Applying for a new job requires an excellent CV to ensure that you stand out in the first round of applications. Tailoring your CV for a specific role is the only way to make sure it is relevant and will catch the eye of a recruiter, but this can be a challenging and time-consuming process.
A generic CV will not usually make it through the initial shortlisting stages, and you should always customise yours for the role you are applying for. Read on for our top tips and find out how to tailor your CV to different industries to optimise your chances of success.
It is essential to customise your CV to show that you have the experience and skillset required for the particular job you are applying for. To some extent, this may be industry specific and, for example, a recruiter for a creative role is much more likely to appreciate a resume that looks unique or stands out visually than someone who is recruiting for a technical or more traditional role, such as a job in finance or in computer programming.
Here’s how to optimise your CV for your industry:
Changing key words in your CV can make a big difference to the impact it makes, especially if AI tools are being used to filter applications for relevance. Check the job advert and specification, noting the keywords used so that you can include these in your CV, as well as keywords that are specific to your industry and the role. For instance, if you are applying for a role in the technology industry, you should list the software and programming languages you have experience with.
Matching your skillset to the job specification or person specification for the role you are applying for will give you the best chance of success. You can do this by looking carefully at each role and tailoring your descriptions of your skills and experience to draw out the most relevant aspects. You should refer to specific projects you have worked on that display the technical and soft skills that your dream job calls for.
If you are applying for a role in a creative industry, you can take a less formulaic approach to writing your CV. Recruiters in more creative industries are likely to be more interested in your portfolio and your achievements than your formal qualifications and your employment history, so you can include links to online projects or samples of your work.
Soft skills are often considered to be as important as your qualifications, especially if you are required to work as part of a team in your new role. You should highlight any relevant skills you have, and evidence these with examples from your recent work history. For instance, if you are applying for a role that involves education, it will be helpful if you refer to situations in which you have helped to teach others, demonstrating your communication skills and aptitude for working with students.
If you have built up a number of qualifications over the years, it will be helpful to prioritise those that are relevant to your industry. For instance, if you are applying for a healthcare role, your qualifications in First Aid or specialised areas of medicine will be of greater interest to your recruiter than your academic certifications.
You do not need to re-write your CV entirely for every application you make, but it is important to read it through and amend anything that feels irrelevant, ensuring that every detail is tailored to the role you are applying for. Once you are happy with your template CV, – and we can help you with this – you can simply alter sections or keywords to suit each role you apply for. You can also personalise your cover letter to further highlight the most significant points and this is another opportunity to make your application stand out from the crowd.
At CareerWise, our experienced Recruitment Consultants lead the way in the recruitment industry in Ireland. We have been working with talented professionals and businesses in Ireland for many years, and we are proud to have an excellent reputation. We take the time to get to know our clients and understand their career goals, and this enables us to identify roles that are a great fit.
Ireland is an international hub for many industries, and we work with local, national and multi-national businesses to find the perfect candidates for roles in pharmaceuticals, supply chain, engineering and HR organisations. We work with candidates seeking positions of all levels, including managerial, graduate and entry level positions in Ireland, and we will be happy to discuss the options with you. Contact us online now or call us on +353 (0) 21 206 1900 to talk with one of our professional Recruitment Consultants.
Conor is a sales professional with approx. 14 years experience in the Recruitment, Property and Advertising industries.
Conor has a background in engineering recruitment for clients based in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors throughout Ireland.
He holds a Diploma in Human Resources Management and he is also a qualified auctioneer.
Conor joined CareerWise in June 2016 as a Senior Recruitment Consultant.
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So… Why Should a Human Hire You?CareerWise Recruitment. EastGate Village, EastGate, Little Island, Cork.
Phone: +353 (0) 21 206 1900
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