FAQs or frequently asked CV questions
Should I include my address in my CV?
It is not necessary to include your address as all communication between recruiter and applicant will be electronic or by phone. Additionally, if you include a cover letter it will feature your address at the top of the page. New CV writes application or cover letters to ensure you demonstrate your appropriateness for the role for which you are applying.
Do I need a separate CV for each application?
It is really important to tailor your CV for each application so it reflects the job and person description given by the advertisement. Because so many recruiters and agencies use ATS – applicant tracking systems – it is also important to think about the language you use in the CV as the ATS is programmed to look for specific words and phrases. New CV provides advice about how to do this to all clients.
Can recruiters find out that I am lying or embellishing the truth in my CV?
Enhancing your achievements to gain an interview can be a short-sighted way of getting the attention of a recruiter, mainly because if they ask you about your embellished claim at interview or you talk about it in a video interview, the interviewer (human or AI) can usually tell you are lying…. And that is the end of your stellar career with that organisation before you even start!
How do I make my CV stand out?
It is essential to have a professional looking CV which means you must resist the temptation to make it look pretty or wacky. As a CV is a business document it must appeal to a business audience. Unusually formatted CVs are often rejected as unreadable by ATS so there is no point in reducing your chances of success for the sake of a creative layout. The one exception to this is if you are in a creative industry where a demonstration of your artistic flair is going to gain you a place at the interview table. Creative CVs still need to be readable and uncomplicated, but can include links to portfolios and examples of recent work. New CV provides professional, fit for purpose CVs in a clear and easy to read format.
How do I make sure my CV is going to pass through AI driven candidate selection systems?
AI (artificial intelligence) candidate selection systems, sometimes called ATS, are programmed to look for specific words and phrases so it is really important to tailor your CV for each application to reflect the job and person description given in the advertisement. However, it is equally important that you don’t try to beat the ATS by filling your CV with too many key words as this will make it unreadable. At New CV we are experienced in finding the right balance: we include key words and phrases without over-stuffing your CV with them.
Should I include information about my reasons for leaving past employment?
A CV is a concise narrative of your career or work experience to date, but it should not be an essay on your life story. Reasons for leaving are not needed in any CV so don’t be tempted to include them; this is the kind of discussion that can be had at an interview if necessary.
When writing my CV can I save space by abbreviating words and using acronyms?
Some people are so wrapped up in their industry that they use acronyms and abbreviations to such an extent they appear to speak a foreign language – you probably know someone who does this! Equally, some people use ‘text speak’ to communicate which is wholly inappropriate. Unless an abbreviation or acronym is universally known eg. ‘etc’, ‘re:’, ‘YTD’, ‘M&S’ or ‘&’ it is a good rule of thumb to write out the words in long form for the first time you use them, followed by the abbreviated form, so that you can safely use the abbreviation/acronym in the rest of the document. If you assume people will know what you mean you can guarantee to turn your reader off. New CV guarantees accurate grammar and an excellent eye for detail in all the work we do.
How do I deal with a gap in my work history in my CV?
Honesty is always the best policy. A gap is not a problem; the issue is how you handle it. Small gaps of a month or two are neither here nor there, but for gaps of longer than this, simply provide the dates and write a line about what you were doing (eg. travelling, maternity leave, sabbatical to study, caring etc). You also need to reflect these dates in your LinkedIn profile as inconsistent dates are a sure way of ending up on a recruiter's ‘no’ pile. New CV offers LinkedIn profile writing services to ensure all your key dates tie up.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Whilst a professional head shot is essential on your LinkedIn profile, a photo on your CV is a definite no-no. Increasingly, recruiters are working on ways to avoid unconscious bias entering into the process so a photo will not do you any favours however lovely it may be; plus, it takes up valuable space!
It is not necessary to include your address as all communication between recruiter and applicant will be electronic or by phone. Additionally, if you include a cover letter it will feature your address at the top of the page. New CV writes application or cover letters to ensure you demonstrate your appropriateness for the role for which you are applying.
Do I need a separate CV for each application?
It is really important to tailor your CV for each application so it reflects the job and person description given by the advertisement. Because so many recruiters and agencies use ATS – applicant tracking systems – it is also important to think about the language you use in the CV as the ATS is programmed to look for specific words and phrases. New CV provides advice about how to do this to all clients.
Can recruiters find out that I am lying or embellishing the truth in my CV?
Enhancing your achievements to gain an interview can be a short-sighted way of getting the attention of a recruiter, mainly because if they ask you about your embellished claim at interview or you talk about it in a video interview, the interviewer (human or AI) can usually tell you are lying…. And that is the end of your stellar career with that organisation before you even start!
How do I make my CV stand out?
It is essential to have a professional looking CV which means you must resist the temptation to make it look pretty or wacky. As a CV is a business document it must appeal to a business audience. Unusually formatted CVs are often rejected as unreadable by ATS so there is no point in reducing your chances of success for the sake of a creative layout. The one exception to this is if you are in a creative industry where a demonstration of your artistic flair is going to gain you a place at the interview table. Creative CVs still need to be readable and uncomplicated, but can include links to portfolios and examples of recent work. New CV provides professional, fit for purpose CVs in a clear and easy to read format.
How do I make sure my CV is going to pass through AI driven candidate selection systems?
AI (artificial intelligence) candidate selection systems, sometimes called ATS, are programmed to look for specific words and phrases so it is really important to tailor your CV for each application to reflect the job and person description given in the advertisement. However, it is equally important that you don’t try to beat the ATS by filling your CV with too many key words as this will make it unreadable. At New CV we are experienced in finding the right balance: we include key words and phrases without over-stuffing your CV with them.
Should I include information about my reasons for leaving past employment?
A CV is a concise narrative of your career or work experience to date, but it should not be an essay on your life story. Reasons for leaving are not needed in any CV so don’t be tempted to include them; this is the kind of discussion that can be had at an interview if necessary.
When writing my CV can I save space by abbreviating words and using acronyms?
Some people are so wrapped up in their industry that they use acronyms and abbreviations to such an extent they appear to speak a foreign language – you probably know someone who does this! Equally, some people use ‘text speak’ to communicate which is wholly inappropriate. Unless an abbreviation or acronym is universally known eg. ‘etc’, ‘re:’, ‘YTD’, ‘M&S’ or ‘&’ it is a good rule of thumb to write out the words in long form for the first time you use them, followed by the abbreviated form, so that you can safely use the abbreviation/acronym in the rest of the document. If you assume people will know what you mean you can guarantee to turn your reader off. New CV guarantees accurate grammar and an excellent eye for detail in all the work we do.
How do I deal with a gap in my work history in my CV?
Honesty is always the best policy. A gap is not a problem; the issue is how you handle it. Small gaps of a month or two are neither here nor there, but for gaps of longer than this, simply provide the dates and write a line about what you were doing (eg. travelling, maternity leave, sabbatical to study, caring etc). You also need to reflect these dates in your LinkedIn profile as inconsistent dates are a sure way of ending up on a recruiter's ‘no’ pile. New CV offers LinkedIn profile writing services to ensure all your key dates tie up.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Whilst a professional head shot is essential on your LinkedIn profile, a photo on your CV is a definite no-no. Increasingly, recruiters are working on ways to avoid unconscious bias entering into the process so a photo will not do you any favours however lovely it may be; plus, it takes up valuable space!