CV Tips

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. 

[Read more…] about Why You Should Customise Your CV

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).

Context matters. Your Curriculum Vitae needs to convince and persuade both line managers and the HR office. Tailor your language accordingly.

Vivienne Hall

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!