How a tailored CV got me back in the interview room

I had been considering moving from my current company and my role in engineering. I applied  to a couple of roles through job listing websites and heard absolutely nothing back. Then, a former colleague got in touch about a role at their company that I was really excited about. I sent off my CV with huge hope knowing it was going to be sent directly to the hiring manager.

Even more excited when I saw their number on my phone. Waiting to hear when my interview might be, I was stunned when they said they couldn’t send on my current CV. They felt it didn’t cover the experience and some of the basic skills needed for the role. “I know you have it all” they said “but it’s not being reflected here! Re do it and send it on again”

Where to start? I googled what I should do and even tried Chat GPT but realised I needed targeted professional advice to reflect my career history. I moved from googling CV structure and content to Career Consultants found Hilt and gave them a call.

They explained that their CV Review Service would take my CV and the Job Description of the role I was applying for to see where the gaps were and where it could be improved. The Service also included a 15 minute call where they would walk through the recommended changes and answer any questions I had, I would then go and make the amendments before sending it back onto my colleague.  I decided to go for it.

Before the call, Siobhan emailed me my current CV marked up with the recommended changes – suggestions for both content and layout. Every section was revised and there were very clear instructions about next steps and what I needed to do to ensure my CV stood out. I began to realise that though my CV had listed all my jobs, responsibilities, and qualifications, it lacked focus, clarity, and impact.

While on the call, it was clear that Siobhan had taken time to really understand the role and rather than treating my CV as a generic summary of my experiences, she helped me reshape it into a targeted ‘sales document’. I began to understand a good CV is adjusted for each role, highlighting the experience and skills most relevant to the job description.

She talked me through specific advice on re-working the summary at the top to change it from a generic catch all to instead ensure it was 3–4 TARGETTED bullet points to quickly convey who I am and what I can offer based on what the role was looking for.

She showed me how to change my  Work Experience section to demonstrate my skills and achievements relevant to the job rather than just reading like a boring list of Duties and Responsibilities. And I needed to quantify those achievements where possible.

She also gave me great advice on streamlining the design and layout, making it more readable,  visually appealing and ensuring it was Applicant Tracking System (ATS) optimised.

What did I learn? A great CV should be Tailored to the Job and have a Strong Professional Summary. It should include Quantifiable Achievements and have a  Clear and Concise Structure with a Clean Design.

And the submission? I have an interview at the end of the month – keep everything crossed for me!

Ready to improve your CV and want personalised feedback to make sure your CV stands out for the roles you’re applying for? Book a CV Review and get expert, targeted advice.