The one thing your CV absolutely must do
Colleen Trolove | September 23, 2016
Providing specific evidence will help your CV stand out. Image by cottonbro studio / Pexels licence
Does your CV make you wonder whether anyone will believe you? You write lists of your strengths and skills… but what if the recruiter thinks you’re just churning out the key words they put into the job description?
Strengths
- punctual and responsible
- attention to detail
- open to learning
Skills
- word processing
- window dressing
- customer service
Really? I could be anyone. I could be lying. I sound so boring and flat.
The solution: give the recruiter evidence
Raid the ‘Work history’ section of your CV.
Strengths
- punctual and responsible — I opened the shop at 8.15am every working day for 5 years. On the 3 days I was sick, I warned my boss the night before so she had time to arrange cover.
- attention to detail — I became the go-to person in the office for help when the books wouldn’t balance. On seven occasions, I helped colleagues find the errors in financial spreadsheets that they were unable to find themselves.
- open to learning — I have been studying part-time since 2014, working towards a Masters in Business Administration. I’ve attended every training opportunity my workplace has provided, and I’ve funded myself to attend two Australian conferences on senior administration in the public sector.
Skills
- word processing — I type at 87 words a minute with 92% accuracy. (Test at Typeonline.co.uk taken on 23 September 2016)
- window dressing — I won both the 2014 and 2015 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival window dressing competitions.
- customer service — According to our ContactedCustomer software, I replied to every email enquiry within 24 hours and most within 12 hours. I had an ‘extremely low’ rating for the number of emails that required further follow-up.
Be specific with your evidence
Put exact figures, times, and dates into your evidence. A well-chosen quote from a manager, colleague, or customer may also become a powerful piece of evidence.
Use evidence to connect your work history with your strengths and skills. Evidence will make your strengths and skills pop off the page to give the recruiter a rounded picture of the real you.
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(Last updated: November 2024)
