Imagine that when you were writing a CV, you might have faced some challenges that led to submitting a resume full of gaps. There might be a lack of work experience, gaps in employment, or an explanation for a short stint that did not work out.
Facing all these issues when you are writing a CV never means you are not the right match, but you must find ways to explain areas that can set a negative impression on recruiters. Let’s read through: What is the most challenging during writing your CV?
Common Challenges Job Seekers Face When Writing A CV
1. Tailoring the document according to the job description
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is using the same CV for all job applications. This is a time-saving option, but it can lead to missing opportunities. When you tailor your resume according to requirements, this means you can use the exact keywords as found in the job posting. This will help you to showcase your relevant experience and highlight the skills that matter the most for the position. However, the biggest challenge is striking a balance between customization and consistency. You cannot change your job history, but you can choose what to highlight. Take your time and read through the job description carefully, and adjust your CV accordingly. Take help from CV consultants at any stage when you need assistance. Maybe it is one of the biggest challenges for some applicants, but the recruiters can easily detect if the CV is written with the job description in mind.
2. Formatting it for readability and ATS
No matter how rocking your job experience is, poor formatting can ruin your chances of landing the job. Ensure that the document is easy to read for both human recruiters and the applicant tracking system (ATS).
ATS is a software commonly used by recruiters to filter applications. When you use a clean layout, avoid unusual fonts, employ engaging headings, and refrain from overloading the file with graphics and images, you can stand out. However, creating a CV that is both ATS- and human-friendly is a challenging task. Most of them struggle with balancing this and end up designing something that looks dull. A well-formatted one guides the readers to read it thoroughly and passes through digital filters.
3. Writing a summary or objective
What is the first section that the recruiters encounter when they scan through your resume? It is the summary or the objective section. This paragraph is like the introduction paragraph of an essay that can either make or break your application. However, writing it is one of the challenging parts. You need to be confident without sounding weird, and your tone must be professional.
This summary will talk about you to the recruiter, decoding who you are, what you will bring to the table, and what you are looking for. Ensure it is concise, tailored, and impactful. This is one of the challenges for applicants to describe themselves in just a few sentences. It often requires multiple drafts before you can get to the point. The pressure to be in the spotlight exacerbates the difficulty of completing the bucket list. But you cannot skip through this section. Take help from services that accept “Do my professional resume for me” requests. They will help you deal with this section.
4. Talking about your skills and achievements
No matter how experienced you are, what is the most challenging during writing your CV? Employers are not just interested in knowing what you did, but they want to know how well you did it. This is the right time to quote the numbers. Your accomplishments will add credibility and help your CV stand out from the crowd.
Instead of stating that you managed a team, you should specify that you managed a team of 10 individuals and increased productivity by 30%. This is one of the challenging aspects for recruiters to translate their responsibilities into measurable achievements; there is no need to exaggerate and try to maintain the element of honesty.
5. Checking for spelling and grammar errors
This might be the basic one, but a small mistake in any of these categories can cost you big opportunities. Spelling and grammar errors significantly create a bad impression, no matter if the rest of the CV is strong. It signals your lack of attention to every detail. Although making mistakes in the writing process is common, the challenge often lies in reviewing your writing.
After you have read your CV multiple times, your eyes certainly start skipping over the errors. This issue can be overcome through proofreading. You can run spell-checking tools or ask your friends to read through your document.
Turn Your Challenges into Strength
At the end, you have unlocked the answer to what is the most challenging during writing your CV? Take every challenge of the CV writing as an opportunity to open doors to new possibilities. Customizing your document helps you to focus on your career goals. Through formatting, you will learn how to communicate clearly. Writing a summary sharpens your pitch. Adding numbers enables you to see your worth. And with proofreading, you will learn to pay attention to minor details.
