If you haven’t had a chance to review my blog on how to get a hiring managers’ attention, click here to learn more. 

In order to make the right first impression, a well structured CV that is tailored to the role you are applying for is essential to securing that next step. 

This blog focuses on how to highlight your skills and experience in your CV. 

By this stage, you have written an impressive Bio/Personal Statement.  It’s now time to entice the hiring manager further by highlighting your key skills and experience that are relevant to the role. Below are some key steps which help guide you to produce a CV that stands out. 

• Review the required skills and experience in the job description and use the same language they are using so the hiring manager can clearly see that you have the skills they are looking for. 
• Don’t just list the skills, add commentary that shows your level of competency in these skills
• Prioritise the order of the skills so that it highlights the key skills for the role first, then continue with the important, but less relevant skills applicable to the role. 
• Keep it applicable, no one needs an entire page of skills that are not related to the role you are applying for. 

In this example, the candidate is applying for a role as a HR Manager. 

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Performance Management
• Reward and Benefits
• Workday
• Peoplesoft
• Data Analysis
• Team Leader

Whilst these skills are all relevant, they are ranked in a poor order and quite literally could be copied and pasted from any job application or CV.  The example below demonstrates how you can add more information to entice the hiring manager

• 8 years of experience within HR related roles
• Adhered to performance management principles such as setting goals, conducting performance reviews and providing feedback.
• Led a team of Reward & Benefits analysts who acted as subject matter experts on employee compensation
• Worked with HR software solutions such as Workday and Peoplesoft
• Proficient in presenting data and insights using Microsoft Office 365 applications

This format clearly articulates the skills and experience of this candidate in more detail using the right language to demonstrate to the hiring manager that they have the skills and the competency to do the role.  At this stage, they are keen to see how you’ve gained these skills through your experience. 

For more hints and tips, check out my website or follow me on LinkedIn.