This CV Mistake Is Costing You Interviews

I receive a large number of CVs from Retail Managers who are looking to change careers.

Surprisingly, nearly 99% of these CVs contain a common mistake that is undoubtedly hindering their chances of securing job offers.

And what is this critical mistake?

They are failing to optimise their CVs with relevant keywords.

[CV - or Resume, depending on your location].

As a result...

Their CV isn’t getting read by a real person.

If you find yourself constantly applying for jobs and receiving nothing but generic "unsuccessful" emails in return, chances are you are also making this mistake.

You see, most vacancies receive over 100 applicants, and hiring managers just don’t have time to read that many CVs and applications.

So they deploy a system called ATS, Application Tracking System.

ATS replaces any human involvement by the employer in the early stages of the hiring process.

Applicants provide their CV and cover letter, and in some cases answer some pre-determined questions, and the ATS will read each application and pick the best candidates.

The Importance of Keyword Optimisation

Now, let me explain why keyword optimisation is crucial:

• The ATS identifies the best candidates based on how well their CV matches the job requirements, comparing the keywords in both documents.
• Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS of some kind, according to research conducted by Jobscan.
• The ATS plays a significant role in creating the shortlist for the hiring manager, with only about 10% of applicants making it to this stage.
• Hence, it is imperative to ensure your CV is keyword-optimized if you wish to increase your chances of being shortlisted.

Fortunately, applicant tracking systems are automated, which means they can easily be beaten with a bit of optimisation.

And here’s how you can do it, step by step:

Step 1: Identify the Keywords in the job description

One of the ways the ATS narrows an applicant pool is by searching for specific keywords. It’s like a Google search on a much smaller scale.

The great news is you can perform a similar search on a job description in order to figure out what specific keywords they are going to search.

And even better news, AI can make this step effortless.

Head over to https://chat.openai.com

Type in “Provide a bullet list of soft and hard skills in order of how often they appear in [insert job description]”

This will do two things;

• Give you a list of keywords the ATS is expecting to find within your CV.
• Rate them in order of importance, so you know which ones should appear more often. 

Step 2: Analyse your CV against those keywords

Now it’s time to check your CV.

Using the same tool in Step 1.

Type in “Provide a bullet list of soft and hard skills in order of how often they appear in [insert your CV]”

Step 3: Optimise your CV

Now it’s time to compare your lists from Step 1 (Job Description) and Step 2 (Your CV).

In this example, you may have noticed there are a few similarities and differences.

• Matched: Simplification & process improvement, business acumen, leadership etc.
• Not Matched: Creative, HR processes, innovative and fantastic team player.

With this information in hand, you can now ensure that the missing keywords are incorporated into your CV. This process is what we refer to as "keyword optimisation.”

Once you’ve done this you can move onto step 4.

Step 4: Re-analyse your CV

Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 with your CV and the Job Description to see how well they now match.

Here are a few key points to remember:

• You'll never match the job description 100%, so you won't need to make EVERY keyword fit. Aim for about 70/80% to ensure you're a good fit.
• Don't focus so much on keywords that you start making your CV feel generic and robotic.
• Keywords mean nothing without context, so if you're adding a keyword, ensure you provide some context, like an achievement showcasing how you used this skill to deliver results.

Voilà! You now have a fully keyword-optimised CV that will beat the ATS.

Enjoy the increased chances of securing interviews for the jobs you want.

That’s all for this week!

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Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. I'd recommend starting with an affordable course:

Career Idea Generator: Unlock Exciting Career Ideas Outside of Retail

The Proven Framework for Generating 30+ Career Ideas Outside of Retail Without Sacrificing Your Salary (Even if You Have Absolutely No Experience in Other Industries)

The Job Offer Blueprint: How to Secure Interviews for Your Dream Career Outside of Retail.

A Multi-Step System Helping Retail Managers Transition from Constant Rejection to Securing 1-2 Interviews per Week with Exciting Companies in Other Industries. Regardless of Direct Industry Experience or Qualifications

2. If you need more hands-on 1:2:1 support.

Join the Retail Escape Academy. The Retail Escape Academy Is a Proven, All-In-One System for Landing a Job You Love Without Connections, Without Traditional “Experience,” and Without Using Job Search Websites. Includes both "Career Idea Generator" and "Job Offer Blueprint" courses. In addition: Self-Marketing Mastery, Nailing Your Interviews + Loads of Hands-On Support.