PUT YOUR BEST EFFORT FORWARD! 

A tight job market means that recruiters and employers are getting unusually large numbers of CVs for each job advertised. Competition is strong and the playing field is being defined by the quality of candidates' applications. In an effort to get through the volume of applications, those responsible for hiring often spend only 10 to 30 seconds reviewing each candidate's submission. Unless your cover letter and CV stand out from the crowd, your application is likely to end up in the "round" file no matter how qualified you are for the job.

Sadly, we see many CVs and cover letters that do our applicants a disservice. Think of these documents as your personal marketing materials, designed to sell you. Make them clear, concise and relevant to the jobs for which you're applying. If you're a senior-level candidate, how you present yourself is equally as important as what you present.

Here is a list of key things to do when preparing and submitting your cover letter and CV for consideration.

Cover Letter:

1. Spend time researching the company (if you know who it is) and the industry - this will give you some guidance on what to highlight about yourself and your experience.
2. State clearly what position you're applying for and how you heard about the role.
3. Highlight the work experience that shows you're the best candidate for the job.
4. Explain how hiring you will benefit the company.
5. Give the employer an insight into your personality and how well you express yourself.
6. Make it attention grabbing (and truthful).
7. Ensure that it's targeted to the employer/role and very well written.
8. Keep it short and sweet.

CV:

1. Make sure you include in your CV (and cover letter) the experience you have had for the role that you are applying for.
2. Put your contact information at the top of your CV - name, phone numbers (include your mobile number), address and e-mail. Make it easy to get in touch with you!
3. Start off with an introductory profile of yourself, focusing on experience, accomplishments, skills and positive personal attributes.
4. Provide the name of current/past employers, your job title while there, the years employed and a brief description of the company (don't assume the reader has time to do a Google search on your employers to find out what they do).
5. Make sure when listing your previous employment that your most recent jobs are at the top.
6. List not only the tasks you performed but details of what you achieved for your employer -quantify your results if you can. Use bullet points where appropriate.
7. Highlight those work experiences that are relevant to the role for which you're applying - don't just provide a laundry list of jobs you've had.
8. If you're an older worker, detail only the past 10-15 years of experience and consider listing (as one-liners) earlier employment, but only if it's relevant to your application.
9. Include your educational background, clearly stating whether or not you've earned a degree, and any awards, certificates or acknowledgments you've received.
10. Keep the format simple and easy to read, especially if submitting your CV electronically - no fancy fonts, graphics or pictures. Times New Roman or Arial fonts, 10- or 12-point size, are best. These days CVs are often run through special software that tags the keywords in the documents. Unusual fonts and formats can return gibberish instead of the keywords that help to move you to the top of the list.
11. Reread your CV several times looking for spelling and typing errors. Spell-checking through your software is just not enough. Proper spelling and grammar and the absence of typos are CRITICAL! Have someone else read your documents - don't rely on your word processor to catch all the mistakes.
12. Unless the employer/recruiter states that you can submit an electronic CV in .pdf format, send it in either.doc, .docx or .rtf format. This makes it available for scanning and keyword tagging.

Don't forget that you're competing with scores of other applicants for the job of your dreams. Put your best effort into preparing both your cover letter and CV - the most important components of your job search. Get clear on what you have to offer an employer and make sure that clarity comes through your application documents. If necessary, use professional help when preparing these documents; but keep in mind that, ultimately, you're marketing you. Don't hesitate to stand out in the crowd. That's the best way to land your next great job!

Submitted by Managing Director, Gaye Harford in collaboration with Lorraine Warshaw