What’s included in the perfect CV and covering letter?
An eye-tracking study found that it takes only six seconds for a recruiter to scan a CV and decide whether it is suitable for a role. While this may seem quick in the extreme, even rude and disrespectful, other recruiters and HR or hiring managers have admitted to being able to know in between 10 and 20 seconds if a CV will make it through to the shortlist.
The reason
There’s good reason for this. A recruiter can look through hundreds of CVs a day, with each job advert receiving an average of 250 CVs, so they must be fast.
But what are they looking for in those precious few seconds? How can you give your CV the best chance of reaching the shortlist, and what happens when you’re on it?
The cover letter
For a recruiter to add you to their long-list for a job, you may need to impress them with a cover letter. Again, this will be read quickly, so make it powerful.
A cover letter should:
complement, not duplicate, your CV
explain your reasons for interest in the job and company
identify your most relevant skills
explain why you’re qualified and what you have to offer
highlight which job you’re applying for
say how you learned about the job, including a referral if you have one.
A cover letter should never:
be too long and wordy
fail to relate to the job advert you’re applying for
look unprofessional and messy
include grammar and spelling mistakes.
Cover letter structure
Header: Both your and the employer’s name and contact details at the top. If this is an email, include your information as a signature at the end.
Salutation: Dear Mr, Mrs, Miss + full name.
Introduction: Job you’re applying for; how you heard about the job; how your skills and experience match the position.
Body: 1-2 paragraphs. Use concise sentences and don’t be tempted to tell your life story. You want to quickly paint a picture of why you’re relevant for the job you’re applying for. Mention specific qualifications/skills you have that match the job advert.
Closing: State that you’re a strong fit for the company, that you’d like the opportunity to discuss employment and what follow-up actions you will take next.
‘Yours sincerely’ + signature + typed name.
Now edit it, and ask a friend or family member to edit it too.
The CV
Now you need to beat a recruiter’s skim-reading skills and get onto their shortlist.
The reason recruiters can so quickly decide whether a CV is relevant or not is because they’re looking for very specific information during this initial scan. In fact 80% of these few seconds is given to searching for just six things:
name
current title/company
previous title/company
previous position, start and end dates
current position, start and end dates
education.
The decision
From this, they can decide whether a CV is relevant for a specific role, so make sure that a) all this information is clearly viewable and laid out on the first page of your CV, and b) it is all relevant to the job you’re applying for.
For example, if the role requires an MA-level education and you’re just finishing your BA, save yourself the time and don’t apply. Or if the role is for a senior manager and you’re currently an associate, this will probably put your CV in the bin for this particular job. So make sure you’re applying to roles you have a fighting chance of successfully being considered for.
A CV should:
be clearly laid out without too much information squeezed into the page
have absolutely no grammar or spelling mistakes
highlight your experience, skills and qualifications clearly
work backwards in time – most recent jobs and qualifications come first
not have long sentences – bullet points and key words and phrases are easier to read and digest for the quick-reading recruiter. Save the in-depth validations for the interview
be edited several times and by different people.
A CV should never:
include a photo of yourself
include a spelling or grammar mistake – editing is so important
use ‘fancy’ fonts or coloured paper – keep the layout and design simple
include marital status, gender or ethnicity – you just need to have your name and contact details at the top; even your address can be discriminated against, so it’s not essential
include interests and hobbies.
The structure of a good CV
Name, contact details (email, phone) and maybe LinkedIn or Twitter handles
Professional statement – not absolutely essential, but increasingly popular. This can include impactful words, numbers and phrases highlighting key achievements and ambitions
Employment history
Education
Certifications
Once you’re done, upload your CV to our dedicated database so recruiters can match you to their most relevant roles.
Update your CV for every application
Remember, it’s always worth tailoring your CV for every application. It’s not a waste of time if it gets you through the door.
Good luck!
