A question for recruiters: is it better to have a plain CV word document, or a more creative CV, with a headshot and colour?
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- I agree with most of what is mentioned. A photo is a waste of space and can easily cause bias. I don't mind a bit of colour but it has to be done really well and would say it works for some roles better than the others. The main thing is, get the main parts of your role and what you do in there. Some recruiters may not specialise in what you're applying for (I look after 9 departments of different sizes, some I understand the jargon others I have really basic understanding) so make it easy to read. Also, if you manage a team, mention it! Once you get to a certain level, there will be leadership, either formal or informal, make it obvious since I've seen so many hiring managers pass over people because it isn't obvious in their CV.Try to fit to one page, two pages max. Unless you're doing like a portfolio/CV blend which I have seen done really well but something has to stand out in the first page/your candidate profile to get recruiters to scroll that much.
- @Alexandra (Lex) Hearth thank you, really helpful!
- Hey :-) similar sentiments to the below - when looking through CVs I want to get a clear understanding of the applicants background as quickly as possible. One page, simply laid out with their professional background detailed. I lean towards black and white, no image, but I think the layout is the most important thing. Often good to include a summative line at the top which indicates why the job you're applying for appeals to you at this point in time. Hope that helps, Lex x
- In my experience, people reading and assessing CVs are time limited and want to be able to read through and absorb the candidate's skills as quickly as possible.Having a simple black and white but well laid out CV that is easy to understand is more than enough for the vast majority of jobs. Maybe a little splash of colour can help.The only time I think you should have a snazzy CV is if you are a designer or someone who is a visual creative and therefore you can make more of an impact with something more outlandish. But even then, you should be judged on your work and experience rather than the fonts you choose!Good luck!
- A pet peeve of mine is when people add progress bars to their CV which say they're 70% proficient in one skill and 80% proficient in another. It doesn't really tell you much!I'd rather receive a plain, but neatly design CV rather than an overloaded one which is 24MB in size.Sure, it should still be thoughtfully presented. In the words of Dieter Rams, "good design is as little design as possible". It's pure and you don't burden others with non-essentials.I'd also be careful of adding a headshot to your CV. It can cause unnecessary bias and prejudice.I hope this helps!
- Hi Patience,I’m Jamil from The Dots! Here are my top tips to help you find work:1. Follow your favourite companies so you’re the first to know when they post jobs and call-outs:https://the-dots.com/follow-pages2. Build your network by connecting with people you already know, and people you want to know! (fun fact: 50-80% of jobs are filled through networking):https://the-dots.com/account/connectionsOh, and your newsfeed is the place to discover all the best opportunities to network, find work and more:https://the-dots.com/feedI hope that helps!Jamil
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