Raising your CV game

Now you’ve got the basic format and information content in your CV (please see our CV Writing 101 for that guide) we can focus on additional touches that are going to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

 

Contacting you

Assuming all your standard contact details are up to date I would now begin to add more personal touches.

A very easy place to start is ensuring your mobile answerphone has a polite, personalized message from you, leaving instructions about how best to leave a message or contact you. This takes 2 minutes to do but gives a potential employer a positive first impression if you’re not around to answer the call.

You can also add professional (cannot stress this enough!) social media links to your CV.

Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter allow more of your personality to shine through and provide an insight into how engaged you are with your sector and wider networks. Posting articles like this, contributing to discussion boards and providing industry commentary all establish you as an authority in your area which will give you kudos.

If you’re unsure about creating or optimizing your LinkedIn profile to aid your job search please see our guide “Improving Your LinkedIn Profile for Your Job Search”.

 

Employment history

Only a quick note on this one. Chances are your most recent jobs are going to be the most relevant to the sorts of roles you’re applying for and interested in, in which case they need to be at the top of your CV. This is why I also advise people to write your employment history in reverse chronological order.

For example, if you’re applying for a managerial position your potential new employers aren’t going to place much stock in your years doing a paper round or working behind a bar during University. They’ll want to gauge your suitability by the role you’re moving away from and the previous roles which have led to that and shaped your skill set.

Make it easy for them by putting this first.

 

Use quantitative data

They say a picture paints a thousand words, well a few well-distributed numbers in your CV can illustrate your points quickly and effective. Quantifying the size of the team you managed, budgets you controlled or percentage of growth you were responsible for gives employers a direct comparison to their business and is a big indicator of the value bringing you in could add.

This brings us nicely to my last and most important point…

Achievements

Achievements are examples of times you have exceeded expectations in your role. They are different from your job description because anybody with the necessary background could perform the duties outlined in a description, only you have gotten the results mentioned in the achievements.

This is where your CV comes into its own and becomes truly personal.

This is where you show how you add value to an employer.

Based on that it comes across as obvious that achievements mentioned in your CV should be something you did, the more you can put credit on yourself (as opposed to part of a team or implementing someone else’s plan) the better.

Good examples can be increasing your team’s skill set (and therefore performance) through championing training, implementing savings through cost cutting or suppler renegotiation, increasing client satisfaction scores etc. The more specific quantitative values in terms of £, % etc. you can show the more impressive it looks.

I always advise listing two or three achievements under the job heading at the beginning of roles as opposed to lumping them all together in a block at the top of the CV, and limit the listings to the first 3 positions you have on the resume.

Couple of reasons for this. Firstly it makes it easy to see which achievements relate to which role and context may be important. Secondly lazy hiring managers or those who are strapped of time may skip straight to Employment History so this way you still capture your attention and lastly it will ensure your CV remains specific to your throughout, as opposed to highly personalized accomplishments followed by generic job description.

By adding these touches on top of your basic CV you’re making your resume engaging, detailed, professional and easy to read ensuring that hiring managers invite you to that interview.

 

Alexandra Hewitt – Senior Recruitment Consultant

ah@crgtec.uk.com

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Stephen / CRG Tec recently supported me into a new role that I have now started. Right from the start I was impressed by the amount of time and support Stephen provided me with. There was lots of specific information to guide me through the different interview stages, which was extremely helpful. Stephen was regularly in contact with me throughout, keeping me informed and updated. I would recommend Stephen / CRG Tec to anybody seeking a new opportunity as I have not received a comparable experience with anybody else.
Neil has been a key agency supplier throughout my 8 years at Virgin Media, he is a go-to for difficult to fill Tech and Telco vacancies. His passion for what he does and his expert industry knowledge makes working with him and his team effortless . I always find Neil and the team to be honest, reputable & passionate about service that they deliver.
Deborah helps us recruit the best candidates for our growing business. We rely on her for finding candidates at different levels and competencies. Deborah is a true professional with dedication to her customers.
I recently worked with Stephen and CRG TEC as a candidate for a role I’m about to start, he was very helpful, supportive and informative. His professionalism was very exceptional and I’m highly impressed. I have dealt with many recruitment agencies, one thing I noticed he was genuinely interested in not only my career but also my personality.
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I'm very happy with the service I received from my recruitment consultant Deborah, she was very helpful and friendly throughout the process. If I need to change job anytime in the future, I would definitely use her again.
We’ve worked with Neil Crudden since 2006 and he’s genuinely an extension of our business and someone who is as passionate as we are when it comes to sourcing the best people.
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We have worked with Deborah on numerous occasions and always found suitable candidates. Her approach is professional, yet friendly. Would recommend them to anyone who is looking for that little bit extra.
I worked with Stephen and CRG TEC as a candidate for a role I am about to commence. From the initial contact, through to successful completion, I found Stephen helpful, informative, supportive and professional. He provided solid advice throughout, was always available, and provided honest and open feedback. It was a good and positive experience. Highly recommended.
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From start to finish the whole process of working with Stephen at CRG TEC was a pleasure. I submitted my CV on Tuesday and by the following Tuesday had the job! I was constantly updated about the process and the interview preparation was second to none! It gave me the edge and helped me greatly in the interview. A fantastic recruitment process!
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Neil at CRG Tec is knowledgeable and incredibly well connected. Having worked with him very closely over the past 5 years, we have together conquered some tricky and fast paced hiring in which Neil’s passion and energy never waivers. Confidential, loyal and above all a true gent, he thrives on any challenge given, ensuring 100% that both the client and candidate experience is unrivalled.
Stephen got in touch with myself regarding a role at a Software Support Company having found my CV online. Over the years I've dealt with a wide variety of recruitment companies and you tend to think they're all the same, however the level of service I received from Stephen and CRG TEC was second to none.The entire service was thorough and professional.
My experience with CRG TEC has been brilliant. The guidance I received during the recruitment process really helped me ace the interview. It has been a pleasure to work with Stephen and his dedication and support was key to achieving the best outcome for all parties.
Deborah is an excellent Consultant. She managed the process perfectly from start to finish. I am so pleased with my new job, Deborah really listened to what I wanted and delivered. Thank you.
Alex contacted me when I was starting to get close to the end of my previous contract with an opportunity that has turned out to tick all of the boxes. She was very informative and knowledgeable about the role and guided me through the interview process and unlike some other recruiters I have come across she seemed to have actually done her homework and made sure the role was relevant to my skill set.
After feeling like a battery hen with many so-called recruitment firms, Neil was a breath of fresh air. Neil took his time to find what I was looking for and matched me with job that suited my personality, location and skills. I couldn’t recommend Neil any higher, a truly professional and personal service.
I worked with Stephen and CRG TEC as a candidate for a role I am currently working within. He offered me a lot of tips and information required to be successful in my interview and his professionalism was highly exceptional. I’ve dealt with a lot of recruiters in the past but took note of his genuineness, not only in my career but also my personality. He is a resourceful individual would highly recommend anytime.
Deborah has been so dedicated throughout the hiring period for our two developer roles. She's in constant communication with me, doesn't push us, but keeps us informed at all times. It's taken us some time to get the candidate we want, specifically for our needs and Deborah has been super patient with us at times. I'm glad to have someone who has provided that main point of contact for the whole cycle.
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After applying to a role online, I got a pleasant call from Stephen and straight from the off I could tell that Stephen had read through my CV and was invested in me. Stephen sorted my interviews impeccably and guided me fully throughout the whole process. I would fully recommend Stephen and thank him for all his help!

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30%

of candidates placed pass probation or complete contracts

30days

average time to hire

30%

of clients partner with us exclusively

30%

of exclusive vacancies we receive, we fill

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