Latest CV trends / styles
Discussion
I possibly find myself in the position of changing jobs but remaining in roughly the same industry and will be looking at updating my CV. Having not touched it for probably 6 or 7 years, I get the impression that things have moved on from simple blocks of text. Our inbox at work is bombarded with all sorts of weird and wonderful CVs from simple half page jobs littered with spelling mistakes, to colourful and garish pages with the candidate's picture which look more like a page from from Cosmopolitan or GQ, so I do see a bit of what others are doing on theirs, although it doesn't mean they have got a job with it I suppose.
I know to tailor it to the job I'm going for, puff it up here and there but never lie, but are there any things that I must do when it comes to CV writing in 2023? Unfortunately, I can neither think of anyone young and trendy enough to ask nor do I know any employers or HR directors etc. who see lots of CVs and know what works.
I know to tailor it to the job I'm going for, puff it up here and there but never lie, but are there any things that I must do when it comes to CV writing in 2023? Unfortunately, I can neither think of anyone young and trendy enough to ask nor do I know any employers or HR directors etc. who see lots of CVs and know what works.
The last CV I wrote was a single page. I outlined my strengths, key professional achievements and a decade worth of work history - for each job I just noted a couple of bullets on specific responsibilities for the role.
The type of work I do means for a traditional type CV each of the 5 jobs I've had over 15+ years would have similar info written down - nobody needs to read that.
The type of work I do means for a traditional type CV each of the 5 jobs I've had over 15+ years would have similar info written down - nobody needs to read that.
Edited by boombang on Tuesday 11th April 15:53
No expert but I provide detailed info on my last 3 roles and then just list employer, dates, role for anything before that.
I was always told not to include your age, photo, where you live (other than county), hobbies/interests as there could be subconscious bias by whoever reviews them.
I was always told not to include your age, photo, where you live (other than county), hobbies/interests as there could be subconscious bias by whoever reviews them.
Few things that equal instant BIN from my last few companies:
Photos, fancy fonts, crazy colours and formatting (beware comic sans), weird file formats, any detailed description of your travels to Bali or Thailand, anything more than 2 pages.
Tips for trimming it down, careful of putting in returns for spacing, just bump the end of paragraphs to 1.5 lines for example. Don't include your full address, pick ONE phone number and email and stick to them. Don't worry about your LinkedIn, people will find it if they want to. Anything over 10 years old can be severely trimmed or removed.
Also, be aware of FB/Insta/YouTube etc. accounts and if they're discoverable. I've seen more than a few instances of new recruits be scared off joining because existing employees have got wind of an "aspiring YT talent" or "pics from a stag do" because it's their new team is judging them before they've even started.
Photos, fancy fonts, crazy colours and formatting (beware comic sans), weird file formats, any detailed description of your travels to Bali or Thailand, anything more than 2 pages.
Tips for trimming it down, careful of putting in returns for spacing, just bump the end of paragraphs to 1.5 lines for example. Don't include your full address, pick ONE phone number and email and stick to them. Don't worry about your LinkedIn, people will find it if they want to. Anything over 10 years old can be severely trimmed or removed.
Also, be aware of FB/Insta/YouTube etc. accounts and if they're discoverable. I've seen more than a few instances of new recruits be scared off joining because existing employees have got wind of an "aspiring YT talent" or "pics from a stag do" because it's their new team is judging them before they've even started.
What spikeyhead said. I'm currently grinding through almost 100 CVs (for two mid-level jobs). The number of them that don't have any outcomes or results is amazing.
I'd echo don't put your headshot (or holiday snaps) on it. Read the advert and get an idea of what they're looking for and show why you're it. Don't use some of the nasty graphic design formats with coloured blocks in random places. Really don't show your key skills as power bars. Don't copy and paste the advert into your application, but don't bury the lede and make the reviewer work to see that you tick their boxes. Have real, specific things in it. Don't get ChatGPT to write an incredibly generic personal statement.
Going through CVs in bulk is purgatory. Anything you can do to make it easy for the reviewer will count in your favour.
I'd echo don't put your headshot (or holiday snaps) on it. Read the advert and get an idea of what they're looking for and show why you're it. Don't use some of the nasty graphic design formats with coloured blocks in random places. Really don't show your key skills as power bars. Don't copy and paste the advert into your application, but don't bury the lede and make the reviewer work to see that you tick their boxes. Have real, specific things in it. Don't get ChatGPT to write an incredibly generic personal statement.
Going through CVs in bulk is purgatory. Anything you can do to make it easy for the reviewer will count in your favour.
spikeyhead said:
I've been reading a few lately.
If only people would tell me what they'd achieved, rather than what they had worked on I'd be a little more inclined to think positively of them.
This.If only people would tell me what they'd achieved, rather than what they had worked on I'd be a little more inclined to think positively of them.
I've seen the same 11 (yes, eleven) page CV in my inbox for two different roles in the last month or so. Despite being 11 pages in length I still have no idea what the candidate has actually done during his 20+ year career.
Mr_J said:
This.
I've seen the same 11 (yes, eleven) page CV in my inbox for two different roles in the last month or so. Despite being 11 pages in length I still have no idea what the candidate has actually done during his 20+ year career.
At a guess, spent 20% of his time typing out his CV.......I've seen the same 11 (yes, eleven) page CV in my inbox for two different roles in the last month or so. Despite being 11 pages in length I still have no idea what the candidate has actually done during his 20+ year career.
Thanks for the above. Do we think a very short explanation at the end of one or two of the employment descriptions explaining my reason for moving on or leaving adds any value or just let them ask if they wish to know?
i.e. the complex sale of one company collapsed and I went to work for a competitor.
i.e. the complex sale of one company collapsed and I went to work for a competitor.
Turn it around - if you were interviewing would you care why they left a job to go to another job?
Perhaps, if the history is:
2016: Operations Director
2017: McDonalds Burger Flipper
But if it's just a regular career history showing steady progression, is it important to know why people moved?
Perhaps, if the history is:
2016: Operations Director
2017: McDonalds Burger Flipper
But if it's just a regular career history showing steady progression, is it important to know why people moved?
Freakuk said:
No expert but I provide detailed info on my last 3 roles and then just list employer, dates, role for anything before that.
I was always told not to include your age, photo, where you live (other than county), hobbies/interests as there could be subconscious bias by whoever reviews them.
Not that I have age on mine, but is it not fairly easy to work out age from how long you've been working/when you did qualifications? You have made me think whether to bin off GCSE's though, because nobody will care about those being in my 30's!I was always told not to include your age, photo, where you live (other than county), hobbies/interests as there could be subconscious bias by whoever reviews them.
The photo thing is very American, they do that over there. Personally wouldn't put mine on there.
Disagree about the where you live... If you are open to recruiters, they search distances from where you live to the company. So saves wasting everyone's time.
There’s unfortunately no international standard for CVs, hence the breadth of styles that are in circulation.
Experience suggests that a number of best practice approaches work most of the time in most industries.
In it’s simplest form, you have to convey, using the least amount of words possible, that you can do the job advertised, that you will enjoy the job advertised and that you will fit the organisation. That approach is also how interviews are best tackled.
Delighted to look over any CV and provide feedback.
Experience suggests that a number of best practice approaches work most of the time in most industries.
In it’s simplest form, you have to convey, using the least amount of words possible, that you can do the job advertised, that you will enjoy the job advertised and that you will fit the organisation. That approach is also how interviews are best tackled.
Delighted to look over any CV and provide feedback.
jurbie said:
What's the view on cover letters? I generally bullet point my CV but put all the good stuff pertinent to the job in the cover letter.
So as per a couple of complaints above of not finding much out in the CV, are detailed cover letters no longer fashionable?
Cover letters are only usually used when asked for; most organisations are content with a CV or their own on-line application form.So as per a couple of complaints above of not finding much out in the CV, are detailed cover letters no longer fashionable?
If a cover letter is required, then with a CV usually written in the third person, a cover letter is written in the first.
As you allude, a cover letter can allow you to expand a little more on how you meet the essential requirements of the role, but a great CV should do this anyway.
I found https://www.wozber.com/en-gb really useful.
It helps you create the CV, sorts formatting, can check against role profile and make sure key words are in.
Really refreshed my old fashioned CV
It helps you create the CV, sorts formatting, can check against role profile and make sure key words are in.
Really refreshed my old fashioned CV
Regarding cover letters
I will often send one if I really am intrigued by the role as it hopefully pushes you towards the top.
And I can tell you from experience one role that I was initially in for but was subsequently lost due to a contract being dropped, I got that interview because out of the countless people who applied I was the ONLY one to write a covering letter and write it well enough to stand out, so it sometimes does pay.
the trouble is most of the time you are dealing with agencies who do not give a toss about cover letters.
I will often send one if I really am intrigued by the role as it hopefully pushes you towards the top.
And I can tell you from experience one role that I was initially in for but was subsequently lost due to a contract being dropped, I got that interview because out of the countless people who applied I was the ONLY one to write a covering letter and write it well enough to stand out, so it sometimes does pay.
the trouble is most of the time you are dealing with agencies who do not give a toss about cover letters.
I list my current and previous roles. Bang in some choice keywords that tend to appear in a lot of job ads, list a few achievements etc. Bullet points are you friend.
This gets uploaded to a jobs board and I wait for the recruiters to get in touch with me. I never bother applying to anything. And I certainly don't entertain cover letters. I wouldn't worry about the length of your CV, the recruiter will take care of any trimming before sending it to the client.
This gets uploaded to a jobs board and I wait for the recruiters to get in touch with me. I never bother applying to anything. And I certainly don't entertain cover letters. I wouldn't worry about the length of your CV, the recruiter will take care of any trimming before sending it to the client.
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