eFinancialCareers

If you’re one of the many people who are applying for jobs and sending in CVs that elicit no response at all, this article is for you.

If your CV is dying before it’s even lived, this is probably why:

Too many tiresome tasks

CVs tend to highlight tasks and duties, rather than concrete achievements, says Christina Ng, manager, financial service, Robert Walters Hong Kong. “Candidates should focus on detailing their accomplishments, as well as the skills they have acquired. Accomplishments are so much more meaningful to prospective employers than just job responsibilities,” she adds.

Concentrate on the achievements that set you apart from the competition, advises Tim Hird, managing director, Robert Half Singapore. “What was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you turn it around? What was one project that you spearheaded and are most proud of? Cite a business initiative that you successfully implemented and the value-add for your organisation in terms of revenue or cost savings achieved.”

You’ve made some spalling mistakes

Mistakes make employers think that you lack attention to detail. They can quickly kill your resume. “Even a single typo can lead the hiring manager to question a candidate’s professionalism. In the current market, it pays to be ultra vigilant. Before sending out a CV, read it out loud, from top to bottom, and pass it by a friend or family member to proofread and provide honest feedback,” says Hird.

Don’t forget your grammar

Even if you’ve spelt everything correctly, using bad grammar can still ruin your resume. A poorly written CV doesn’t give the recruiter confidence that you can communicate well in English during job interviews, says Amy Ho, manager, banking & financial services at Ambition in Hong Kong.

“We see the present tense used a lot in describing past jobs. This is easily fixed if you focus on achievements in your previous roles because these should always be in the past tense as you have completed them,” adds Ho.

Acronym overload alert!

It’s easy for candidates to use internal acronyms that are meaningless to outsiders, or to those that aren’t product specialist, says Ho. “It's best to always give the full names of departments, teams or specialist products the first time you mention them to ensure you don’t confuse the person reading your CV.”

The wrong references

Having a dud referee can be the silent killer at the end of your resume. Don’t just list all your past bosses, choose someone who is best placed to discuss the traits you possess which directly relate to the job you are applying for.

Make sure your contacts are comfortable speaking on your behalf, brief them on the position you are applying for, and give them your updated CV before listing them as your reference, says Hird. “This will ensure that they are enthusiastic about your request, and that they quickly return phone calls and are excited to speak about your capabilities.”

More tips on cleaning up your CV will follow next week.