Finding a job is rarely easy, but having a strong CV can at least give you a solid start. Kickresume has analysed 394 CVs that had one thing in common: they all helped the candidate secure a job.
Kickresume’s internal data science team analysed a bank of CVs from its users, including the decisions that were made around structure, word choice and visual design. They found many similarities, including one key point found on most of them which could prove vital in securing an interview.
The data showed that 70 per cent of all the successful candidates included a CV summary, providing a brief overview of themselves and their career history. On average, the summary was 57 words long.
Peter Duris, the CEO and Co-founder of Kickresume, said: “It was really interesting to see just how much these CVs had in common, despite the differences in the types of jobs they were targeted at – and the most crucial similarity is that each and every one of them helped the candidate secure a job. The candidates went on to start new roles at some impressive companies including Google, Amazon, and Apple, as well as government institutions like the Ministry of Finance.
“We hope that anyone who is currently updating their CV finds some inspiration in this research, whether they are seeking a new role or just staying up to date and keeping a foot in the door. I think one of the clearest lessons that jumps out from this data is that readability is of the utmost importance.
“When recruiters only have a short window of time in which to consider your CV, you’ve got to make sure all the reasons why you’re a great candidate are visible at a glance. I think that’s why nearly all the CVs had the following in common: bullet points, a simple layout and minimal use of bold font for headings only. Make it easy for the recruiter to pick you.”
Kickresume investigated candidates’ word choices. They found that strong action-oriented words were used in a great many of these CVs, with the top four most popular being ‘created’, ‘implemented’, ‘worked’ and ‘provide’. On the other hand, they also looked at filler words and cliche phrases and found many examples that could be cut in order to improve even these successful CVs. The most frequently used cliche phrase was ‘responsible for’.
The study showed that 41 per cent of successful CVs had fewer than 400 words, enabling them to fit onto a single page. The majority of the CVs had a simple design, with 54 per cent using a one-column layout. 76% included visual elements – 63 per cent of candidates represented their skill levels using graphics, and 45 per cent represented their hobbies using icons. 15% used pie charts to show information such as their skills or interests.
Another way candidates can break down their CV and make it easier to digest the information is by using bullet points. On average, the candidates used 28 bullet points, each with an average of 19 words – less than two lines of text.
Applicants can also use bold text to make their CV faster to read and highlight certain sections. 99.8 per cent of the successful candidates only used bold text for job titles, company names and section headings – using it elsewhere could make the CV more confusing to read.
Kickresume looked for quantifiable achievements in the candidates’ CVs and found that the average number listed was 5. A surprisingly high percentage of candidates did not list any achievements at 23 per cent, but this could be due to the nature of their previous roles: they might not have had enough responsibility in their past positions to be able to claim this.
The work experience section is one of the most important elements of any CV – but the number of positions those analysed listed varied. The most popular number of jobs to describe was between four and seven, with 30 per cent opting to list this many. The average length of experience on each CV was 8 years.
In terms of structure, nearly all candidates included contact details, with 96 per cent providing an email address and 95 per cent providing a phone number. Some 44 per cent went a step further and linked to either their website, their LinkedIn or an online portfolio.
This research highlighted that there were many similarities in the CVs in line with the current best practice guidance on CV writing. Any good CV should show off the candidate’s previous experience (in work, education and volunteering), and describing achievements is a great way to demonstrate relevant skills.