A CV that’s personalised to each application can help you land that dream job, says Helen Dalley

Recruitment company Peoplebank encounters hundreds of CVs every day and say the best ones are identified at first glance. “If the CV doesn’t stand out to us in the first instance, it will usually not be shortlisted if the job has attracted a lot of candidates. However, if we do come across a strong CV with well-written content and the position is hard to fill, we’ll go back to their profile to see if the candidate fits 40 to 50 per cent of the hiring requirements,” explains general manager Annie Cheung.

There are now more resources than ever to help jobseekers prepare the perfect CV but many still don’t understand the importance of tailoring this important document to each job applied for, says Cheung. Don’t underestimate the value of a killer cover letter, either. “A CV is a snapshot of your working experience, but a cover letter enables you to include additional information that might not be suitable for a CV, such as why you are attracted to the job or company.”

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by an estimated 64 per cent of firms today when recruiting staff. Cheung says candidates should recognise this by incorporating keywords of skills relevant to the job in their CV. “If the job you are applying to requires project management, customer service or certain technical skills & experience with a particular system, include these words as much as possible in your CV. A CV with the word ‘project’ in it 10 times is going to appear more suitable than one that has only included it once, even if the experience is the same.”

Including extra-curricular activities is a great way to demonstrate transferable skills, especially for new graduates or those with only a few years’ experience in the workplace. “Activities such as volunteering (selfless), sports (competitive) and self-study (willing to learn) are all good examples,” she says.

Peoplebank advises that it’s no longer necessary to include your full address on a CV but say it might be beneficial to include your home area. “The address is more for checking whether the commute is feasible, or if a candidate is applying out of Hong Kong. With sensitive information such as your home address readily available online, this can potentially lead to identity theft, fraud and so on,” she points out.

While addresses are no longer deemed necessary, a phone number certainly is (leave it off when uploading a CV online if you’re concerned about security). “The first thing we’ll do is call the candidate to prequalify them. If they are unavailable after several attempts to call, then we’ll email them to schedule a time to speak. Not leaving a contact number puts you at a disadvantage, as other qualified candidates will have been contacted for interviews by the time you check your email,” she says.

As for embracing recent CV trends, such as using hyperlinks to expand on a point, or making a video cover letter, Cheung says it depends on the industry. “Media and digital companies may find video applications attractive because they are looking for creative individuals. However, the traditional CV and cover letter is still the preferable method as it is the most time-efficient to screen.” Hyperlinks can be useful to show a portfolio, but if used to expand on a point, then first consider rewriting it, adds Cheung.

While CVs remain an extremely useful tool in recruitment, the impact of social media such as LinkedIn means the conventional way of finding talent is no longer limited to it, Cheung admits. “Recommendations, endorsements and post activity on LinkedIn is a great way for hiring managers to make a decision if the candidate is a right fit for their company.”