CV Tips for February Job Applications

A few weeks ago, I volunteered at the 2024 Melbourne Career Expo, and together with my awesome Career Development Association Australia colleagues, we provided free resume checks 📃and career counselling sessions for the general public 👩🧑🏾🦱👩🏼🦰👩🏽🦱. A consistent issue I saw over the weekend was people presenting with generic, two-column / one-page and / or ineffective Resumes ❌ that were not targeted to the roles they were applying for. When speaking to these people, they told me they had applied for sometimes hundreds! of roles 🤯with little to no feedback. I hear this everyday in my own business too. Here were some of my key recommendations which I hope may help you too: 💡𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙇𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚  - Avoid fancy graphics, logos, images, personal pictures and intricate fonts. These can get blocked by Applicant Tracking Systems. - Use conservative fonts like Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, or Calibri. - Ensure plenty of white space and avoid using a two-column Resume. Stick to a single-column layout; it's the best practice in Australia. 💡𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 & 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 - Customise your Resume for each job application. - Read the job ad thoroughly and understand the key skills / job requirements. - Address how you meet the key requirements of the role by incorporating relevant keywords from the job ad in context throughout your Resume. - 𝗧𝗶𝗽: add a 'Key Skills' section on the first page of your Resume and include relevant keywords and phrases here. 💡𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲  - Add a 4-5 line Career Profile at the top of the first page. - Summarise and highlight your professional identity, experience, skills, strengths, and expertise. - Use this section to capture attention and include relevant keywords. 💡𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 / 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀  - List achievements and highlights, not just responsibilities for each role. - Quantify your achievements to demonstrate your value and stand out from the competition. 💡𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱  - Ensure your resume is free of spelling and grammatical errors. - Have a friend or family member review it before submitting. If you have questions or need assistance with your resume, feel free to contact me! 😊 #resumeadvice #resumetips #careerdevelopment

I've helped craft over 1000 CVs & about 78% successful in cracking a role. How? Let's dive in. 🚀 Your CV is more than just a document—it's your personal brand. It's the first impression you make on recruiters and hiring managers. Here’s how to build a standout CV that gets noticed (and gets you interviews): 1. Highlight Your Hard & Soft Skills PMs are like APIs—they connect different stakeholders, making collaboration seamless. Your CV should reflect this balance: 👉 Hard Skills: Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), tools (Jira, Trello), certifications (CSPO, SAFe POPM). 👉 Soft Skills: Resilience, creativity, negotiation, presentation skills. 2. Use Keywords Strategically Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes. To beat the system: 🔑 Identify keywords from job descriptions (use tools like Jobscan). 🔑 Incorporate them into your work experience naturally. 🔑 Customize your CV for each job (e.g., Technical PM vs. Marketing PM vs. Growth PM). 3. Focus on Visual Appeal A well-structured CV makes a lasting impression: ✅ Use clean fonts and simple formatting. ✅ Keep it to 1 page (short CVs are more likely to be read). ✅ Use strategic white space for readability. ✅ Bullet points are your best friend—keep it concise and clear. 4. Personalize Your CV Tailor your CV for each job application: ✨ Customize your professional summary to align with the role. ✨ Highlight relevant achievements with metrics. ✨ Show cultural fit—research the company and align your CV to their values. 5. Showcase Your Achievements Don’t just list job duties—focus on impact: 📈 Quantify your contributions: "Increased user retention by 15% through feature improvements." 📊 Demonstrate results: "Led a team to deliver a product roadmap ahead of schedule, driving a 10% revenue increase." 6. Common Mistakes to Avoid 🚫 Generic professional summaries—make it personal and engaging. 🚫 Overloading skills—focus on key, relevant skills. 🚫 Industry jargon—keep it simple and understandable. 🚫 Typos and errors—proofread thoroughly. 7. Seek Feedback & Iterate 💡 Get insights from mentors, friends, or even AI tools like ChatGPT. 💡 Join communities like Product School’s Slack for peer reviews. Final Checklist Before you hit submit, ensure your CV: ✅ Clearly highlights your product management skills. ✅ Is optimized for ATS with relevant keywords. ✅ Looks visually appealing with strategic formatting. ✅ Is customized for the job you're applying for. ✅ Tells your story with impact-driven achievements. 🔄 Over to You! What’s one tip you swear by for crafting a standout CV? Drop it in the comments or DM me for feedback! Let’s nail this together. PS: I run a program that helps folks get better at product management and crack product roles, both in India and abroad. If you want to apply for the program, check out the links in comments. 🚀 #ProductManagement #CVTips #CareerGrowth #JobSearch

If you’re applying for jobs, here’s my advice… We've had over 424 people apply for just two roles (that are still open btw 👀). Wild. I spent the weekend sorting CVs into maybes, not nows, and no thank yous, ready to re-review for interviews. From 424 down to around 40. I know it’s a tough time in the job market out there, so I wanted to share my top takeaways and a bit of advice after reviewing so many: 1.⁠ ⁠Make it make sense - Why are you applying? Changing industries or roles? Cool, explain it. So many CV’s with no context. 2.⁠ ⁠Pick a lane - Applying for multiple roles at different levels in the same company is a red flag. Know what you're aiming for. 3.⁠ ⁠Answer the question - If you’ve highlighted a job as a top job, answer the question it asks, which is why the job? Don’t just talk about you. 4.⁠ ⁠PDF over Word docs - It keeps your formatting as you intended. 5.⁠ ⁠Follow instructions - I had people messaging me on the weekend and ignoring the process we outlined, then chasing me. Attention to detail red flag. 6.⁠ ⁠Personalise it - Quick apply is tempting, but the ones that stood out added a personal note or tailored their message or emailed. 7.⁠ ⁠Match your LinkedIn to your CV - I cross-check, if your CV and LinkedIn don’t match it’s a red flag. And finally authenticity and personality go a long way. The ones that felt genuinely human (not AI-generated waffle) stuck with me. Good luck out there!

As someone who’s been on both sides of the hiring process, I know how intimidating it can be to create a CV that truly stands out. Having reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of them, here’s what I personally value the most: 1️⃣ Contact Details That Won’t Fail You: You’d be surprised how often this is overlooked. Double-check your email and phone number—small mistakes can cost big opportunities. 2️⃣ A Summary That Tells Your Story: This is your chance to speak to me directly. Who are you, and what’s your superpower? Make it personal and tailored to the job you want. 3️⃣ Achievements, Not Tasks: I don’t just want to know what you did—I want to know what impact you made. For example, did you lead a project that saved time or increased revenue? Show me the numbers! 4️⃣ Speak the Job’s Language: Recruiters and ATS systems scan for keywords. Think of it as aligning your CV with the company’s needs. 5️⃣ Keep It Easy to Read: The best CVs are clean, simple, and to the point. Fancy fonts or cluttered designs might distract from your accomplishments. 6️⃣ A Custom Touch for Every Role: A generic CV might get lost in the pile. Tailoring your CV for each job application shows effort and alignment with the company’s goals. 7️⃣ Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! Typos and grammatical errors can be dealbreakers. Take time to review, or have someone else take a look. Fresh eyes catch mistakes you might miss. Your CV is the first conversation you have, it’s your chance to show your potential even before we meet. Make it clear, compelling, and customized. What’s something you’ve struggled with while crafting your CV? Let’s discuss—I’d love to help! Follow Jhalak Kalra for more!🙌🏻

Over the last few months, I've been on the hiring committee for three bioinformatics positions; in the past two years, too many to count. The job market is insanely competitive right now, as evidenced by the number of qualified candidates I have recently reviewed, and I hate that I often can't provide individual feedback to all candidates. So, I thought I'd gather some insights for those still on their search and share them in a few posts. 📌 Post #1: Resumes and CVs ✅ Keep it concise. Bullet points over paragraphs. Hiring managers scan for relevant information—make it easy to find. ✅ Be specific. Instead of "Performed bioinformatics analysis," say "Developed a Nextflow pipeline for bulk RNA-seq analysis on AWS, improving runtime efficiency by 40%." This helps me understand what you did and how you did it. ✅ Don't mislead about where you've worked. If you were a contractor at NASA, don’t say you worked for NASA—list the contracting company and indicate you were on a contract at NASA. Federal government experience differs from contracting experience. ✅ List only what you know. If your skills section includes every bioinformatics tool ever invented, I assume you actually know none of them. ✅ Explicitly include required qualifications. If the job listing states that Nextflow experience is required, make sure it’s clearly mentioned—I shouldn’t have to follow up to ask if you have that experience. ✅ Know the position you're applying for. If it's a developer role, highlight software development, management languages, and programming skills. If it's an analyst role, focus on biological insights, statistical models, and visualization tools. ✅ Keep it readable. I don’t mind multi-page resumes/CVs, but when reviewing 150+ resumes for a single position, I want to find key details quickly. Use bolding, italics, underlining, and alignment strategically. 💡 Final Thought: A well-structured resume makes all the difference. Let me know what other tips you might have for fellow job-seekers!

🔔 Ten tips for job applications, having reviewed 200 for two recent vacancies: • First impressions count. Treat cover emails seriously. Editors who see “Hi hope your well I have attached my CV and assessment” may not read on. • Use a spellchecker and check for inconsistencies. If you write “The Economist” in one sentence and “the economist” in the next we will notice. Basic misspellings are far worse, however. • Check attachments. Is this the correct version of your CV? And if we set an assessment, have you included yours? More than one person sent a cover note addressed to another company. • Tailor your application. We know you are brilliant, but it is about us as well as you. If you fail to align your skills and ideas directly with this role in this newsroom, it is harder to tell you apart from other candidates. • Cite specific examples. The more you give the impression you live and breathe The Economist’s journalism, the likelier it is that we will notice you. What stories, newsletters or social posts inspired you recently? What would you like to work on? What would you change? • Ask for help. We send every interviewee our most recent issues in case they cannot afford to buy copies. Other employers might be able to do something similar. • Closing dates can be flexible. If you missed the deadline it is worth asking whether the process is still open. Sometimes it is possible to admit latecomers. • Post-interview thank-you notes are nice but not essential. We have never changed our mind about a candidate because they followed up with an email. • Request feedback. Our team writes tailored replies to every single applicant. It takes several weeks but we want to help up-and-coming journalists. People tell us this is extremely rare. If you receive a generic reply from a recruiter there is no harm in asking for more detail. • Do not give up. Competition is fierce. You will get there. Any good advice of your own?

I just reviewed almost 300 applications for a UX Research Internship role at Yousician. Here are some CV and cover letter tips based on what I observed. These are targeted especially for students looking for their first role or career changers. Get the basics right: - Don’t force a one-page CV. In my opinion, a clear two-page CV can be better than a cramped one-pager that does not have all the necessary information. - Make your CV easily "scannable". At the first stage, the recruiter or hiring manager will quickly skim through the titles and keywords. - Don’t put your home address or date of birth in your CV. They’re not needed. City is good to have. If you live in another city or country, say clearly that you’re willing to relocate or travel to the office when required. - Always list things in descending order so the most recent items are at the top. If I glance at your education quickly, I should see the most recent one first. - Don’t start your cover letter with “Dear Sir/Ma’am”, at least in tech. You can be more informal. - If the role asks for strong communication skills, remember that your CV and cover letter are already a writing sample. Make your relevance clear: - Start with what’s most relevant for the role. If you’re applying for an internship related to your studies, lead with that on your CV rather than unrelated part-time jobs. If the role asks for a strong music background, start your cover letter with that. - Tailor your CV. If you’re an engineer applying to a UX research role, don’t highlight programming languages as your main skills, but lead with research skills. - Do your research on the company and show in your cover letter that you understand their context. Focus on what you bring, not what you want: - Don’t focus only on what you want (“I want to learn more about…”). Focus on what you can bring to the organisation. - Give concrete examples of your work. Instead of “I did user interviews”, say “I conducted 10 semi-structured interviews and analysed them by affinity mapping.” - Show your impact when you can. If you developed a new process in your customer service job that resulted in a faster response time, share it. If your background isn’t a perfect match: - If you’re switching career focus (e.g. from UX design to UX research), tell the story. Why do you want to do research specifically, not just “broaden your skillset”? Hiring managers look for genuine interest in the speciality area, not just general curiosity. - Highlight the transferable skills you have from your previous experience, and how those can be beneficial in the new role. Don’t forget volunteer work: - Include volunteer work, non-profit board responsibilities, and long-term sports or hobby commitments. These show initiative and your ability to collaborate, commit, and manage your time. It’s especially important if you don’t have much work experience yet. Any other CV and cover letter tips you would give to people who are just entering the workforce?

To all candidates submitting job applications, here is an important message from someone who reviews applications daily: It is necessary to address a few common concerns that many applicants have during the application process. Firstly, your email greeting—whether it begins with “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Hello,” or no greeting at all—does not determine whether your CV will be opened. Recruiters review applications based on content, not salutations. Secondly, cover letters are only required when explicitly requested by the employer. What ultimately influences your chances of being shortlisted is the quality and relevance of your CV, not the length of your email. However, the most critical point is this: always attach your CV. Sending an email without an attachment is one of the quickest ways candidates lose opportunities. While some recruiters may follow up, many will not. Please do not take that risk. To enhance your visibility, ensure your CV is saved using your full name. If your CV is tailored to a specific position, include the job title in the file name. Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description so your CV appears during applicant searches. Shift your approach from merely listing job duties to demonstrating how you have solved problems. Every vacancy represents a gap within an organization—your CV should clearly position you as the solution. Below is a concise job application checklist you should always follow: 1. Use the job title as the subject line 2. Keep your email brief, clear, and professional (2–3 lines) 3. Attach your CV—do not forget this 4. Include your full name and contact information in your email signature. By adhering to these simple but essential steps, you will significantly improve your chances of standing out for the right reasons. 👌

I reviewed 4,000+ resumes last year. Avoid these mistakes that 90% make: 1. FOCUS ON ATS OPTIMIZATION ❌ Candidates pack their resumes with keywords to beat ATS systems but forget to make them readable and user-friendly. ✅ Remember there’s always a real person reviewing your resume (!) 2. GENERIC SUMMARIES ❌ "Experienced professional seeking to contribute my skills in a dynamic company." ✅ "Product Manager who launched 3 successful SaaS tools, driving $2.5M in revenue within the first year.” 3. NO COMPANY DESCRIPTIONS ❌ Listing company names without context. ✅ "XYZ Inc. | SaaS startup in data security, serving 100k+ enterprise clients.” 4. FOCUS ON RESPONSIBILITIES ❌ "Managed projects and oversaw deadlines." ✅ "Led 3+ cross-functional teams, delivering 7 projects on time with a 98% client satisfaction rate.” 5. TOO MUCH FOCUS ON EARLY JOBS ❌ Detailed descriptions of high school internships or your first retail job. ✅ Highlight key accomplishments from the last 10 years that showcase your growth. 6. NO METRICS OR DATA ❌ "Improved performance and reduced costs." ✅ "Increased team efficiency by 20% and cut operational costs by $50K annually.” 7. TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE TEXT ❌ Dense paragraphs or single-sentence descriptions. ✅ Concise bullet points that provide enough detail to convey impact. 8. IRRELEVANT INFORMATION ❌ Listing outdated or irrelevant skills (using Slack, Outlook) ✅ Focus on skills and experiences that match the job you want. 9. TYPOS ✅ Double-check for spelling errors, or use tools like Grammarly or ChatGPT to catch mistakes. Which of those mistakes you’ve seen? Or you’ve made?  I'm Kris Holysheva 👋 Follow me for more hiring tips.

I was speaking with a candidate this morning about her job applications… or more accurately, the lack of responses. We got into a really honest conversation about what’s happening out there right now, the flood of BOT applications, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of applicants per role, and how hard it’s become just to get a real human actually to see your resume. Here’s the reality: you get one shot. One shot to stand out. One shot to make someone pause for 10–15 seconds and think, “this person looks legit.” And here’s something a lot of people don’t realize… especially in IT and Engineering roles...... the first person reviewing your resume often isn’t technical. I’ve been there myself early in my career, trying to fill Business Analyst roles. I remember staring at resumes thinking, “I have no idea what I’m looking at.” What matters? What’s fluff? What questions should I even ask? I was flying blind. 😄 That experience stuck with me, and it’s exactly why how you present your resume matters just as much as what’s on it. So if you want to improve your chances, here are a few simple (but powerful) tips: • Simplicity wins Clean, easy-to-read, black-and-white. No clutter. No distractions. Make it effortless to scan. • Bullet points = visibility Dense paragraphs get skipped. Bullet points get read. Make your experience easy to digest in seconds. • Tailor it to the job Generic resumes get lost. Align your skills and experience directly to the job description so it’s obvious you fit. • Lead with what matters Certifications, key tools, relevant experience — don’t bury the good stuff. Put it where it gets seen first. • Details matter Typos and grammar issues are an easy way to get passed over. Tools like Grammarly help — but always do a final human review. Most importantly, make sure your resume tells a clear, compelling story. Not just what you’ve done, but why it matters. It’s already tough enough to get noticed… but when you do, you want it to be a home run. Curious, what’s worked for you? Any resume tips or lessons learned along the way? #ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerDevelopment