FIVE ways to optimise your CV

At Iridium, we work closely with procurement and recruitment teams in all types and sizes of businesses, and right now, with competition on the IT job market at an all-time high, they’re telling us they receive upwards of 300 CVs every week. 

 

With that in mind, if you’re looking for new work, it is more important now, than ever before, to optimise your CV to ensure it stands out from the other 299! 

 

Matt and Ben at Iridium too receive a huge number of CVs in their roles running the consultancy, so, using their insider knowledge on what separates a good CV from an excellent one, have put together their top tips on achieving resume cut-through: 

 

 

It’s important to tailor your CV to the specific role you’re going for. You might have extensive experience in many different areas, but the fact is, recruiters don’t have time to read resumes in detail - they’re skimming them for the essential details relating to the role, so keep each version tight and targeted. 

 

 

It’s also useful to have a longer and shorter copy of your CV, so you can fire out the abridged version, and offer to send a longer one if more detail is required. Recruiters will appreciate that, and could be the first step to getting you noticed. 

 

That said, be aware that even your ‘longer’ version may be too long. Be your own worst critic, look over it with fresh eyes and ask yourself, does every single item show you in your best light? Could you benefit from losing some older, less relevant detail? For a hiring manager, there was never a truer saying than ‘less is more’. 

 

 

Pay particular attention to your covering letter too. Make sure it’s tailored to the job. Keep it short and sweet, and subtly include a few of the key words or phrases featured in the job ad or spec to highlight your relevance for the role. 

 

 

In the current market, you are competing in a much bigger pool for IT roles. Which means that, despite all of your years of experience and know-how, you may need to be willing to rethink your CV for the first time in a long time, along with the scope of work you’re willing to undertake - within reason, of course. 

 

 

Make sure your LinkedIn reflects your new and improved CV style. Have a tidy-up, lose some of the less relevant detail. And remember to connect with the firm and the individuals you’re sending your CV to, as it will make your name more familiar to them. 

 

Matt Pickin, head of operations at Iridium, says: “It can be tough to trim down a CV you’ve spent years building, but a strategic ‘tidy-up’, whilst placing yourself in the recipient’s shoes, can make all the difference. 

 

"Hiring managers and recruiters are busier than ever, and the information they’re looking for simply has to jump out in order to get you through the door to an interview. And that’s when you get the chance to go into all the detail.” 

 

Ben Dainton, Iridium co-founder adds: “Procurement teams chose to work with Iridium because we basically understand their business and cherry pick the right candidates - without them even having to pick-up a CV. We know the market and are brilliantly placed to help put the right candidates in the right roles. 

 

"Because of that, we’re always open to receiving CVs from strong, potential new associates. But the same rules apply. The ones that are well considered really will jump out at us here too”. 

 

Contact ben.dainton@ir77.co.uk to discuss your CV or resource requirements.