One simple trick to help your CV stand out Viewpoint careers advice blog

One simple trick to help your CV stand out When you sit down to update your CV, do you start by jotting down a few points about your duties and responsibilities in your current role â€" points that could easily have come from your job description? While this may seem like a logical place to start, it’s rarely an approach that creates a winning CV. On your CV â€" and in any discussion with a recruiter or interview with a hiring manager for that matter â€" it is your achievements and results that really count. In other words, we don’t want to read what you think about yourself; we want proof that you did your previous jobs well. After all, anyone can say they are innovative, but not everyone can say they designed and delivered a new online sales booking system that increased sales by 15 per cent in the first six months! Use action verbs One of the simplest and most helpful ways to ensure you add and quantify accomplishments in the career history section of your CV is to use action verbs. Verbs force you to include your results and achievements. It really is a simple trick that ensures you prove your strengths, rather than simply list them one by one. Action verbs in action So next time you update your CV, consider using some of these verbs to bring your successes front and centre. For example, instead of writing that you managed a team, try verbs such as ‘directed’, ‘guided’, ‘motivated’, ‘recruited’ or ‘united’. I.e. ‘I united and motivated a team of five underperformers. After one year our customer service scores had increased 55%.’ Rather than stating you have strong communication skills, use verbs like ‘wrote’, ‘published’, ‘edited’ or ‘swayed’. As opposed to writing that you have good organisation skills, try ‘facilitated’, ‘programmed’, ‘coordinated’, ‘allocated’ or ‘arranged’. And rather than writing that you always achieved your target goals, try ‘reached’, ‘surpassed’ or ‘accomplished’. Here’s are some action words to help you bring your achievements to life on your CV: Examples of action verbs Demonstrate your creativity: built, crafted, devised, implemented, pioneered, initiated, established Demonstrate your efficiency: enhanced, advanced, capitalised, maximised, leveraged, improved Demonstrate your leadership skills: headed, coordinated, executed, managed, operated, organised Demonstrate improvements made: refined, remodelled, strengthened, upgraded, transformed Demonstrate your management skills: guided, fostered, motivated, recruited, enabled, united Demonstrate bottom line contributions: reduced, decreased, consolidated, saved, yielded, increased Demonstrate overall achievements: awarded, exceeded, outperformed, surpassed, earned, granted Remember, these verbs are your prompt to provide an explicit example of a success you’ve had. It is this proof that will help your CV stand out and show you have the potential to succeed in a new role. Updating your CV? Our CV writing tips and advice will help you get started   20 questions to ask yourself before starting your job search Getting creative with your CV? Heres what to remember 6 common CV mistakes to avoid 4 ways to give your CV a digital makeover References are available upon request When is the best time to have a job interview? What size company is the right fit for you Top six CV tips from Hays