Should I Design My CV?

Today’s job market is incredibly competitive and with more candidates vying for the same positions, it is essential that your application stands out from the rest.

With design-focused CV’s becoming more prominent than ever, should you be looking to replace your traditional CV with a visually-lead document?

Trends

From pictures of yourself, to infographics, CV trends change as quickly as they appear. Although creating an eye-catching document may set your application apart from the other CVs when sat in a pile of hard copies, design-led CVs are unreadable by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) which will result in your application being rejected.

When creating a document that is likely to be scanned by an ATS, the content should take precedence. Upon scanning your application, the content will be matched against a database, where keywords will be highlighted if they match the criteria defined by the employer. As a result, making sure that each section is clearly labelled, as well as keeping the formatting simple, is crucial.

Format

Considering the format of your CV is not only necessary because of the ATS tracker; clean lines are more visually appealing and allow the information to be viewed easily by the recruiters and employers. Opting for a simple, sans serif font will improve the overall appearance of your CV, as well as keeping the text justified. If you want to add your personal flair to the document, creating a colour scheme will complement the clean design.

With this in mind, it is vital that you look to use the space as efficiently as possible. The top third of your CV is the most important, as it is the first section that recruiters will read. Make sure that this section successfully delivers who you are and what you do. This part should also include necessary contact details and, if applicable, directions to where more work of yours is available to review.

The position

When creating your CV, it is essential to consider the job that you are applying for. For example, if you are looking to apply for Business Analyst jobs in Ireland, your future employer will be looking for a CV that efficiently communicates the necessary information, rather than one that seems the most visually appealing. Whereas, if you are looking for a role in graphic design, your CV will benefit from being designed or from showcasing your designs with links to your work, as this will demonstrate your skills.

Skills

Although it may seem tempting to place emphasis on the design of your CV, it is more important to decide how you’ll display your skills, as this is the most important part of your CV. One of the key elements in crafting your CV is keeping it succinct; use bullet points to illustrate your proficiencies and only opting for creative designs if it is applicable to the role you are applying for.

If you’re in the process of creating your CV, considering these steps will ensure your success. By keeping your CV concise and readable, potential employers are more likely to find what they need from the document, opting to select you based on your skills, qualifications and your ability to communicate effectively rather than the visual appeal.

Here at Eolas Recruitment, our Specialist Recruiters strive to help you secure the job that is right for you. If you’re looking for more information about our services and advice on how to apply for roles in Ireland’s IT industry, get in touch today and discover what we can do to help.

Previous Page Contact UsJob Search