Add Skills to Your CV That You Didn’t Even Know You Had
If you’re sitting at your desk, with the goal to develop and add value to your CV, without sounding generic or boring? You are not alone, and you are probably more talented than you think.
Very few candidates think about their skills and accomplishments in the same way as a hiring manager would.Using expert advice from some career specialists, you can easily and honestly pad out your CV with important skills that many recruiters look for, here’s how:
1. Specialise your skills
The skills recruiters look for when they scan through résumés depend on the type of position they’re trying to fill, says Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach. For example, if you’re applying for a position that requires technical knowledge, include specific examples of technology or equipment you use, even if it could be reasonably assumed you must know these things, Friedman suggests.
2. Include hobbies & interests to your CV
While this usually comes down to personal preference depending on the individual recruiter, most hiring managers like to read this section on your CV because it will give them additional points to discuss during the interview. While your CV should be focused on your qualifications and career history, writing a hobbies section shows a little more depth to your personality.
As long as your interests section adds value and relevance to the position you are applying for, they have the potential to differentiate your application from candidates competing for the same position and could make all the difference when it comes to the final decision.
3. Research specialists with the jobs you want
You can do this by simply checking out the LinkedIn pages of experts in your field, whose jobs you’d like. Read their “Skills & Endorsements” section and identify which ones you could add to your profile and CV too, taking note of the style and tone of the CV, this is also extremely important.
4. Diversify your list of skills
Kate Swoboda, founder of the Courageous Coaching Training Program states:
“When evaluating a CV, recruiters are looking for two big qualities: initiative and curiosity.”
So essentially, by demonstrating that you take initiative and are motivated by interest is the best thing your CV can convey about you. Nowadays, recruiters are looking for candidates who are curious enough and motivated enough to go beyond their technical job description because these are the characteristics that add more value to a company in the long run.
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