Recruiters are virtually unanimous – the traditional CV just won’t cut it anymore when it comes to getting through the first round of a selection process. Candidates need to make their CV stand out from the crowd and not by enlisting the aid of ChatGPT to spruce it up either.
In today’s competitive job market, a traditional CV, as in a static list of duties and dates, simply won’t get you noticed, according to Janet Smullen, director of recruitment with Cpl Technology. “The curriculum vitae has undergone a profound transformation,” she says. “Candidates need a document that tells a compelling story, demonstrates impact and passes the scrutiny of both AI-driven systems and time-strapped human recruiters.”
The CV has ultimately been redefined, Smullen believes, having evolved from a basic biographical record into a “strategic marketing tool”. Once dominated by lengthy descriptions of responsibilities, today’s CV focuses instead on results and achievements. “The emphasis has shifted from what you did to what you achieved, as measurable impact is now the currency of professional credibility,” she says.
Career coach Angela Burke says modern CVs now come in a variety of formats, noting that job applicants are being ever more innovative, particularly when applying for more creative roles.
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“The most significant change though, is that it’s never been more important to ensure you have the right keywords in place for AI to pick up on, as many organisations need to leverage AI to screen the sheer volume of applications,” she advises.
The modern CV must also work much harder, agrees Smullen. “It must speak to two audiences simultaneously: applicant tracking systems (ATS), which filter resumés based on keywords and structure, and time-poor human recruiters, who spend just seconds scanning each application.”
For most professionals in Ireland and the UK, two pages is standard, Smullen says, while early-career candidates may stick to one. “Skip bells and whistles such as decorative fonts, photos, graphics or icons, these can confuse ATS and distract human readers,” she says. “Clean, professional formatting always wins.”
Burke agrees. “If you can’t explain your relevancy in one to two pages, you’re not on the right track,” she says. “Stick to two pages, otherwise you are distracting the eye from what’s relevant to ‘fluff’ that doesn’t matter to the employer.”
And while AI can be useful for checking grammar or phrasing, both advise against using ChatGPT or similar to write the entire CV. It’s about showing the real you, Burke says. “I always encourage people to include something that gives an insight into who you are as a person and as a professional, people remember those things.”
When it comes to choosing which content to include, Smullen advises tailoring a CV to the particular role; for example, when applying for a permanent job, the focus should be on long-term achievements, promotions and career progression, loyalty, leadership and culture fit, whereas CVs for temporary jobs should highlight flexibility, multi-tasking and the ability to pick things up fast and make a quick impact.
“For contract jobs, the requirements tend to be specialist/niche skills, therefore your CV should clearly highlight project work, deliverables, milestones met or contract outcomes, niche soft skills and technical skills,” she says.
Smullen also advocates for what she calls “digital consistency”. “Your CV should align with your LinkedIn and other professional profiles to present a cohesive, credible personal brand.”
Of perhaps even more importance is what not to include. Smullen advises against cluttering your CV with salary history or reasons for leaving jobs or overly personal information unrelated to the role being applied for. “Generic cliches like ‘hard-working team player’ should also be avoided,” she warns. “Recruiters want clarity, relevance and evidence.”
Burke suggests building a clear narrative when detailing past experience. “Don’t just replicate the same responsibilities over and over in each role,” she says. “Show progression from role to role, building to what you’re doing in your most recent role that is relevant to the position you’re applying for.”
Most people overcomplicate their CVs, Burke says, who offers specific CV consultations to help candidates. “It’s as simple as this, you have seven seconds to make an impression and help the person reading your CV understand your relevancy to the role and why they should invite you to interview. Recruiters and employers have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of CVs to get through, they want you to get to the point quickly.”
