Editing A CV: 8 Tips And Tricks To Make Yours Stand Out

Writing a CV can feel like an unending series of revisions, updates, and feedback. Like with most things, there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ CV, meaning that it will always be, to some extent, a work in progress. It is important to ensure that a CV is the best it can be when applying for new roles. It should be tailored to individual positions, highlighting key skills and accomplishments that may appeal to employers.  

Recruiters and employers alike see hundreds of CVs throughout their careers, meaning that it is vitally important to find ways to make a CV stand out. All of the best experience and skills may count for nothing if the presentation, formatting and composition of the CV don’t immediately capture the reader’s interest.  

Create A Narrative 

A CV should tell a story rather than just listing skills and accomplishments. The narrative should explain to the reader why a candidate is best suited to the role, how passionate they are about the job, and how their skills make them ideal for it. When listing past employment and achievements, each section should start at the beginning, explaining what was done in the role and what the results were.  

Use Infographics 

If a CV is made up purely of block text, it can quickly lose the reader’s interest. Using infographics or illustrations can be a great way to make a CV stand out and make the information within it more digestible. For instance, using a colour-coded infographic to show the rates of productivity before and after new time-saving processes were introduced into a past company.  

Design A Template 

There’s nothing wrong with using one of the templates that come pre-loaded onto Word, but it is worth noting that recruiters will see many candidates using the same template. Making a bespoke template can be an excellent way to show individuality and creativity in a CV.  

Make Your Personal Statement Unique 

The personal statement is often considered to be the most important part of any CV. Recruiters and employers will be able to spot proforma personal statements from a mile away, so it is vital to make a personal statement unique and attention-grabbing. Some candidates use this as a chance to insert a little of their personality into their CV and let their passion for the role and industry shine through.  

Save Your CV In The Right Format 

The question of whether to send a PDF or a Word document is one without an easy answer. When possible, candidates should look at the guidelines from the recruiter or employer and follow their direction on the file format to use. It is a good idea to know how to convert a PDF to a Word document and vice versa. This can make it easier use the right format for each recruiter or employer. It can also help make editing a CV quick and easy.  

Show Awareness Of Industry Trends 

Employers want to know that candidates are dedicated to the industry and specific role, so showing awareness of industry trends throughout a CV can put a candidate at an advantage. The best way to do this is by following notable publications for the industry, such as academic journals, newspapers, magazines and blogs. Candidates can then use their knowledge in their CV, noting how different changes made in past roles have been informed by industry knowledge.  

Hire A Professional CV Writer 

Many candidates experience fatigue during the CV writing process which prevents them from editing it effectively. Sometimes the best thing to do is pass it on to someone with fresher eyes. Showing the CV to a friend or relative can be a good idea, but to really want to wow a recruiter, getting a professional CV writer to make edits can be an excellent choice. 

Professional CV writers base their whole careers around making CVs that help candidates shine. They know precisely what employers are looking for and, importantly, what they’re not looking for. This can be an excellent option for anyone who struggles with talking themselves up. You should look for a CV writer with experience in the same industry and plenty of shining testimonials from happy past clients. 

 Avoid The Temptation To Embellish 

There can be a fine line between showing achievements in the best light and embellishing the truth. It is best to always keep the information in a CV honest – after all, if a candidate gets the role and is found to not have the skills claimed, they might find their career there short-lived.  

An excellent way to ensure candidates haven’t crossed the line can be to go through a CV point by point and think of real examples from the workplace to back up any claims. This can be a great way to prep for interviews as well.