What are recruiters looking for in a CV?
What are recruiters looking for in a CV?
The quick answer – it varies considerably from recruiter to recruiter.
Some recruiters like detail, some like brevity, some like a functional layout, most like a reverse chronology and some even like fancy graphic design.
The most important facet of working with a recruiter is to be open and willing to adjust the CV as that recruiter sees fit.
Before attempting to engage with a recruiter it’s important to gain an appreciation of the type of talent they are looking for and to appreciate how they make money. Don’t forget, recruiters aren’t there to serve you as the candidate, they are there to fill a role for their client – the hiring company.
That being said, because they benefit if you get hired, they will work for you to an extent.
Recruiters ideally want to work with the hottest commodities – candidates who are currently employed; have salary expectations in the range of the role being filled; have precisely the right matching skillset; ideally niche or hotly sought-after skills; have a clear and distinct career trajectory; and who have been gradually but steadily rising up through the ranks in their profession/skillset. The icing on the cake is a candidate who is being actively sought by multiple companies – let’s start a bidding war!
What they typically aren’t as keen on: people switching careers; people with big gaps in their employment; those who have been demoted; those without permanent residency in Australia; people who do not live in Australia or who haven’t for a very long time; people with broad nebulous skills and experience that is difficult to classify; and people with grandiose sounding job titles and degrees that place them well above the role needing to be filled.
If you’re in this group, then maybe a recruiter isn’t for you.
How do I get a recruiter to even notice my CV for consideration?
Our empirical research has shown that recruiters spend on average just nine seconds initially reading your CV. You therefore must get your initial message across clearly, succinctly and consistently.
The questions they will be asking themselves:
Can I see the keywords I am looking for (eg SQL DBA)? Is there a career progression? Does the person have increasing levels of responsibility? Do the titles make sense? Do the responsibilities and accomplishments listed match what I’m looking for? Does the talent have an online presence? Can I find their LinkedIn profile?
The CV you send a recruiter needs to stand out, be punchy and to an impeccable standard. It can have lots of pertinent detail however that can be left to the following pages. They need to decide if they like you from the first page, only then will they want to subsequently read through the details of your accomplishments in more detail in the latter pages.
Here at Executive Agents we actively work with you to identify your unique selling proposition, your value-add and piece together a consistent and clear career story. We condense it down into a CV that will proudly become your principal piece of personal marketing collateral.
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Perfect for people who want an impeccable CV, LinkedIn profile, and covering letters for powerful job applications.
The whole branding process was fantastic and genuinely thought-provoking. The initial session was far more than a simple CV discussion, it was a deep dive into my career that helped me see the value of my own achievements in a new light. The team is incredibly skilled at asking the right questions and, more importantly, at listening. I was amazed at how well they captured my voice and my career. The final documents - CV and the candidate statement - were simply outstanding. They made me look great, and I am now moving forward with my application with a renewed sense of confidence. For any senior leader who needs help telling their own story, I cannot recommend this agency highly enough, the service and the result were exceptional!
I first worked with Executive Agents back in 2021 and they were instrumental in helping me secure an excellent role that ultimately led to my promotion to the C-suite. Their understanding of the executive market and ability to match candidates with the right opportunities is outstanding.
I recently engaged them again for a CV update and I'm thoroughly impressed with the outcome. They have a keen eye for presenting executive experience in a compelling way that really showcases your value proposition. The team is professional, responsive, and clearly knows what works in today's competitive market.
If you're looking for recruitment specialists who genuinely understand executive-level placements and can help advance your career, I highly recommend Executive Agents. They've been a key part of my professional journey and I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again.
Was really struggling with my resume for ages. Kept putting off job applications because I knew it wasn’t good enough but didn’t know how to fix it. Tried using AI to help write it which seemed like a good idea at the time but honestly wasn’t confident it was actually any good.
Eventually found Executive Agents online and decided to give them a go. Really glad I did! They knew exactly what was wrong with what I had and how to make it better. The person I worked with was lovely and explained everything properly without making me feel dumb.
My new resume looks so much more professional now and has all the right information that employers are looking for apparently. Already got a couple of interviews lined up which is more than I had before!
Should have done this months ago instead of stressing about it. If your resume isn’t working for you definitely recommend these guys. Made the whole process much easier and now I actually feel confident sending it out.
The team knew the Melbourne market well and gave practical advice on what recruiters actually look for. Instead of just generic tips, they tailored everything to my specific situation and the roles I was going after.
Been getting more interview calls since working with them. Worth the investment if you’re struggling to get noticed by employers.
Would highly recommend.
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