9 Tips to Crafting a Magnetic CV in 2024
Career

9 Tips to Crafting a Magnetic CV in 2024

Are you tirelessly sending out CVs, only to hear silence in return?   Cracking the CV code is getting harder!   What should a CV look like in 2024?   With the barrier to entry ever widening through complicated platforms, AI, and a lack of human interaction, it has become frustrating and confidence-wrecking to attempt […]

June 7th, 2024
*

Abby.

Founder

A search expert making key hires for over twenty years.

Are you tirelessly sending out CVs, only to hear silence in return?

 

Cracking the CV code is getting harder!

 

What should a CV look like in 2024?

 

With the barrier to entry ever widening through complicated platforms, AI, and a lack of human interaction, it has become frustrating and confidence-wrecking to attempt to seek a new role—I hear it every day.

 

Here are some of my top tips to crafting your CV for success:

 

Start Fresh

Start your CV from scratch each time you begin the search for a new job. Adding to an old CV can look mismatched, confusing the reader about your skills and intentions in a new role.

 

Think of the Reader

Think of who will be reading your CV – would you pick yours out of a pile of 50 for this role? Did you make it clear that you have the skills advertised in the job description? Don’t rush to submit your CV, you will only get one chance to be seen.

 

Address Gaps and Changes

Don’t leave the reader to make assumptions about your CV. Explain the gaps, why you moved on so soon, or why you changed industries. Ensure you are positive with the details; it will help them learn more about you.

 

Nail Your Profile Header

Your profile header is critical. It’s your opportunity to tell them what you can do, what you have achieved, how you did it, and how that could benefit the new employer. Don’t be shy here, make them so relevant to the targets of the role you are applying for.

 

Keep It Concise

If your CV includes a few short-term roles that do not match or complement the job description at all, consider leaving them out, shortening the details, or thinking about which tasks within that role could be useful for the new position and using those instead. I often see a huge amount of text relating to a totally irrelevant and very short-term role, distracting me from the gold.

 

Make the Matches

Your CV really has to match the job description; that includes titles, skills, qualifications, systems, and duties. Fold in the relevant keywords of your role and industry, as with AI doing a lot of the searching, it will rate you higher if you match the keywords in the job description. Be sure that it flows and is factual to your skills and experiences.

 

Remember, the person or bot skimming your CV is looking for keywords; they will most often not be able (or willing) to read between the lines. Review your CV against a spec like you are playing snap! The more snaps, the better.

 

Perfect the Presentation

Check the layout, font, spelling, and overall presentation. Bullet points are great because they allow the reader to skim through. Try to make it as easy as possible for the reader to get to the end without spotting something like a spelling mistake or font change that might stop them.

 

Sell Yourself

We tend to lack confidence in self-promotion, often hoping the reader will just guess that we are good. But guess what? If you don’t say it, they will assume you are not good! List out those work achievements, those things you are very proud of, received praise for, or pushed through your comfort zone to deliver to the next level.

 

Bonus Tip

Should the role require a qualification that you do not have but are actively pursuing and recognise as important, add in a line such as “In my next role, my objective is to gain a CIPD qualification as it is important to my career ambition to study towards this”. Whatever you don’t say will never be known (plus, AI will pick up on CIPD – a sneaky win!).

 

Don’t underestimate the importance of giving your CV the time and thought it needs. You only get one chance to be seen, so attention to detail is key. Taking the time to tailor it to each opportunity and reviewing and refining it will help you stay relevant and increase your chances of success.

 


 

Want more content like this? Join our newsletter

 


 

Yellow Bricks hires exceptional temporary and permanent professionals for scaling organisations. Click here to find out more.

 


 

To find out more about how to focus on your brand, get in touch today.
Want to hear about our other articles?
Looking to hire your next superstar?
Keen to explore our latest vacancies?
Yellow Bricks is a female-owned and led executive search firm hiring predominately for software companies with diversity and inclusion at the heart of our offering. To learn more, click here.
Related posts
Why leadership coaching is proving to be a game-changer in 2024

Why leadership coaching is proving to be a game-changer in 2024

The business landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, placing unprecedented demands on leaders. Today’s successful executives must be agile, empathetic, and digitally savvy. This perfect storm of requirements has created a leadership gap that many organisations struggle to fill.   At Yellow Bricks, we understand the challenges of finding, nurturing, and retaining top-tier leadership talent. […]
7 basic interview tips to stand out and get the job

7 basic interview tips to stand out and get the job

Have you got an interview coming up?   Has it been a while?   We have plenty of interview tips to get you started with your preparation.   Attending an interview can be a daunting feeling. Read on to discover our top tips to show your best side during an interview.   As soon as […]
How the Metaverse will change the Future of Work

How the Metaverse will change the Future of Work

Photo: Microsoft   Bill Gates predicts that within two or three years, virtual meetings will be taking place within the Metaverse. It is clear that changes to how we play, socialise, and work are coming sooner than we think 🎮 💬 💼 With the next decade heavily focused on its development, how will the Metaverse […]
The secret to leadership in 2024? The coach

The secret to leadership in 2024? The coach

The world of leadership is changing fast, and 2024 looks like it’s not going to stop. It’s seemingly not enough for leaders to rely solely on traditional management and leadership skills in a multigenerational, distributed, and increasingly complex workspace. Leaders must adapt, be creative, and show empathy in a world of constant change.   But […]
Remote Work: Is a New Norm Starting to Form?

Remote Work: Is a New Norm Starting to Form?

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a seismic shift in the way we work, forcing millions of employees across the UK and around the globe to adapt to remote work practically overnight.   What began as a necessary response to a global health crisis has since evolved into a widespread reassessment of traditional work models, and […]
C-Suite positions are rarely advertised. Here’s why and how you can win them.

C-Suite positions are rarely advertised. Here’s why and how you can win them.

Have you ever wondered why you hardly see job adverts for top-level executive positions?   It’s not just because these roles require a very specific set of skills and experience; there are several pretty good reasons behind it.   Let’s discuss and uncover how you can get onto the path to the C-Suite.   Why […]
The Metaverse

The Metaverse

The internet, as we know it, is a 2D world in which a range of information and entertainment is instantly accessible. Despite these extraordinary capabilities, the tech world seeks further growth and expansion. The focus has turned towards creating:   ‘The Metaverse’ 🌍 The Metaverse would allow for a more immersive digital experience by turning […]
Work is changing. Don’t get left behind.

Work is changing. Don’t get left behind.

The world is changing, and so is the workplace 🌍 👔  From witnessing The Great Resignation, it is clear that now, more than ever, employees are seeking more from their jobs and the world of work is changing. Employers may be quick to assume a pay rise is the antidote.  However, in 2022, money is […]
7 Ways to Communicate Better

7 Ways to Communicate Better

Are you a leader?   According to a Gallup survey, 70% of employee engagement is tied to the quality of communication from leadership. Communication is vital for driving organisational success. Whether you’re leading in a hybrid, remote, or full-time office environment, honing your communication skills is key to fostering engagement and collaboration. To help you […]
5 Questions All Leaders Should Be Asking Their Teams

5 Questions All Leaders Should Be Asking Their Teams

70% of employees say their purpose is related to their work.   People who feel their work has purpose are often more satisfied with their professional lives and loyal to companies who advocate for their own lives and careers.   They are 69% less likely to plan to quit their jobs within the next 6 […]

People. Culture. Growth.