Why Your CV Might Be the Problem (And Not the Job Market)

1. Why Your CV Might Be the Problem (And Not the Job Market) As a digital marketer, I know a thing or two about catching attention. In marketing, if your ad doesn’t hook people in the first few seconds, they scroll past it. The same logic applies to your CV. If your resume doesn’t grab the hiring manager’s interest right away, it’s going straight to the rejection pile. That’s why understanding how to write a good curriculum vitae is essential—it’s not just about listing your experiences; it’s about making them work for you. I have read articles online regarding resumes and CVs, and while it does a great job highlighting the typical resume blunders, let’s take things a step further. What if the problem isn’t just the mistakes, but also the lack of strategy behind your CV? So, let’s talk about how you can make your CV work for you instead of against you. 1. Your CV Isn’t Selling You (But It Should) Think of your CV as your personal sales page. Would you buy a product with a dull, lifeless ad? Of course not. Employers feel the same way about uninspired CVs. What to do instead:

2. ● Craft a compelling summary that actually says something about you. Skip the generic “hardworking and detail-oriented professional” and instead say “Marketing specialist who helped increase brand engagement by 40% through social media campaigns.” Boom! That’s how you sell yourself. ● Use power words. Words like managed, launched, spearheaded, optimized make you sound like someone who gets things done. 2. It’s Not About What You Did, But How Well You Did It Many CVs read like a laundry list of job responsibilities. But recruiters don’t care what you were supposed to do; they want to know what you actually accomplished. What to do instead: ● Focus on results. Instead of “Handled customer service inquiries”, say “Resolved 95% of customer issues within the first call, improving retention by 20%.” ● Quantify everything. Numbers make your claims more believable and impressive. 3. Your CV is Too Long (Or Too Short!) I get it—some people want to include every single detail of their professional history, while others try to keep things short and sweet. Both approaches can backfire. What to do instead: ● If you have less than five years of experience, keep it to one page. ● If you have more experience, two pages max (unless you’re applying for a senior executive role). ● Cut out irrelevant experiences. Your summer job selling ice cream in high school? Probably not necessary—unless you’re applying for a job in F&B. 4. Your CV is Visually Boring Let’s be real—no one enjoys reading a wall of text. If your CV is just paragraph after paragraph of information, it’s going to get skipped. What to do instead: ● Use bullet points to make your achievements stand out. ● Add subtle design elements (if applying for a creative role). A well-organized, slightly stylized CV can make you look more professional. ● Stick to professional fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica. 5. You’re Not Tailoring Your CV to Each Job

3. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in fashion, and it definitely doesn’t work for CVs. Sending the same generic CV to every job? That’s like wearing flip-flops to a corporate interview—just wrong. What to do instead: ● Customize your CV for each job application. ● Highlight experiences that are most relevant to the job. ● If you’re applying for a marketing job, focus on your marketing-related achievements, not the fact that you once organized an office party. 6. You’re Not Highlighting the Right Skills Recruiters are looking for specific competencies, and if your CV isn’t showcasing them properly, you might be missing out. What to do instead: ● Identify the skills to put on CVthat align with the job you’re applying for. ● Hard skills (like data analysis, graphic design, or coding) and soft skills (like leadership and adaptability) should be balanced. ● Avoid listing generic skills like “Microsoft Office”—everyone expects you to know that!

4. 7. Your Contact Details are Stuck in the 2000s Quick check: Is your email something like hotchick_94@yahoo.com? If yes, stop reading and create a professional email right now. What to do instead: ● Use a professional email format: firstname.lastname@gmail.com or something similar. ● Add a LinkedIn profile link (and make sure your profile is updated!). ● Remove outdated details like your full home address—city and province are enough. 8. You’re Not Following Up (And You Should Be) Ever applied for a job and never heard back? Sometimes it’s not because you weren’t qualified, but because you didn’t follow up. What to do instead: ● Wait about a week, then send a polite follow-up email. ● Reiterate your enthusiasm and briefly mention why you’d be a great fit. ● Keep it short—hiring managers don’t have time for long emails. 9. Your CV Isn’t Optimized for the Local Job Market If you’re job hunting in specific areas like careers in Clark, Pampanga, you need to adjust your CV to meet local employer expectations.

5. What to do instead: ● Research job postings in your area and match your CV language to their requirements. ● Highlight relevant experience that aligns with industries thriving in that location. ● Consider adding a short section about your familiarity with the local job market if relevant. Final Thoughts If you’re struggling to land interviews, don’t just blame the job market—take a closer look at your CV. With a few strategic tweaks, you can turn it into a powerful tool that gets you noticed. Learning how to make your CV stand out is the key to landing your next opportunity. Your CV isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s your ticket to better job opportunities. So, make it count! Over to You What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made on a CV? Or what’s the worst CV fail you’ve seen? Share it in the comments—let’s learn (and laugh) together!