Which roles require less detail and will any of the information age you (CSEs and O-levels? A career history starting in the 80s?)? You’ll need to ensure that your Profile and Key Skills sections are also focused on the last few years. 

If you’re emphasising something from many years ago, it gives the impression that you’ve not done much since. Even if something is important to you personally, ask yourself whether it will carry the same weight with a recruiter.  A great CV cuts out ancient history.

Relevant

The CV needs to show a clear connection to the type of role you’re targeting. Easy to do if you’re looking at staying in the same role or sector, but trickier if you have a diverse work history or are keen to change career. It’s important to remove or minimise any irrelevant information, as otherwise you’ll risk pigeon-holing yourself and diluting the emphasis on the more relevant skills. 

There’s no obligation to cover absolutely everything – a great CV is as much about what you miss out as what you include. Spend some time aligning your skills and experience with the requirements of the roles you’re targeting. For example, a hairdresser looking to move into retail shouldn’t include all their hairdressing qualifications, but should instead focus on transferable skills such as customer service.

Results

Prove that you’re worth hiring by showing how you’ve contributed to the companies you’ve worked at. A strong achievements section, tied to every role, will show that you can deliver results and are willing to do more than the bare minimum. Consider how you've benefited your employers and the difference you've made to the company. Cost savings? Increased revenue? Customer loyalty? Awards?

Even better, if you can quantify the contributions it makes your claims more credible and avoids sounding boastful. Demonstrating a solid record of success is key if you want to elevate your CV above the others in the pile. 

Use the 3Rs to write a great CV

Your CV needs to position you as a credible candidate with the right expertise to deliver beyond the basic requirements of the role. Use the 3Rs to keep it focused and on track.

Still unsure whether your CV is really selling you? CV Shed can write the whole document for you, from scratch, to position you as a strong candidate. Get in touch today!