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As part of The CV Clinic's commitment to keeping abreast of changes and trends regarding CVs within the recruitment industry we are delighted to announce the results of our recent 12 question survey that was sent out to recruiters, headhunters and hiring managers.
1. Initially how long do you spend on reading someone's CV?
| <10 seconds |
9.1% |
| <30 Seconds |
43.1% |
| <1 Minute |
26.6% |
| 1 - 2 Minutes |
13.7% |
| 2 - 5 Minutes |
5.4% |
| > 5 Minutes |
2.1% |
2. How long should a CV be?
| 1 Page |
3.8% |
| 2 Pages |
59.3% |
| 3 Pages |
35.3% |
| 4 Pages |
1.6% |
| 5 Pages or More |
0.8% |
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3. What are the key sections that a CV should include?
| Profile |
78.6% |
| Key Skills |
71.4% |
| Career Summary |
35.7% |
| Career History |
92.9% |
| Personal Details |
71.4% |
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4. Which of the following contact details would you like to see on someone's CV?
| Mobile Number |
85.7% |
| Home Number |
64.3% |
| E-mail Address |
100% |
| Linkedin Profile |
35.7% |
| Blog URL |
7.1% |
5. Would a badly presented CV put you off interviewing a candidate who is "perfect" for the job?
| Yes |
34% |
| No |
8% |
| Possibily |
58% |
6. Do you search social media websites (e.g. Facebook) for more detailed information on candidates?
| Yes |
30% |
| No |
10% |
| Sometimes |
60% |
7. What are the most common mistakes people make when writing their CVs?
| Typos |
76.9% |
| Too Long |
92.3% |
| Too Short |
7.7% |
| Using Different Fonts |
46.2% |
| Using the wrong tense. |
9.1% |
| Activities instead of achievements |
44.3% |
| No email address |
23.1% |
8. How far back in the candidate's career should they write detailed descriptions about their roles?
| 5 Years |
18.2% |
| 10 Years |
81.8% |
| 15 Years |
9.1% |
9. What should be omitted from the CV?
| Salary |
42.9% |
| Reason for leaving |
35.7% |
| Notice period |
36.2% |
| Photographs |
71.4% |
| Humour |
64.3% |
| Date of Birth |
50% |
| References |
42.9% |
| Driving licence |
45% |
10. Do you prefer reverse chronological or functional CVs?
| Reverse Chron. (most recent role first) |
92% |
| Functional (skills based) |
8% |
11. How effective is a well written Profile section and where would you like to see it?
The general consensus of opinion was that a well written profile can be extremely effective and most recruiters would like to see it right at the start of the CV (after name and contact details).
85% of respondents were in favour of a well written Profile section.
Comments ranged from:
“Useful for candidates at Middle management level plus”.
“A well written Profile should summarise the USPs of the candidate and give some indication of what they are looking for.”
“A well written profile gives a more personal note to the CV and it helps the candidate make a first connection with the employer/recruiter.”
“This is the first chance to create their USP and so it needs to be concise and at the start of the CV”
“Very effective if it is out of the ordinary - it should be a mini advert designed to make people read on; therefore it should go at the top”.
“It demonstrates how well someone can sell themselves and how much time and care they have taken over their CV.”
The importance was clarified by one recruiter who explained “...if the profile isn’t good most of my clients won’t pursue the rest of the CV content dismissing it immediately.”
A common complaint from the recruiters who were against the use of a profile was the tendency for candidates to waffle, over use words like dynamic, and be far too generic in stating their skills.
12. In the Career History section of the CV do you prefer?
| Sentences and paragraphs |
21% |
| Bullet points |
79% |
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