Challenge: CV vs. Recruiters (case)
At Career Angels, we regularly receive messages from candidates who, despite having the right skills and experience and a seemingly well-prepared CV, still fail to land their dream job. Below we share one of many such e-mails (along with our response) that we have received in the past few months.
Dear Career Angels,
I am involved in several recruitment processes, but so far nothing specific has come out of them.
The feedback I most often receive is that other people are a better fit for the company. I find it baffling that they come to such conclusions based solely on a CV, without a single face-to-face meeting. Perhaps it is an automated response?
Several times, I made it all the way to the final stage, ending up among the top 2 or 3 candidates. Unfortunately, these processes also ended unsuccessfully – there was always someone better than me. Maybe I simply lack the necessary competencies? Yet, looking at my experience, I believe it’s safe to assume I shouldn’t have much trouble acquiring the new ones.
Or could the problem lie within my CV? I say this despite having received feedback that my CV is fine, from both the recruiter who turned me down and several people independent of the process.
Fortunately, I’m not under pressure to find a new job immediately, so I’m not overly concerned about these negative outcomes. However, they have started to make me wonder.
Dear candidate, we hear you!
For many people, the goals of participating in the recruitment process are not clear. Simply applying is not enough. To get noticed, both you and your application tools have to meet several key criteria.
Let’s pick out fragments of the e-mail, so we can comment on them directly.
I am involved in several recruitment processes, but so far nothing specific has come out of them.
The feedback I most often receive is that other people are a better fit for the company. I find it baffling that they come to such conclusions based solely on a CV, without a single face-to-face meeting. Perhaps it is an automated response?
Your suspicions about automatic rejection may be true. Nowadays, a significant portion of the recruitment process is automated, often through ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). When preparing your documents for ATS, it is also crucial to adjust your CV to the target job ad. Implementing both of these strategies will help you stand out from the crowd and significantly increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Adjusting your CV to the offer
Every job offer comes with slightly different and unique requirements. Instead of sending the same one-size-fits-all CV to every company, it’s worth investing a little more time to tailor the content of your CV to each specific job ad.
Recruiters often look for specific skills, experience, and qualifications, so it’s important to emphasize these elements in your application tools. For example, if the position requires particular language proficiency, make sure to highlight these language skills or the fact that you worked in a country where that language is spoken.
Your CV should present you as the perfect candidate for the job. If it’s not properly crafted, it may be discarded before it even reaches the recruiter’s desk.
Adjusting your CV for ATS
ATS are tools that help manage the recruitment process. They are widely used by companies to streamline the candidate selection process. These systems scan CVs for relevant keywords, qualifications, and experience. Based on the analysis, they determine whether to forward the CV to a recruiter or discard it.
To ensure your CV makes it through the ATS, you need to use keywords that match those in the job ad. It’s also important to structure your CV in an ATS-friendly way – complicated formatting (e.g. a two-column layout), unusual fonts, or graphics can cause the ATS to misinterpret your document. A simple, clear layout with well-defined sections is the key to success.
We have prepared a step-by-step guide with a checklist to guide you through the process of creating an ATS-compliant CV.
Our guide will:
- show you how to identify which ATS is used by your target company,
- explain how to use keywords and adjust your CV to a specific job offer,
- guide you through all the formatting rules with the aim to create a CV that gets correctly interpreted by ATS.
Download the full guide: click here!
Several times, I made it all the way to the final stage, ending up among the top 2 or 3 candidates. Unfortunately, these processes also ended unsuccessfully – there was always someone better than me. Maybe I simply lack the necessary competencies? Yet, looking at my experience, I believe it’s safe to assume I shouldn’t have much trouble acquiring the new ones.
The job market has become highly competitive, especially at the higher rungs of the ladder. This often leads to disappointment at the final stages of the recruitment process, where the line between getting selected and rejected is a narrow one.
It’s also true that employers frequently seek “plug & play” candidates – those who possess all the necessary competencies from the get-go. Choosing a candidate who can only promise to acquire the missing competencies in the future is understandably less appealing.
If you consistently notice certain competencies among the requirements for your target role, it may be worth considering to acquire them proactively. However, first make sure that you’re effectively highlighting the skills and experience you already have.
Or could the problem lie within my CV? I say this despite having received feedback that my CV is fine, from both the recruiter who turned me down and several people independent of the process.
Some aspects of a proper CV have changed over the years, e.g. the requirements regarding the photo. As such, it’s worth turning toward experienced consultants (like us!) for help. We invite you to request a free CV Report: click here!
When preparing your CV, always keep your target audience in mind. These are the people who will read your CV – recruiters, HR managers, or business owners. The goal of your CV is to catch the attention of decision-makers, which will statistically happen in case of only 25% of all CVs!
It’s worth putting yourself in the recruiter’s shoes – what skills and experience do they appreciate the most? What values and qualities are preferred by the company you’re applying to? To make this exercise easier, try to answer the following questions: Who makes the hiring decisions? What qualities, skills, and experience are the most important to them? What are the priorities and expectations for the position? Creating your CV with answers to these questions in mind will help you achieve your goal more easily.
For more insights into the recruiter’s perspective, read this article: click here!
When adjusting your CV, remember about:
- designing it professionally (consistent and legible),
- conducting a thorough research of the company and its operations in order to fit its expectations better,
- including only those responsibilities and accomplishments that best match the position’s requirements,
- including relevant keywords,
- using figures and presenting the results measurably.
Remember, your CV is your business card – make sure it meets the needs and expectations of both recruiters and recruitment systems to the best of your ability.
Fortunately, I’m not under pressure to find a new job immediately, so I’m not overly concerned about these negative outcomes. However, they have started to make me wonder.
This is a very convenient position to continue your job search from and the perfect time to evaluate the effectiveness of your approach.
Don’t let your nerves get the best of you, even if at some point you start to feel the pressure. Job hunting is neither random nor magical – follow its established rules and put in your best effort, and you’ll land your dream job in no time!
Are you an experienced manager or executive looking for a new opportunity? Would you like to review your CV for ATS during a confidential, free Career Consultation or receive a CV ATS Compliance Report?
- Approach us through this form or directly via e-mail at Contact@CareerAngels.eu | Subject: CV ATS
