
Much like doctors not taking care of their own health or accountants having bad personal finances, recruiters when applying for jobs themselves consistently have the worst CVs.
As a specialist HR recruiter I coach all types of HR and recruitment candidates on improving their CV for their job search. Again and again it is my candidates who come from a recruitment background who most under-represent their experience.
This is quite surprising when you consider that they see more CVs than any other jobseekers out there. So if you are a recruiter and are considering applying for a role take the time to read through the below. These tips are based on the direct feedback I have received from the hiring managers of tech companies, financial services, public sector clients etc.
Tips for your Recruiter CV
- Explain what type of volumes you have worked with such as multiple vacancies in a specific ramp up campaign.
- Demonstrate how many roles and what type of roles you have placed. Working on a job is not impressive, placing the successful candidate in the job is. Include job titles and numbers of placements.
- Whether in-house or agency, recruitment is fast paced and target based. Does your CV show how you have performed against targets in the past?
- When it comes to creative sourcing methods, how have you thought outside the box before? Advertising and using social media is the norm, what have you done that is different?
- Have you had to maintain reports and metrics either for a hiring manager, a client or for your own manager?
- What type of clients have you worked with? If you can list company names then do, especially when they are well known brands or corporations.
- Give the range of salaries you have recruited for, this shows if you have hired both junior and senior level candidates.
- Recruitment requires administration skills. You should list any applicant tracking systems, HR systems or Excel skills that you have.
- Are you a problem solver? Do you show initiative? Include any examples of process improvements. Technology companies particularly seek these competencies.
- From a client perspective what different stakeholders have you had to deal with – list the range of job titles such as Managing Director, HR Manager, CFO etc.
- This is relevant to anyone but again recruiters seem to forget it; include work and personal achievements e.g. Employee of the month, promotions, volunteering.
If you are an in-house or agency recruiter, a recruitment administrator or a HR person I would be happy to talk you through the Irish job market. Please email kstewart@sigmar.ie or call Kate on 01 4744 646 for a confidential chat.
Posted by Kate Stewart, HR Recruitment Manager on 30 November 2017