Traditional CVs have long been a staple of the recruitment process. However, with recent advances in technology and changes in recruitment practices, many are starting to question whether they are still relevant for today’s job market.
But are CVs actually dead?
While the idea of ‘eliminating CVs’ makes for a nice sounding marketing slogan, in reality, CVs, which literally translate to mean ‘course of one’s life’, aren’t going away anytime soon. Even though the way we share this information with employers is changing, people will still need to talk about their past experiences, roles and skills in order to get a job.
If you apply to any job today, almost every single one of them will ask for some form of CV in order for you to submit your application.
However, the way in which job seekers can make their CV stand out has evolved. Rather than solely focusing on relevant experience and hard skills, there is now a greater emphasis on soft skills and personality traits. A more holistic approach is needed to showcase a candidate’s potential for success in a role, regardless of their past experience.
A winning CV can open many doors in a person’s career, but it is not the only factor that determines success in the job market. As recruitment practices continue to change, job seekers must adapt their approach and showcase their unique value proposition beyond the confines of a traditional CV. That being said, there are a few key basics that you should always look to include in your job application regardless of what role you’re applying to.
Basic details to include in your CV
Contact Details
There are a few obvious details you’ll never want to leave out from your CV:
- Full name
- Address
- Mobile phone number
Your contact details should be added at the very top of your CV, visibility is key. We also recommend that you include your LinkedIn-profile (be sure to create one if you don’t already have one). Always be sure that your LinkedIn is updated and reflects you and your skills and experience in a positive way.
A short bit about you
While a short introduction about yourself might feel unnecessary, the truth is that a few, short, snappy words about yourself can have a great impact on the recruiter. This is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd using as few words as possible.
List some of your key skills, future ambitions or past results of note. This can be a good way to give recruiters and HR-managers a quick overview of why you’re the right person for the job.
Remember if/when applying to multiple roles to tailor this section (and indeed the rest of your CV) so that it matches the job description of each role you have applied to!
Work experience
This section should include your previous positions with your titles, roles, company names, locations and employment dates. You can list your work history either in reverse chronological order, or based on relevance. It’s really important that you list some of the key accomplishments for each role you worked! To make your work experience stand out you should always consider including projects and collaborations you’ve been a part of.
Education
Your academic credentials should be described in reverse chronological order. List where you went to school, when you attended and what degree you attained. If you want to add more information here you could mention additional courses and perhaps the subject of your bachelor or master thesis but keep the relevance in mind.
Additional experience/skills
Here you have the opportunity to provide a more well-rounded picture of who you are by listing experience, skills, awards, volunteer work etc. Once again, remember to only list bullet points that are relevant for the specific job.
References
Try to keep it as short as possible and make sure you include the last 2 or 3 most relevant references.
How to show your soft skills when applying for a new job
- Visit joy.clevry.com
- Create your free account
- Use Clevry’s free soft skills assessments and discover your strengths and areas for further development
- Download our free personality reports and send this to the recruiter when you submit your job application, CV and/or cover letter. This will help to show potential employers your skills and abilities.
- Experience joy (or not – we can’t actually guarantee what you will feel at any given point 🙂)
