If you were looking for a suit or dress to really impress, then you may invest in a tailor. A tailor will measure you up in detail to create clothes to make you look your best. When you apply for a role, you should approach each application with its unique version of your CV.

Understanding a job description is vital to adapting your CV to a role that is of interest to you.

The document should include your recent work history, skill proficiencies and accomplishments, but what else can be added to allow the employer to see your body of work whilst showing them the transferable skills that can set you apart from your competition?

Research, research, research

Every employer is different, every business, boss and role are unique in their requirements and responsibilities. So, how do you tailor the CV to appeal to the decision makers and the culture of your prospective employer?

Preparation for CV writing could include visiting their website, social media and checking their Companies House page. If there are photos of the team or the office, then familiarising yourself with the location, look and keywords will only help your cause. This research will uncover themes that you can use to extract your most relevant experience and skills into the CV for the role.  

Design is your silent partner

A sleek and simple CV will help the reader quickly ascertain your character and work history. Ensure a decent amount of space on the page, making it easy and pleasing to read. Make sure the headings are clear and allow the reader to go straight to the sections that they are interested in. A simple, legible font is crucial for a busy employer to easily read your achievements.

Quantify your achievements

Explain the impact that you made with details, include figures regarding % profit increase or numbers of views across social media. These will help the reader quickly understand what sort of skills you can bring to the role.

Remove the unnecessary

When tailoring the CV, check your work history and judge whether they are still relevant for this, or any, role that you are now applying for. The more concise the CV, the more impact it can make.

Adjust for relevance

Sections of the CV may be more appealing than others for a particular role. In this case, it is worth considering adjusting the order of the content to ensure that the most valuable experience is read first.

Cover letter

The cover letter should set out your situation and highlight your personality. The letter should complement your working history and the achievements set out in your CV. If possible, explain how the role is a great fit for you and be careful to proofread for spelling errors.

To give you the best chance of landing an interview, make sure your CV is relevant and impactful. Remove all unnecessary entries and add numbered examples to prove how well you carried out your duties. Edit the layout and design to make it easy on the eyes and simple to scan, making it easy to read.

Material and content matters. We advise you to take your CV to the best quality tailor and with some adjustments, your approach will be unique to the role and show you in your best light. At Moon Executive Search, we think you should invest time, every time, in producing a tailored covering letter and CV to stand out from the crowd.

You can have a read our other tips on how to ask the right questions at an interview here.

The team at Moon Executive Search have decades worth of invaluable experience in search and selection campaigns as well as thought leadership articles and reports. This experience allows us to quickly understand the best candidates to put forward for the process. Contact with Moon Executive Search and see how we can find the perfect executive to fit your culture.