The CV You Need Right Now!

With the job market so competitive, making sure your CV leaves a positive impression on a prospective employer can be the most crucial part of the job hunting process. They need to know how awesome you are, without having to go through pages and pages of every achievement since the 6th grade. “A short, crisp CV can be your ticket to recruitment,”explains Shefalee Vasudev, Associate Editor, The Indian Express. “A well put-together resume is one that makes me say ‘I want to meet you now’”. Here, real bosses reveal what makes them say ‘You’re hired’...

recruitment requirements

Pragati Nayal, Senior Client Services Executive, Omerta Consulting“Having read hundreds of CVs over the years, I have noticed people highlight their salaries as much as their skills and qualities. That’s the first thing we have an alert for―job hoppers. A lot of times, people think they’re writing a resume, but cannot put the information across successfully. Use simple language and be precise. Your objectives and key skills should be at the head of your resume.”

Public relations Pointers

Shrey Khetarpal, Associate Partner, at a major public relations firm“The main things I look for in a resume are work experience and educational background. Correct grammar and sharp writing skills are crucial since we are in the communication field. An important tip―put in the link to your blog―it helps us get an insight into your personality, which is always interesting.”

Advertising Adages

Sumanto Chattopadhyay, Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather“Whether you go in for a traditional resume or a creative one, be sure that it is letter-perfect. Spelling and grammar mistakes are a complete turn-off and an early warning sign of sloppy work. I once received a series of Peanuts comic strips with a twist―this creative candidate wove herself into the comic, and the characters spoke about why this she would be a great hire. She got the job.”

Media Mandates

Shefalee Vasudev, Associate Editor, The Indian Express“I have seldom in my life seen a resume that has impressed me and that, is a scary thought. The world has changed, but the art of CV writing is the same old archaic process. You have to sell yourself differently. If you’re applying for the post of a writer, attach links to your best articles, let your prospective employer know what you’re capable of. In the media industry, it is crucial that you attach your work. I’ve had people walk in for interviews who have never even read the newspaper. Research on the company you’re applying to, and tailor your CV accordingly.”

4 Cardinal sins of cvs

NEVER...copy and paste text from CVs available on Google. Recruiters are experienced enough to know original material from ‘borrowed’.

NEVER...use more than one font in your resume. Keep creative ideas for your portfolio work.

NEVER...send out your CV without untagging compromising photos of yourself on Facebook and deleting dodgy tweets. You must edit your privacy settings too. Recruiters look for everything!

NEVER...lie or exaggerate. It might look good on paper, but a background check could ruin everything.