Naomi Cain of Source, a specialist creative recruitment agency in London, shares some creative ideas for how to customise your CV to target the job you want.
Whether you’re planning to send your CV out to every agency in London or just one potential employer, customising it for your target job is essential. It’s tempting, when we’re in hurry, to send off the same CV from the last job applied for; but to a potential employer it looks lazy. Agencies want to find candidates who will go that extra mile, and this starts from the first point of contact. Unfortunately I often see generic CVs from talented and experienced candidates; their CVs do not do them justice and insult the prospective employer. If you need help to customise your CV and target the job you want, read on for our advice on getting these important details right.
You may ask; is it really necessary to customise your CV for every job you apply for, after all your experience and background will always remain the same? The answer is a resounding yes, whilst you may be applying for several similar roles, such as an Account Manager, responsibilities, priorities and company structure will vary from one agency to another, your CV must reflect this.
Fortunately, if your CV is up-to-date, this does not mean a major rewrite; just a bit of customisation to highlight the skills and experience a specific employer is looking for. Not sure what you should be tailoring? Here’s how…
How to Customise Your CV
Job Description
Job descriptions give you plenty of clues as to what the potential employer is looking for. Make sure you address their requirements on the first page of your CV, rather than burying these details further down. Subtly use the same language as the job description so that it’s clear both parties understand each other.
Research the Employer
No doubt you’ve already done this but use your background research to tweak your CV for them. Most important is to understand the type of work they do and their client base. But also try to get a feel for the company culture: use this information in your CV to show that you’re a great cultural fit. For instance; if you know that the role will involve working in a large team, make sure that you highlight any experience you have of working in this kind of environment.
Covering Letter
Whether you send your CV by email or by post, a covering letter / explanatory email is your first opportunity to pitch for the job. Use a covering letter to say why you are applying for this specific job; why you’re the best fit for the role and what you can bring to it. Cross reference this with information gleaned from the job description and your background knowledge of the agency. Use language that reflects the company culture (without being unprofessional), to demonstrate that you’re on the same wavelength as them.
Your Personal Statement
Your personal statement should neatly sum up why you’re the best fit for the role, by highlighting all the skills, experience and attributes the recruiter is looking for. Try to be concise, long-winded explanations will switch the reader off and make them question whether you have the specific attributes they’re looking for. Your CV should be short and punchy, no more than three pages long: you have a maximum of five minutes to make the right impression and get selected for an interview.
Professional Achievements
Where possible highlight those professional achievements that are most closely aligned to the business of the potential employer. These should address all the job description’s key requirements for the role. Use this part of your CV to show that you have the relevant experience to do the role advertised, and additional skills you bring to the job: use your background research to identify desirable attributes that give you the edge.
Other Information
Traditionally at the bottom of a CV people list “Other Information”: voluntary work, language skills and … hobbies. Hobbies can be a bit of a minefield. One little trick is to use your background research to highlight interests that will convince the reader that you would make great fit. Many agencies use their blog or newsletter to share their company culture. For example one agency we work with has an “album of the month” slot on their blog and it’s clear that there’s a dance/electronic vibe going on in their design studio. If you genuinely shared this interest and included it in your CV, it might just give you an advantage. Then again, this knowledge might be enough to put you off applying for the job in the first place!
References
Although you do not have to include contact details for your referees on your CV, don’t leave this space blank. A simple line such as “References available on request” is sufficient, indicating that you are able to provide references at a later date.
Finally, particularly if you’re applying for several vacancies at the same time, check and double-check your CV. Employers and recruiters really appreciate a targeted CV, but if you forget to change specific details that apply to one job vacancy when applying for another: you could come unstuck.
We believe that a customised CV can make all the difference to whether your application progresses further through the recruitment process; what do you think?
Source provides recruitment services for employers and jobseekers in the creative sectors in London, primarily serving advertising and creative agencies.
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