Let’s face it. The job search can be pretty brutal. And the waiting game after sending your CV in can leave you wondering, “Is it me?” No, it’s not you. But, it could be your CV. You’ve probably got some great skills and experience, but trying to tell that story concisely on paper is not so easy. So, do you want to know what recruiters really think about your CV? We talked to some top development recruiters and they had a lot to say about what makes a CV stand out to them. We wanted to share their insights with you.

1. Don’t get your CV tossed in the trash
5 things recruiters are dying
to tell you about your CV

2. Show, don’t tell
We get it. Your job title was
“Manager”. You managed stuff.
(And you were probably
“responsible for” some other
things too.) Instead of simply
listing your job duties, summarize
your accomplishments with
specific numbers and facts. Think
less about what you did and more
about what you achieved.

3. Keywords in, buzzwords out
Who isn’t a pro-active, problem-
solving, team player who pays
attention to detail? If you’ve got
these buzzwords on your CV,
you’re blending in more than
standing out. Leave out the clichés
and fill your CV with keywords
from the job listing itself.

4. Talk about the past,
not the future
Don’t waste crucial space on an objective
that talks about what you hope to achieve.
A well-written CV that shows your career
progression will make your story pretty
clear. Save that space at the top of your CV
for a summary that outlines what you do
really well, and gives a synopsis of your
past experiences.

5. One size doesn’t fit all
(when has it ever?)
Customize, customize, customize. No
two development jobs are identical,
so why use the same CV for different
job applications? If you’ve worked in
development for some time, you’ve
probably racked up a range of skills.
Look at the job listing and highlight
what’s most relevant to the job.
One more thing. Keep it local.
Different aid agencies want different
CV formats. They may or may not
need to know your personal details
either. So be sure to check what’s
expected.

6. Length does matter
Be nice to the recruiter. While the one-
page rule doesn’t apply to international
development, you shouldn’t go
overboard on the number of pages you
submit. Development recruiters like to
see more meat, but unnecessary
padding won’t make you seem any
more qualified. Stick to what’s relevant
and use as many pages as it takes to
tell a concise story.

7. CV writing getting you down?
More tips and tools on
writing an international
development CV that
stands out right here
Psst, here!