5 things recruiters are dying to tell you about your CV

Don’t get your CV tossed in the trash

Show, don’t tell 

We get it. Your job title was “Manager”. You managed stuff. (And you were probably “responsible for” some other things too.) Instead of simply listing your job duties, summarize your accomplishments with specific numbers and facts. Think less about what you did and more about what you achieved.

Who isn’t a pro-active, problem-solving, team player who pays attention to detail? If you’ve got these buzzwords on your CV, you’re blending in more than standing out. Leave out the clichés and fill your CV with keywords from the job listing itself.

Keywords in, buzzwords out

Talk about the past, not the future

Don’t waste crucial space on an objective that talks about what you hope to achieve. A well-written CV that shows your career progression will make your story pretty clear. Save that space at the top of your CV for a summary that outlines what you do really well, and gives a synopsis of your past experiences.

Customize, customize, customize. No two development jobs are identical, so why use the same CV for different job applications? If you’ve worked in development for some time, you’ve probably racked up a range of skills. Look at the job listing and highlight what’s most relevant to the job.

One more thing. Keep it local. Different aid agencies want different CV formats. They may or may not need to know your personal details either. So be sure to check what’s expected.

One size doesn’t fit all (when has it ever?)

Be nice to the recruiter. While the one-page rule doesn’t apply to international development, you shouldn’t go overboard on the number of pages you submit. Development recruiters like to see more meat, but unnecessary padding won’t make you seem any more qualified. Stick to what’s relevant and use as many pages as it takes to tell a concise story.

Length does matter

CV writing getting you down?

More tips and tools on writing an international development CV that stands out right here

Psst, here!