Common CV Myths and Truths

Crafting a CV can be a difficult talk without weighing in all the myths and assumptions people have regarding them. A good CV can help you get an interview and eventually land you a job you desire. If you want to make a CV that impresses the recruiter instantly, you need to be clear about some of the most common myths associated with the CVs and learn the truth behind them. Today we are busting the myths that will save your time and help you create an effective CV:

1. A CV should be one page:

A CV doesn’t need to be one page long and the number of pages does not matter when a recruiter is reviewing your CV, however, this does not mean you make the CV longer than it has to be. It should contain all the relevant content and if that makes your CV two or three pages long then that does not matter since the point is sharing all the experience. Fresh graduates usually have one-page CVs because they do not have enough material. Your CV can be as long as it needs to be unless you are stretching out all the information.

2. Recruiters will spend a long time reading the entire CV:

No, a recruiter generally spends 7 seconds on a CV due to the high influx of CVs they get. A recruiter is most likely to pay attention to your previous job positions and responsibilities so you should design your CV in a way that highlights your achievements so that the recruiter sees them instantly. You can also make your CV easy to read by including bullet points, formatting your achievements in bold, and adding skills via using keywords.

3. CVs always get reviewed by the recruiter:

The recruiting process has developed a lot and new optimized procedures have been introduced. Unlike what many people believe, CVs are not always reviewed by the recruiter or HR instead digitalized systems are used to sort them. The ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a tool that many companies use to pick out the CVs that are most relevant to the job description. It scans relevant keywords and consistency with the job description and the CVs that are successfully passed through ATS are then reviewed or considered by the recruiter. The rest of the CVs are termed irrelevant and are disposed of. This is one of the reasons why hiring a professional providing CV writing services in Pakistan can prove beneficial and convenient for you because they have proper knowledge about all these tactics.

4. Achievements need to have a separate section:

If you create a separate section for your achievements, it will make your CV longer than it has to be. You will also have to list the employer’s name and position for each achievement. All of this will make your CV less readable and might even confuse the recruiter. A recruiter might even overlook the section completely and just read your job responsibilities. The best way to include achievements is to list them down in bullets in the professional experience section.

5. A CV should be general so it can be used for multiple jobs:

A CV needs to be tailored specifically to the job you are applying for, if you are applying for multiple jobs at the same time then you will have to edit your CV for each job. A general CV might not even make it to the recruiter and get disposed of by the ATS. Your CV should be fully relevant to the job you are applying for and it can be done perfectly if you read the job description thoroughly. Reading the job description will not only let know exactly what the recruiter is looking for but it will also help you choose the correct words for your CV. Use words similar to the job description in your CV and include all the relevant keywords from the job description in your CV to increase your chances of getting an interview.

6. You should not include social media information:

Many recruiters prefer LinkedIn profiles over CVs as they require less time to read and are proven to be more authentic. Including your LinkedIn profile will make a good impression on the recruiter but your profile should be properly maintained and updated. Also, if you use do not have a separate portfolio and all of your work is there on your public account on a social media site such as Instagram, then including the link to it will only increase your chances of getting the job. It will validate the knowledge and skills you have written in your CV.

7. Sending a PDF is better than an MS Word Document:

A PDF file may not be easily assessable everywhere and this is why a CV should not be sent in PDF format. A PDF might not even work with some applicant tracking systems and scanning software which will the software overlook your entire CV. Send your CV as a Word Document since Word is compatible with almost every software.

8. A few spelling and grammatical mistakes are okay:

A grammatical error or a typo might not be a dealbreaker in landing you a job but it will highly decrease your chances of impressing the recruiter. Proofread your CV yourself or take professional help from the many CV writers working in Pakistan to avoid mistakes like these. A perfectly made CV will make the recruiter see how dedicated you are. Otherwise, you might come across as careless and no recruiter would want to hire a careless employer.

These are some of the most common myths that can prove to be pretty dangerous and can affect your recruitment process adversely. The next time you hear a piece of CV advice, make sure to research and read up about it to find out its authenticity. Avoiding these myths will help you impress the recruiter; make you seem like the most suitable candidate and land you an interview for your applied job.