The job search remains incredibly tough for so many people. Here’s some helpful advice from us to make sure your CV is in a good place.
Lead with outcomes, not just responsibilities
You must show the impact you had. How did it align with business goals? Avoid generic fluff by focusing on what you’ve done and the difference you’ve made.
Use metrics where possible
Share percentages, response rates, engagement scores, or anything measurable. If data isn’t available, focus on indicators of success.
Structure matters
Make it easy to scan. Use clear consistent fonts and headings, bullet points, and short, sharp summaries. Showcase your most relevant experience at the top and don’t bury the good stuff.
Add helpful info and delete unnecessary personal details
To assist hiring managers, add an informative sentence to each role. e.g. ‘Global XXX company headquartered in XXX and operating in X countries with X employees, including X% of those being hard to reach’. There’s no need to include your full address, date of birth, marital status, number of children or pets!
Keep it concise
Quality beats quantity, especially in a profession that values clarity and brevity. Anything more than 3-4 pages is too long. And we recommend you reduce details from roles over 10 years ago.
Proofread (and then proodread again)
It sounds obvious, but typos in a CV for a comms role can be costly. Ask a trusted friend/colleague to review it with fresh eyes.
Tell your story
Make sure it tells your story clearly, credibly, and confidently. If you’ve simply added your latest job and not reviewed the CV in full, we urge you to do that.
Check it’s AI friendly
We don’t use AI to review CVs, but many do. Check the formatting in your CV meets the requirements of those companies who do use AI. And remember to add keywords.
LinkedIn profile
Hiring managers may take a look at your profile. You might like to get some recommendations or spend time improving the presentation of your profile. Make sure you’ve put an end date on any roles you’ve finished and the summary is clear for anyone visiting your profile.
And finally… the importance of positioning
Many people tailor their CV for specific roles, and that’s the right thing to do. But don’t forget to review your opening profile summary too. As a comms pro, you know the importance of engaging the reader and needing to grab/maintain their attention quickly!
