The Coach SpaceCreating a CV can easily feel like a box-ticking exercise, designed to tell the hiring manager exactly what they want to hear. It might be tempting to stick rigidly to the job description jut to get through to the interview stage. However, this can result in a bland, generic CV that fails to stand out. Creating a CV that reflects the real you is a risk because it requires authenticity and might mean deviating from the strict parameters set out in the job advert, but the risk can lead to great rewards.
A truly authentic CV that speaks to your unique strengths, qualities and motivations will always trump a by-the-numbers CV that’s been written solely to fulfil the job description. So, how do you create a CV that truly reflects the real you? Let’s take a look at some CV writing tips to find out.
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Be sure what you want
The first step towards creating a CV that’s true to yourself is to know exactly what you want. It’s impossible to create an authentic CV without first thinking about your motivations and your desired end goal. Be honest about your motivations for seeking a job change, and where this move takes you on your career pathway. Ask yourself about the type of company you want to work for, and how you want employers to see you.
Once you’re confident you know the answers to these questions, you can write your CV with purpose. This will help it feel genuine and reflective of your true motivations.
Here are a few key questions to ask before you start writing your CV:
- What type of job do I want?
- What type of organisation do I want to work for?
- What values do I want to communicate?
- Where does this next step on my career journey take me?
Consider your unique qualities
A CV that reflects the real you must focus on your unique skills that separate you from other candidates. Most CV-writing guides will tell you to tailor your CV to the job description and fit in as many keywords and phrases as possible. This can help your CV to pass the automated ATS screening stage of the process. However, when it comes to a real person reading your CV, it might lead to a less-engaging read, lacking notable features that help you stand out.
A CV that only aims to fulfil the requirements of the job description can also risk falling into the trap of cliché, jargon and meaningless business-speak. This is why it’s essential to save some space in your CV to highlight unique qualities and skills that only you possess. Ask yourself what types of environments you thrive in, what energises you and what types of tasks come naturally to you.
If you’re not sure about your key strengths, ask colleagues or look back at previous appraisals to see how managers assessed your performance. Make sure your CV still focuses on describing how and why you’re a good fit for the job, but always leave some space to include some unique skills that might surprise the reader.
Think about your career achievements
One of the key things recruiters and employers will be looking for when they review your CV is the impact you made in previous roles, and the value you added for past employers. The career achievements you choose to focus on will set the tone for your CV and help the reader form their first impressions of you as a candidate and as a person.
Employers will be seeking quantifiable evidence of your contribution in different roles, but it’s how you frame those figures, metrics and outcomes that will say the most about you. Make sure you tie every achievement to a skill or quality that reveals something about your personality, your working style and your motivation.
For example, it’s not enough to simply say ‘increased customer satisfaction ratings by 26%’ or ‘secured £460,000 of new business, an increase of 12%’. Instead, provide an insight into the personal qualities you applied to reach those outcomes, and how it led to success for the company. For example:
‘Maintained a high level of integrity and reliability, delivering 100% of projects to deadline and 96% under budget, resulting in a 34% uplift in repeat business.’
‘Leveraged problem-solving skills to streamline customer service process, reducing average response time from 25 to 16 hours and increasing customer satisfaction ratings by 18%.’
Build a compelling narrative
Each of the steps listed above work together to help you create a compelling, authentic narrative to draw the reader in and persuade them of your suitability for the role. You’ll want your CV to focus on a few key qualities that emphasise your character and personality, and clearly show what you’ll bring to the organisation if you’re hired. As such, every element of your CV should follow a consistent thread, including your CV headline, your CV summary or objective, your work experience, your education and any other sections you include.
Although you’ll want to maintain a consistent narrative throughout your CV, it’s important not to become repetitive. For example, if you’re presenting yourself as a team player, don’t simply mention your ‘teamwork skills’ throughout the document. Instead, highlight skills that contribute towards team harmony, such as communication, collaboration, conflict resolution and flexibility.
Finally, to really demonstrate the career journey you’ve been on, make sure your CV shows clear progression and development. You’ll want your achievements to save the most impressive and impactful achievements for more recent roles, and show more complex, advanced skills as you’ve moved into more senior positions. Doing this will give you the best chance of showing your true personal and professional development journey, and convince them you can make a positive impact on their organisation.
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