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Frequently asked CV questions

Posted on 17 July 2019 by Rebecca Dunne

When a potential employer or agency recruiter reviews your CV they look for specific information.  To give yourself a better chance of being shortlisted for the next job role you apply for take a look at the questions we get asked the most by job seekers and the advice that we offer for their CVs.

1. Should I put my photo on my CV?

This is not necessary.

2. Should I put my address on my CV

No, but it is helpful to let recruiters know what area of the city or country you live and where you can reasonably commute to for work.

Also, if you are looking to relocate from one city to another or one country to another, include this information at the start of your CV.

3. Should I put my nationality on my CV?

This is not necessary. Recruiters and employers only need to know if you require or have a visa type to work in the country where the job is based.

4. Should I put my age

This is not necessary.

5. How much detail should I put on my CV?

Enough to show the relevant skills and experience that you have for the role.

Include an objective at the top of your CV e.g. "I am looking to utilise my extensive experience in X, Y, and Z and obtain a Senior HR Business Partner role with a dynamic fast paced multinational organisation."

For each job role you have had, include 3 or 4 bullet points that highlight the relevant tasks and projects that you worked on in that role.

Look out for keywords used in the job description or company website and use them in your CV if they apply to your experience

6. What is the most important thing that I should include in my CV?

Relevance.

7. Do recruitment agencies change my CV?

Our recruitment team take off personal details before sharing a CV with an employer. If the formatting needs it, we tidy that up too. We never share your CV with any employer without your explicit consent.

8. What happens to my CV when I send it to a recruitment agency?

When we receive your CV in application for a role it is assessed for relevance to that role.

If the skills and experience are deemed a match then your CV will be securely stored on our database and you will be contacted by a recruiter.

If the skills and experience are more suited to other roles then your CV will be securely stored on our database and you will be contacted by a recruiter, maybe at a later date.

If the skills and experience are not suited to the role your CV will not be kept.

9. What should I put first, my education or my professional experience?

If your qualifications are relevant to the role and are mentioned as a requirement in the job description then you should mention this relevance in your introduction.

Your professional experience should come next. Finally your education summary.

10. Do I have to include hobbies or interests in my CV?

This is not necessary.

11. What kind of skills should I include in ‘other skills’?

Foreign languages and technical languages are nearly always a bonus.

12. What else can I include on my CV that will help my chances of getting a job?

Evidence of success, awards, benchmarks such as sales increase. Anything that proves the added value that you can bring to an employer.

13. What's correct, CV or resume?

Both. 'CV' is more commonly used in Ireland and the UK. 'Resume' is used more in America.

14. Should I change my name to something that sounds local?

No. We have heard that this advice has been given out by other recruitment agencies and we do not agree. If your name is a barrier to an employer (or agency) meeting you then it is probably not an employer that you would want to work with.

15. Should my CV be pdf or Microsoft Word?

Microsoft word, please.

16. Should I tailor my CV for each job I apply for?

Yes, this may seem like a lot of work but every role and employer is different. Tailoring your CV shows that you are invested in your career and that you are willing to put in the extra effort to show why you are the most suitable and relevant job applicant.

17. Should I send any other documents or ID with my CV?

Not unless they are specifically requested.

18. Do I have to send a cover letter?

Only if it is requested in the job advertisement.

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