- Pay attention to your social media presence
As recruiters (certainly ourselves) we will be looking at the CV you provide us with, of course most hiring managers and other recruiters will do the same—but a few of us will also want to see complementary online content, too, such as your LinkedIn profile, and may also look at your other social media profiles. In fact, for certain roles (such as digital marketing jobs) we often like to see attachments to your CV, such as project work, or links to blogs you have personally written content for.
wondering if your Linkedin profile could do with some work? Learn 7 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile.
- Highlight your transferable skills
You want to show off the skills that you have that highlight why you’re the right person for the role. But we also advise any candidate that you also want to get across why you’re right for any role. So, when it comes to your CV and cover letter, focus on the skills and experience you have that would make you an ideal candidate for any role, anywhere. Then, in an interview, be ready to share how you’ll relay those skills in the job on offer.
- Use the right keywords in your CV
Sounds a weird one this doesn't it?! I'm not an SEO or content writer I hear you say, but unfortunately in the digital tech driven world we now live in many hiring managers and recruiters alike use something called applicant tracking systems, or ATS, that automatically scan CVs in search of keywords, and throw out any that don’t contain them before they have the chance to even be seen by human eyes. So how can you game the ATS technology? Well its actually pretty easy. Read the job description for the job you’re applying for—then see how those words stack up against similar job postings.Words that repeat across multiple listings belong on your CV!!
As a side note you may also want to avoid some critical things you shouldn't put in your CV, read our guide on what not to put on your CV to avoid these pitfalls.
- Show off your likable side.
An interview doesn’t have to be all business. In fact, applicants willing to show their personalities are often received better by managers than people who remain tight-lipped during the interview. That’s because this manager could become your boss—and he or she wants to make sure you can get along well. Share your personality when answering questions and resist the urge to respond like a well prepared robot.
Read our Complete Interview Guide to learn more before the big day