Who should use a professional CV writer?
Utilising the services of a professional CV writer has become increasingly common in the employment market, which gives a competitive advantage to those with a professional CV and cover letter. It means their CV has been designed and written by an expert CV writer who understands how employers and recruitment agencies review CVs and how they reject poor applications. This insight is critical in winning an invitation to interview.
Employing a professional CV writer to make an effective CV and cover letter is suitable for candidates at all stages of their career journey and throughout every employment sector. It is a particularly suitable option for candidates in these situations:
1. No existing CV
It can be daunting to find yourself in a situation where you suddenly need a CV for a role and have no experience in terms of what is required to sell yourself. In this situation, a professional CV writer can eliminate the risk of submitting a poorly prepared CV by writing the ideal CV for you.
2. An out-of-date CV
One of the most common reasons people make contact with a professional CV writer is to help them improve an out-of-date or outmoded CV or cover letter. A CV may lack the most recent experience and skills, be missing a contemporary presentation, or be focused on areas that are no longer relevant to a person’s career level or aspirations.
3. Refinement
Minor details can have a big impact when an employer is reviewing a CV. Many candidates with existing CVs use a professional CV writer to make precise refinements, where the CV writer can bring their wealth of expertise in producing top-class CVs to give an existing CV a competitive edge.
4. Graduates / Early Career
Employing a professional CV writer can be especially useful for graduates at the beginning of their career journey. When considering an internship, graduate programme, or travelling abroad for work, a specialist writer can play a crucial role in supporting a graduate in their early career.
5. New to the Irish employment market
CVs prepared outside of the Irish market may not be suitable for use when applying for jobs in Ireland. A local, professional CV writer can be extremely beneficial in supporting candidates to localise their CV and cover letter and help them avoid key mistakes.
For further information or advice about your CV contact The CV Agency on cv@cvagency.ie or 01 499 1466, or click here to order a CV, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile.
How to Write a Cover Letter
A great cover letter needs to be engaging and relevant to the position you are applying for. It should tell the employer what you can offer them, how your skills and experience are compatible with the role, and why you want to work for that business. It should also be distinctive and make you stand out from other applicants.
Your cover letter should sell you to a potential employer. Step out of your shoes for a moment and think about how other people would describe you. What positive things would they say? How do you like to work? What do you excel at? What have you achieved? What can you offer an employer? Why should they interview you? Why do you want to work with them?
When you have thought about these things make some notes. Next, read the job description for a role you are interested in. Think about how you fit with that description and tell the employer in your cover letter why you are a perfect match. Give them clear examples of when you displayed your skills and convince them they cannot afford to miss the opportunity of meeting with you.
Some of the key ingredients of a great cover letter are:
- An engaging introduction
- A concise description of relevant achievements and skills
- A convincing statement about what you can offer the employer
- Genuine reasons why you want to work with them
Need further advice on how to write a cover letter? Give The CV Agency a call on 01 499 1466 or email cv@cvagency.ie. We will write you a 100% custom-made cover letter from scratch.
How to Make a Great CV
One of the most challenging aspects of filling a job vacancy is dealing with a high volume of CVs. It can be difficult to decide who to interview if there are a number of equally good candidates. It can also often be tricky to give lengthy consideration to a CV if you have a stack of applications in your inbox.
In the case of employers, particularly if it is a small company where there is no specialist HR or recruitment function, the individual hiring for the role may have limited time to spend on the task. Recruitment consultants see a very high volume of CVs every day and are adept at making a judgement within seconds. They will often be looking for negatives to rule out candidates and make their decision easier.
How do you make a great CV that will grab attention in seconds and avoid a quick rejection? One of the best pieces of advice for any candidate writing a CV or cover letter is to put yourself into the shoes of the person who will be reading it and make it an easy choice for them to call you for interview.
Ask yourself questions such as:
- Does my experience, qualifications, and skills match the requirements in the job specification?
- Are there spelling mistakes or unexplained gaps that make it easy for them to reject my CV?
- Is my CV clear and easy to read?
- Is the layout logical, starting with my most recent position?
- Have I explained what I actually did in previous roles?
- Have I highlighted my key skills and achievements?
- Does my CV show the reader who I am or is it bland and generic?
Whether you are a school-leaver or a seasoned professional, a great CV is one that is clear, concise, sells your skills and achievements, and shows an employer what you have to offer.
Keep it simple and to the point and make sure to include the following:
- Basic contact information
- A profile
- Education and qualifications
- Work experience
- Key skills
A CV is a marketing document and as such it needs to be confident and targeted. We are often our own hardest critics and it can feel a little awkward promoting yourself. However, you can be certain that other candidates will be telling the employer how great they are, so make sure your CV sells you.
For further information or advice about your CV contact The CV Agency on cv@cvagency.ie or 01 499 1466, or click here to order a CV, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile.