2 weeks ago we held a CV Masterclass for 250+ students and graduates on how to build a stand-out CV for upcoming applications. As I don’t believe in gatekeeping, in this newsletter we’ll go over the 5 key features for building a stand-out CV.

Keep that CV to one page! (page and a half for experienced professionals)

I’ve spoken to numerous recruiters, and they all mention the importance of keeping your CV concise and clear. Part of that is having a one-page CV. On average, recruiters spend 8 seconds looking at your CV, so you must ensure you get all your key information and details on one page.

Be stringent with every word you write and bullet point you add. Think ‘ Is this sentence adding value to my CV’ and ‘Can I write this sentence more concisely?’.

Simple format and layout

Remember, you want your CV laid out in a way that allows recruiters to find the information they need as quickly as possible. Your CV doesn’t need to be some creative

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Focus on skills developed

Your CV is not a place to list your achievements. Your bullet points need to focus on the skills you have used, particularly focusing on the skills that are relevant to the roles that you’re applying to. Ask yourself this question - ‘Are the bullet points on my CV clearly displaying the key skills and competencies that I have?’.

Demonstrate your impact with statistics

The number one biggest differentiator between average and excellent CVs? Statistics. Statistics are so important in adding credibility to your CV and clearly demonstrating the value-add and impact you have had in your roles.

Not sure what statistics to add? Think - how is my performance measured in this role? Then use this as the basis for your statistics e.g. sales targets, revenue targets, customer feedback scores etc.

Leverage extra-curricular activities to demonstrate your well-roundedness

Your extra-curricular activities section is essentially a place for you to brag. Make sure to maximise this section to demonstrate how well-rounded you are and your achievements outside of academics. I’d focus first on extracurricular activities relevant to your role e.g. joining committee of your university's Investment Society if you’re looking to break into Asset Management.

Then other activities such as sporting achievements, charity work, entrepreneurship, societies etc, are quality things to add to the section to help demonstrate your eclectic personality.

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