Vivienne Hall

When you write your Curriculum Vitae (CV) don’t let complicated language and formatting intimidate you. First on your todo list is to discover how to make your CV stand out to employers and human resources professionals. This isn’t a good time for either timidity, or for brashness; it’s the time to let the real you, the best of you, positively jump from the page of your CV. 

At Hall Recruitment we process more Curriculum Vitae than you can perhaps imagine. Why? Because on top of our permanent placements and search assignments, for many employers, we’re the first temporary recruitment agency they call when they need to find temporary staff. It’s as the latter, a ‘temping agency’ that we see the most Curriculum Vitae. Both employers and employees lean on us for help with career transitions, so we have plenty of experience in helping people just like you get their CV ‘combat ready.’ Oh, just one final thing, before we get ourselves back on topic; if you’re looking for good pay and plenty of flexibility you should definitely consider “temping.” Tell us what work, and hours you’d like and attach your Curriculum Vitae too, just click and upload your CV. Apologies for that short interruption, now back to putting the polish on your CV.

Don’t Innovate CV Protocol And Structure

Protocol and structure will govern the shape of your CV that’s why you should exploit the freedoms that words and language offer. It’s in approaching this task from a fresh set of eyes that you’ll grasp linguistic “sleights of mouth” which reveal how to make your CV outstanding and persuasive. Let your words do the work and let your page structure showcase those words by striking a balance between style and restraint, more on this to come.

Avoid Cliché

Don’t fall into using tired and overused clichés. Resist especially any phrases like ‘think outside the box’ or to ‘run something up the flagpole’ unless, of course, you are enlisting in the Defence Forces or signing a contract with Manchester United.

Don’t Allow Your CV Stand Out For the Wrong Reasons

Cast aside bad usage. It help might make your CV stand out, but for the wrong reasons. Anyone who pays attention to the advertising scene, and its copywriters, will notice how eager some writers are to disregard old rules as improper usage permeates much of mainstream marketing language. At the time of writing the top slogan from one leading bank exclaims: ‘We support brave!’ Surely ‘bravery’ is the word they should have used? Just make sure to leave these questionable neologisms to them. You do not want this on your CV unless, of course, you’re applying to work in the copywriting dept of McCann or Ogilvy, in which case you’re on your own.

Speaking of applying to work, if you’re intending to trust your Curriculum Vitae to any recruitment agency in Dublin make sure you choose us, upload your CV here and take a minute to tell us what you would like to do next.

Design Your CV To Refresh Jaded Recruiters

You need to appreciate that sheer amount of applications employers and recruitment consultancies have to sort through means it’s perfectly understandable that they cherish clarity of message and of layout in a Curriculum Vitae. Consequently, we advise you to stick with the tried and tested CV format, at least as far as layout and sequencing are concerned. In terms of layout and structure it doesn’t pay to innovate too much. Make sure your CV is “scan friendly,” so don’t skimp on white space. Do make sure to restrict yourself to a maximum of 2 typefaces; Ideally one typeface family, using different weights for contrast and emphasis. This is how to make your words pop but in a subtle, stylish and non garish way. And no, no matter how many weights Comic Sans comes in, it’s not going to do anything good for anyone’s CV, least of all yours.

Aim For Balance

Notwithstanding the above, unless stated otherwise (which it won’t be), no employer sets out to recruit an automaton. They will look for someone who will fit into a team structure, someone who will get along with their colleagues. Some employers prefer creative, talented, and imaginative workers while others emphasize technical skills; both can enhance the overall quality of their organization depending upon the situation.

Therefore, your Curriculum Vitae should reflect an appropriate balance between the two. In reality, employers want to hire the ‘whole person’ – not just a set of achievements, skill sets, and work experiences. So get a bit more of you onto the page of your CV. Want to know a good way to do this?

The Ultimate Job Apply Hack: CV Customisation

We all know the saying don’t “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” so consider this a pro tip for when you have the time and for when the application warrants your special care and attention. This is where CV customisation comes in. We’ve written a post focused on this subject and recommend you check it out, only after you’re finished here, NATCH. [Note: avoid slang and neologisms on your CV, especially contractions such as “natch”]

Okay, here’s two areas where you can add a bit of personality to your CV:

CV Introduction

Including a short introduction towards the top third of your CV allows HR professionals to understand more about you, especially if you’re not including a cover letter.  

Short job summaries

Additionally, beneath each position you have held, you have the option of supplying additional information. Most people skip this step, especially those who have been advised to keep their CV brief. Having said that, a CV should be as short as possible, but not any shorter. Keep it short here, for sure, but don’t miss the opportunity to “modestly boast” about your achievements and impact on the job. It all comes down to standing out, remember? 

Words Persuade, Font’s Don’t

The beauty of the English language is its richness. The meanings in words empower writers to paint images, express feelings, and communicate messages to their readers; you can do likewise with your Curriculum Vitae.

Find Your Muse & Make Your CV Stand Out

Fortunately, we do not live in a world of robots. You are unique in terms of your personality, your attributes, and the things that make you tick. Our advice is this: set aside any instinct you might have to don a linguistic straitjacket. Let your CV flow and reveal what makes you special – particularly if your best attributes coincide with an employer’s needs. Did we already mention you should check out our blog post dedicated to exactly this subject, customizing your CV on a per application basis? I think we might have. Best of luck.  

At Hall Recruitment we know why you should customise your CV, or, if you’re from north America, your Résumé. We know, because we supply both temporary staffing, and make permanent placements, to some of Ireland’s most prestigious businesses. Therefore we receive, and study, thousands of them every year. So take it from us: In life, few things are written, least of all a Curriculum Vitae, in a way that meets the demands, or fulfills the needs, of everyone, and every situation equally.

Consequently, you might wonder why would your Curriculum Vitae (CV) be any different? – Especially when you consider the fact that they’re not always applied to identical situations. – Short answer: your CV shouldn’t (be any different). It needs to change according to context. That’s why we hope you will read on, if you do, you will discover why you should customise your CV to make yourself a better fit for every job application. 

In this series of blog posts, we at Hall Recruitment aim to share advice, opinions, and experience on topics related to job searching, application, and recruitment that we hope will help readers. Today our focus is Curriculum Vitae Writing Tips. Next in the series is our post on Curriculum Vitae customisation and why it pays to optimise it on a per application basis.

European to North American Curriculum Vitae Writing Tips

Curriculum Vitae – often abbreviated to CV – is a written summary of a person’s career, qualifications, and education which is used by applicants to communicate and inform prospective employers of their suitability for employment.

In North America, résumé is the term most commonly used. So if you’re in North America you can parse CV Writing Tips to résumé writing tips and carry on. However because we’re in Europe we’re going to stick with Curriculum Vitae for the time being.

Treat Your CV With The Respect It Deserves

Okay, back on topic: Curriculum Vitaes are often accompanied by a cover letter; it’s ideal for cover letters to be tailored to align with the goals and values of the prospective employer. If you don’t want to include a cover letter, add a personal statement towards the top of your Curriculum Vitae as an introduction.

At Hall Recruitment, we’re responsible for studying all those CVs in minute detail to try and identify those unique characteristics, individual qualities, and combination of factors that qualify a candidate for the job at hand. In the HR world, the CV is incredibly valuable as ‘the first point of introduction’ in laying-open the attributes, qualifications, and experience of job seekers for the consideration of an employer (typically themselves a HR Manager).

We can’t stress enough how important it is that candidates prepare their CVs carefully. This is a topic we’ll cover in an upcoming blog post.

CV Basics

• Always ensure your contact details are correct and prominently displayed.
• Highlight relevant work experience which is of most interest to your potential employer. 
• Ensure your employment history is accurate and complete. 
• Use abbreviations and buzzwords correctly and in context. However, don’t rely on them completely and remember to use plain English too.
• Approach your Curriculum Vitae and your job titles with the respect those words deserve.
• Rather than producing a cut-and-paste document, let your Curriculum Vitae be a truly effective communication, whose content and structure represent who you are.
• If you remember that words influence by conveying meaning, impressions, conjuring up pictures and stirring emotions, then this time spent preparing your Curriculum Vitae will be time well-spent.
• Remember to enhance readability with ample white space and to use typefaces (maximum two, ideally one) with excellent legibility. Times New Roman never let anyone down.
• Don’t overlook the importance of your professional qualifications. Make sure you include them in your Curriculum Vitae if they are relevant to your job application. 
• Put your key skills on display, especially if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. 

Collaborate When You Can

• Test your effort by letting qualified people read your draft. Invite only those whose opinion you respect, whose status you value, and whose opinions you trust.
• Keep in mind: a Curriculum Vitae isn’t a bargaining chip or negotiating tool. Don’t lay down any preconditions unless you have health reasons or occupational restrictions you’d like to be highlighted. 
• Remember also: No two people are the same. Job seeking is not a game, nor should it be a source of entertainment. No frivolity, no cogging, no phrase swopping! Your Curriculum Vitae is individual to you. Let your words reflect that fact and you’ll be amazed how effective it could be.

To learn more about Hall Recruitment and to obtain full and up-todate information how we can help you find the candidates you need call us +353 (1) 633 4040. In the business of managing your recruitment, it’s the only number you’ll ever need!