Hiring managers receive an average of 75 CVs per position that they post, so their time is limited when reading through yours. If it doesn’t stand out to them, then it’s likely heading for the rejection pile.
When you are applying for jobs, the easiest process is to create one generic template to send to multiple recruiters. Doing this will likely add a significant delay to your job search. Why? Because it’s not what recruiters are looking for.
Recruiters are searching for candidates who fit the bill. So they’ll be looking for specific keywords, experience, characteristics and skill set. Which is why you should always make the effort to tailor your CV to each role you apply for.
A generic sales CV when applying for a specific role like a Sales Manager tells a recruiter nothing…except that you have been too lazy to adapt your job application.
So before you start sending out the one and only CV you created. Read our tips below on how to adapt your generic CV to more specific roles:
Every job is unique – your CV to each role should be too
Even roles with the same job title can be very different in practice. Anyone who has stayed in the same type of role between organisations will tell you that experience and responsibilities will vary. Regardless of what you’ve done before, focus your CV towards the role you apply for so you can better appeal to the recruiter.
Generic CV’s won’t get picked up
According to Neville Rose, Director of CV Writers, ATS systems do not assess CVs based on generic role types. For example, job boards like Simply Sales Jobs don’t have an algorithm for ‘Sales Executive’ that will sift through every CV evenly against every job title. ATS systems work by analysing CVs against individual role specifications. You only have to download 2 or 3 specifications for similar sounding roles to see how differently they can be written. Therefore, relying on one CV to pass these filters isn’t productive.
Your first CV is just the beginning
Writing for a specific application, for example a Business Development role is a great start. But you have to be consistent, and continue this approach with every job application. The amount of tailoring you need will of course vary – it could between 5% to 10% for similar roles or you may need to rewrite 80% of more if you are applying for a completely different role that requires different experience.
More specific applications = better success rate for securing interviews
Finishing one copy of your CV and sending it multiple times will likely cause frustration when you count the number of applications made in comparison to responses/interview invites. Be patient and take the time to tailor your CV, and you should see a rise in interview requests. Yes, it takes much more effort, but you have to consider just how badly you want the job…
Inspired? We can give you a helping hand in writing your CV for specific sales roles – simply download any of our templates below for tips on what you can included:
[simplyjobs site_url=”https://www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk/” placement=”post” site_name=”Simply Sales Jobs” username=”SEO_TEAM” password=”fmgseo” feed_identifier=”blog_ssj_all” ][/simplyjobs]
How to be the best manager to your team
Managing a sales team can pose many challenges. It's easy to neglect the personal side of job when the focus is heavily placed on generating revenue. It’s not an easy job, but a successful sales manager must strike a balance between getting results and...
What’s the average salary in the sales industry for 2019?
More women than ever are working in sales, a recent study by the Office of National Statistics shows. Women make up roughly half of the workforce when it comes to sales, however the figure changes slightly depending on the role. Women make up the biggest...
New Year, new career?
As 2020 fast approaches, is your new year’s resolution to find your dream sales job? In a recent survey we ran with sales professionals: 82% told us they will be looking for a new job in 2020 77% told us they will be looking for a new role in January 2020 33%...
