TimesJobs Reveals What Employers Look for in a CV

NEW DELHI, October 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

TimesJobs Surveyed Over 1,100 Employers to Reveal the Most Crucial Elements That Make or Break The Crucial First Impression Which Makes a CV Matter so Much in Getting the Job 

A CV is the very first point of contact between a job-seeker and an employer; and making this first impression a good one is critical in getting ahead in one's career. TimesJobs conducted a study to reveal the elements a CV must (and must not) have, to be able to grab the employer's attention and get shortlisted for an interview.

In a study of over 1,100 employers, TimesJobs highlights the most crucial elements that matter to recruiters when shortlisting a CV. Most employers prefer a two-page CV with no grammatical or spelling mistakes, while a CV with no specific details related to the job applied for gets a quick rejection, reveals the TimesJobs study.

"Your CV should be looked at as your elevator pitch - it is that small window of opportunity that you have to get the employer interested enough to call you for a detailed discussion. It is a good practice to get an outside expert's help to highlight what you do best. As they can identify your areas of excellence, that you may not have identified yourself, and which could be crucial in turning things to your advantage," says Nilanjan Roy, Head of Strategy, Times Business Solutions.

Don't Make Spelling Mistakes 

According to the majority (55%) of employers surveyed, avoiding grammatical errors and spelling mistakes are essential in making a decent first impression, and these mistakes are also the first thing that recruiters notice in a CV.

Highlight What Matters to the Job 

Secondly, almost half of the employers feel a CV should reflect the candidate's competencies and skills in performing the functions that the job requires. As 46% employers say a CV which doesn't have details specific to the job role a candidate has applied for is the biggest let down for the recruiter.

"Candidates must leverage all resources available to them, TimesJobs, for instance, has some incredible tools for candidates to read reviews of companies, get insider interview tips, assess their own skills and benchmark their salary expectations. Highlighting aspects of their work relevant to the job role and company further displays their interest and eagerness to join the new organization," adds Nilanjan Roy.

Not More Than two Pages 

In addition, recruiters are simply not interested in a CV that is longer than two pages. Nearly 43% say the length of CV matters the most. Almost 80% employers find a two-page to be the ideal length and 20% even preferred a single-page CV.

Format for Clarity 

Over 35% also give extra points to the readability aspects of a CV. Bad formatting such as abrupt paragraph breaks, overuse/underuse of bolds and italics and too many fonts are other annoying elements in a CV, state 33% surveyed recruiters.

Also, presentation of one's professional journey in a logical order matters significantly say 28% recruiters. While a well-formatted CV adds appeal state 20% of the surveyed recruiters, in the TimesJobs study.

Look Professional 

Nearly 27% recruiters advise against using unprofessional e-mail IDs in a CV. According to 35% recruiters, more than a quarter of the CVs they scan in a month have unprofessional/absurd email-ids. While 12% recruiters are irked to see a CV with a photograph of the applicant.

While 55% candidates send their CVs in pdf format, 68% recruiters prefer a word document, 30% favor a PDF format and 2% prefer an image format, reports the TimesJobs study.

A demographic analysis reveals that CVs of mid-level candidates tend to have a greater rate of annoying elements. Nearly 44% recruiters say that they find most annoying elements in CV of job-seekers who have applied for mid-level positions. About 36% recruiters say that they encounter more annoying errors in CVs of junior level job-seekers and 20% say they find senior level CVs most trying to scan through.

Drop the Cover Letter 

Further, the TimesJobs study uncovered another interesting fact, that a cover letter is not essential to employers. Only 10% of the surveyed recruiters state that a covering letter is important. Almost 72% employers say that while a covering letter adds value it is not an important document. While 18% recruiters state that a cover letter holds no significance at all.

About TimesJobs: 

TimesJobs, a flagship business of Times Business Solutions (TBS), is a platform to help competent professionals make smarter career decisions. With over 25 million registered jobseekers across the board and more than 60 million page views every month, it is fast becoming the most preferred career portal among the candidates.

TimesJobs is leading in the recruitment and employment space with its pioneering and dynamic divisions because it successfully meets all the needs of the jobseekers. Its major platforms include:

• TechGig: India's biggest dais for tech professionals to help them Learn, Showcase & Compete in the IT industry.
• JobBuzz: A well-known portal that provides information & insights about different companies, job profiles and interview processes.
• StepAhead: StepAhead offers Professional Resume writing and distribution services, career astrology, and resume improvement to help jobseekers accelerate their career.

Also, TimesJobs has the largest collection of jobs in the market, which ensures that whenever and wherever there is a great opportunity, jobseekers will discover it on the platform.

In the recruitment market as well, being the biggest platform for competent professionals who think of their careers first, TimesJobs has become the destination of choice for recruiters who seek to engage with the right talent.

Media contact
Aseem Seth
Head of Corporate Communications
Times Business Solutions - A Division of Times Internet Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @aseems
Tel: +91-120-663-6338, +91-9910273367