15 "attributes" of an attractive CV

Have you known that an attractive CV in the eyes of recruiters usually doesn't follow any specific rule but should possess the following 15 basic things?

1. Creating a Resume Heading

The headline helps sell newspapers, just as the art of 'clickbait' helps online news sites attract traffic. Similarly, a resume headline can help job seekers grab the attention of resume reviewers.

Recruiters don't actually read through the entire CV; they typically skim through it to assess the candidate's suitability for the job. Make this easier by creating a headline for your resume, so recruiters can know your strongest point. For example: Award Winning Television Executive Producer, Senior Communication & PR Specialist, or Software Developer Intern...

2. Create a Profile Section

Recruiters tend to focus on the top three sections on the first page of a CV. They only continue reading if your profile truly stands out and quickly grabs their attention. List strong and consistent examples to demonstrate your ability to drive growth and sustain company operations, for instance.

3. List core competencies

One of the first things that recruiters look for when reviewing a CV is whether the candidate possesses the necessary skills for the job. Your expertise should be prominently showcased in the initial sections of your resume. Try using keywords or phrases that are deemed important for the job function and industry you are targeting.

If you're unsure about those keywords, search for them in job postings from companies. Adjust and apply them to your CV to align with the potential job you're interested in.

4. Company Overview

For each company or organization you have been a part of, provide a brief description summarizing key information such as scope, scale, industry, and position or revenue-generating capabilities (if publicly disclosed). Providing a company overview is especially important if you have worked for smaller, newly established, or lesser-known companies. Refer to the "About Us" section and other relevant information on the company's website to supplement your description.

5. Information on Company's Workforce Scale and Budget

Clarifying information about the company's workforce scale and budget will help readers better understand the scope of your responsibilities, as well as your position and hierarchy within the organization.

6. Streamline Work History Responsibilities Explanation

While conveying an overview of tasks performed in the past is important, this information often does not differ significantly among candidates. Many candidates will have similar job experiences. What sets them apart and makes them memorable are the achievements attained during that process. Therefore, you should allocate no more than 3-6 lines to explain tasks related to each position, saving space on the CV to highlight more valuable achievements.

7. Optimize Efficiency of Achievements

Recruiters are highly interested in and enjoy reading about your achievements. Past achievements serve as a basis for better predictions of future success compared to discussions about responsibilities and roles in previous jobs.

Present clear statements of achievement, providing evidence of your contributions in helping the company attract customers, increase revenue, expand market share, or save costs, utilize time, and foster innovation.

8. Group Achievements by Theme

After completing the introduction of achievements, group them based on common and outstanding themes. Some achievements may represent the ability to increase sales figures, making you a star in the sales department. Others may possess the talent for innovative human resource management, cost control, and process improvement.

By grouping achievements by theme and titling them in chronological order for each position, you can convey a better view of your personal brand and value-added contributions. Readers will easily track the achievements you have accomplished corresponding to your key competencies.

9. List Relevant Interests

Only mention interests when they are related to the job you are applying for or are relevant to the audience reviewing your CV. For example, a computer technician might share an interest in repairing old cars, or an event organizer might mention experience participating in stage activities or cultural events.

Moreover, interests can also be used to skillfully mitigate age or gender biases. For instance, a candidate over 50 years old could mention being a marathon runner to imply that they have strong health and physical fitness to handle the job. This action demonstrates your awareness of physical requirements and health concerns to prevent rejections based on concerns that you may not have the stamina to meet job demands.

10. Highlight Relevant Volunteer Activities

Include the skills you have gained through volunteering and community service to increase your chances of landing your dream job. For example, if you want to transition into the healthcare field, you could mention volunteering at hospitals, medical centers, or community health projects. Or a software engineer could share experience organizing free computer skills classes for underprivileged students or disadvantaged youth.   

11. List Relevant Professional Associations

Leave some space to write a few lines about reputable professional associations and organizations you are a member of to demonstrate your connections and relationships in the relevant industry. Particularly, if you have held leadership or managerial positions in these organizations, it should be emphasized even more.

12. Present Work History by Year

Employers typically expect to see your work history at previous companies over the years, rather than by month and year. This rule excludes candidates with a tenure at a place of less than 12 months, recent graduates, or individuals with only short-term internship experience.

13. Focus on Experience from the Last 5 Years

Recruiters are interested in achievements in your recent work, not experiences from over a decade ago. Focus on the experiences and results achieved within the past 5 years, optimizing its strengths to convince recruiters and minimize space for experiences that are too distant or outdated.

14. Clearly State Graduation Dates

Sometimes, job seekers "pretend" to omit information about graduation dates in their resumes to conceal their true age in hopes of not being rejected. However, things are not as you think; by skipping the graduation year, you may attract more attention from resume reviewers to the issue you are trying to hide. They will wonder why you are hiding your graduation date. Furthermore, they may even assume that you are older than your actual age.

15. Remove the Phrase "References Available Upon Request"

You know that you can provide reference information when requested, and employers will understand that too. Therefore, according to the viewpoint of many recruiters, candidates should either provide specific contact information or confidently omit this phrase. You don't need to write "Provide references upon request" or "References Available Upon Request" on your CV. Instead, use that valuable space on the resume to write more useful information that can help you secure an interview!