Top recruiter tips for development CVs

With recruiters receiving hundreds, or even thousands, of applications for a single job posting, a candidate's CV needs to make a strong first impression if they are to succeed to the next stage. During recent conversations with recruiters from various development organizations, Devex asked what they look for in a candidate and what are some of the most common application mistakes they see. Here’s a roundup of their top advice for writing that all-important CV: Tailor your CV to the position One of the most common mistakes that candidates make is failing to align their CV to the position and organization they are applying for, according to Lykke Andersen, chief of talent acquisition and people programs at the United Nations Development Programme. Instead of using the same CV for different opportunities, candidates should “really invest in preparing a good application and understanding the job description,” she said. Prasun Chakraborty, UN Women’s head of human resources, also advised candidates not to use a generic CV and said it’s clear to a recruiter when a candidate has put in extra effort and time. “[The candidate] has to make a compelling case and not have one standard CV for everything they apply [to],” he said. “Then you actually see that this person is really interested, is motivated.” Maria Chaney, a staffing specialist with Tetra Tech, suggested that by revising and tailoring their CVs to the position, candidates can use keywords and better highlight their relevant experience. Keep it succinct Unlike other sectors, global development CVs don’t need to stick to the one-page rule. However, candidates should still keep it as concise as possible. Anne Favreau, chief of UNICEF's human resources partner team, told Devex that her team receives CVs that are up to 10 pages. Keep the CV clear and focused, and talk about your achievements in a way that is easy for recruiters to understand, she said. UNDP’s Andersen also advised candidates against sending a lengthy CV where the recruiter has to search to find their relevant experience. Be succinct and “highlight the most relevant elements of your experience in relation to the job description,” she said. For candidates looking to cut down their CV, Tetra Tech’s Chaney suggested expanding on the most important experience in reverse chronological order and dedicating just a few lines to previous roles that are less relevant. Again, it comes down to the candidate revising CV to each different position, Chaney said. Use relevant keywords With just a few minutes to scan each CV, recruiters look for keywords that quickly convey a candidate’s expertise in a specific area. When CVs are first vetted by automated systems, keywords are also critical in candidates succeeding to the next round. Look at the words used in the job description and work those into your CV, Anderson suggested. For example, if the job advert includes words such as lead, facilitate or communicate, recruiters will be on the lookout for those and using them can help a candidate stand out, she said. Norwegian Refugee Council’s head of recruitment and development unit, Peder Apall-Olsen, suggested that keywords can help a candidate convey their expertise. “If you are applying for a role within [gender-based violence] and you don't mention the word GBV anywhere in your CV, it's unlikely that you will be selected even though you have the right skill set,” Appall-Oslen said. With little time to spend on each CV, recruiters tend to focus on the last two or three roles a candidate held, he added. “[The candidate] has to make a compelling case and not have one standard CV for everything they apply [to].” --— Prasun Chakraborty, head of human resources, UN Women However, he also advised candidates not to simply copy and paste their last job description, which is one of the most obvious mistakes he sees in applications. Instead, write a strong CV that highlights your main areas of responsibility and achievements but doesn’t require major adjustments for each position you apply for, he said. Also, while keywords are important, UNICEF’s Favreau said candidates should avoid jargon that recruiters wouldn’t be familiar with or that is specific to one organization. Pay attention to templates and instructions UN Women, like most U.N. entities, provides a CV template for candidates to provide information on their previous employment and references. Make sure you are filling out what is actually being asked, Chakraborty advised. NRC also uses an online tool for the CV information and failing to complete this in full can lead to candidates being dismissed. Apall-Olsen added that his team is not looking for creativity when it comes to writing CVs and that these should be fairly structured.