Saving Time: To enhance your career prospects and secure more interviews, you will need a well-crafted CV/ cover letter.
Competition: In today's candidate-driven job market, there's an average of 80 applicants per vacancy. Standing out from the crowd is crucial.
Keyword Optimisation: Employers use technologies that track specific keywords within CVs to find relevant skills.
Career Progression: To highlight recent accomplishments, promotions, or new skills acquired to position yourself for career advancement.
Job Searching: When actively looking for a new job or exploring job opportunities, updating the CV ensures it reflects the most current and relevant information.
Applying for a specific job role: Tailoring the CV to match the job requirements is essential for some job applications, emphasising relevant experiences and achievements.
Career Change: When transitioning to a new industry or role, it is essential to highlight transferable skills and experiences.
Online Presence: Maintaining an up-to-date CV is crucial for online platforms, professional websites, LinkedIn profiles and job boards to enhance your digital presence.
Why use CV & Career Crafter for your job hunting needs?
All job applications begin with a well-crafted CV. As your dedicated consultant you can expect a personalised and attentive approach throughout your job-hunting journey. You are not just a number, I care about my client’s experience.
I understand the feelings of endlessness and demoralisation a person can experience through the job-seeking journey; it can feel overwhelming. Having honed the art of navigating the job market successfully, I am here to guide you towards making the right choices from the start.
Updating your CV doesn't need to be costly or time consuming. As a boutique business, I am able to offer a fair price for a personalised service and CV's are typically crafted within 3 working days or less.
Why is CV formatting important?
CV formatting is essential for several reasons that collectively contribute to the overall effectiveness of your CV: Visual Appeal: The layout and design of your CV are the first things a hiring manager notices. A well-formatted CV creates a positive visual impression and encourages further reading. Clarity and Readability: Proper formatting enhances the clarity and readability of your CV. A hiring manager should be able to quickly scan and extract essential information. Reflecting Professional Standards: A well-formatted CV reflects professionalism and attention to detail. It signals to employers that you take your job application seriously. Logical Structure: Formatting helps organise information logically. Sections such as education, work experience, and skills should be clearly outlined for easy navigation. Emphasis on Important Details: Effective formatting allows you to highlight key information such as achievements, skills, and relevant experience, drawing attention to what matters most. Compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes. Proper formatting ensures that your CV is compatible with these systems, increasing the chances of passing initial screenings. Balancing Content: Good formatting optimises the use of space, ensuring that your CV is neither cluttered nor sparse. It strikes a balance between providing enough detail and maintaining a clean layout. Prioritising Information: Through formatting, you can create a visual hierarchy that guides the reader's eyes to the most important information first, ensuring that key details are not overlooked. Following Industry Standards: Using standard fonts, font sises, and formatting conventions ensures that your CV is in line with industry standards and is easily readable by a diverse audience.
Why should I avoid using Artifical Intelligent (AI) platforms to write a CV?
Many employers possess software capable of identifying whether a CV/cover letter has been generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) platform.
This might be the determining factor in securing or not securing an interview.
How will an online profile help me find a job?
1. In many cases, a LinkedIn profile serves as a first impression for potential employers or recruiters. It provides them with a quick overview of your professional background, skills, and accomplishments.
2. A well-crafted profile communicates your professional story, values, and expertise, helping you stand out in a competitive job market.
3. Online profiles attract recruiters and employers even when you're not actively job hunting. This passive visibility can lead to unexpected job opportunities.
4. LinkedIn is a powerful networking platform. It allows you to connect with colleagues, industry professionals, and potential employers, expanding your professional network.
5. Many companies post job openings on LinkedIn. A detailed and up-to-date profile makes you more discoverable to recruiters and hiring managers actively searching for candidates.
6. Its a global job board to utlise in conjuction with other well known, local, job advertising platforms.
What is a key word optimisation?
Keyword optimisation or keyword targeting, refers to the strategic use of relevant keywords or phrases in content to improve its visibility and search engine rankings and are relevant to the content, industry, or target audience.
Most employers use Application Tracking Systems (ATS) which is a software used in the initial screening process to manage volume applications. It works by filtering applicants based on the job requirements, helping recruiters focus on candidates with specific skills and key words in the CV.
Why is a cover letter important when applying for jobs?
Introduction and Personalisation: A cover letter introduces you to the employer and provides the first impression of your personality and communication skills. Customisation: It allows you to tailor your application to the specific job and company, demonstrating your genuine interest and understanding of the role. Showcasing Fit and Enthusiasm: A well-written cover letter allows you to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the job. Expressing Enthusiasm: You can convey your enthusiasm for the position and the company, which can make your application more compelling. Explanation: If you have gaps in your CV or unique situations, a cover letter provides an opportunity to explain these circumstances and present them in a positive light. Company Fit: By mentioning specific details about the company and the role in your cover letter, you demonstrate that you've done your research and are genuinely interested in the organisation. Adding a Personal Touch: A cover letter adds a personal touch to your application, allowing you to briefly share your story and motivations, creating a more human connection. Expanded Detail: While your CV provides a brief overview of your achievements, a cover letter allows you to delve into specific accomplishments and contributions in more detail. Transition Explanation: If you're making a career change, a cover letter can explain your motivations, transferable skills, and how your background makes you a suitable candidate for the new role. Unique Value Proposition: A cover letter is an opportunity to differentiate yourself from other candidates by emphasising what makes you uniquely qualified for the position. Call to Action: A cover letter often concludes with a call to action, expressing your desire for an interview and further discussion.
What if I need a universal CV and cover letter to send to multiple jobs applications?
No problem! A universal CV and cover letter can be easily customised for various job applications while maintaining a consistent professional identity. While customisation for specific roles is essential, having a solid foundation allows you to adapt quickly to different opportunities.