Tailor Your CV to Land the Job You Want

Crafting a CV that stands out to employers or recruiters is a skill worth mastering. A well-tailored CV is not just a document—it’s a targeted presentation of your professional journey that speaks directly to the needs and requirements of a specific position. Here’s how you can effectively tailor your CV to boost your chances of getting short-listed.

Why Tailoring Your CV Matters

Employers and recruiters often spend just 20 seconds scanning a CV. In that brief window, your CV needs to answer three critical questions:

• Can you do the job?
• Will you do the job?
• Will you fit into the company’s culture?

A generic CV simply won’t cut it. Tailoring your CV ensures it resonates with the role and the organization, demonstrating that you’re not only qualified but also a good candidate.

Steps to Tailor Your CV

1. Start with Your Master CV
   As a comprehensive document that includes all your skills, experiences, and achievements. Your Master CV serves as your base to draw from when customising your CV for a specific position or vacancy.
2. Research the Job and Company
   Understand the job description, requirements, and company culture. Look for clues in the job advertisement and the company’s website to identify what they’re looking for in an ideal candidate.
3. Highlight Relevant Skills and Achievements
   Adapt your skill set and accomplishments to align with the specific job requirements. Use job-related keywords and phrases found in the advertisement. For Example: Instead of saying, “Managed projects,” specify, “Led cross-functional teams to deliver projects within budget, improving efficiency by 20%.”
4. Use PAR Statements
   Structure your accomplishments using the Problem-Action-Result (PAR) format. This concise approach showcases your problem-solving capabilities and results. For example: “Initiated and implemented a new training program, reducing onboarding time by 25% while increasing team productivity.”
5. Customise the Professional Objective
   Add a brief professional objective at the top of your CV, tailored to the role. This sets the tone and highlights your career alignment with the position.
6. Focus on Layout and Formatting
   Use a clean and professional layout to make your CV easy to read. Stick to fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, font size 10-11, and avoid dense blocks of text. Use bullet points and consistent spacing for clarity.
7. Quantify Achievements
   Numbers make an impact. Wherever possible, include metrics to demonstrate the scale of your accomplishments. For example: “Increased sales by 15% through targeted marketing campaigns, contributing to a R 500,000 revenue boost.”
8. Proofread Thoroughly
   Even minor errors can undermine your credibility. review your CV multiple times, and ask someone else to proofread it for typos and grammatical mistakes.

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Avoid relying on expert CV writers or specialists: While they may create an impressive document, it often lacks your authentic voice, which is essential for a tailored CV.
• Using Generic CVs: A one-size-fits-all CV lacks the personal touch employers seek.
• Overloading with Technical Jargon: Keep it simple and relatable, unless technical details are explicitly required.
• Ignoring Formatting Rules: Dense content or inconsistent formatting can deter employers.

Final Tip

Tailoring your CV may take extra time, but the effort pays off. By aligning your experiences with the job’s requirements, you increase your chances of standing out. Remember, your CV is your story—write it authentically, and make it the perfect fit for the role you want.

Stay up-to-date and never miss an article! Join our mailing list for more helpful insights straight to your inbox.