Standing Out in a Crowded Job Market: CV Tips You Need Right Now

Let’s not beat around the bush—it’s tough out there. There are jobs available, and my LinkedIn feed is peppered daily with people “happy to share that I’m starting a new position as...”. But there are far more candidates than jobs. Applications per opportunity have skyrocketed from tens to hundreds. The edge you need to secure an interview is to stand out in a crowded marketplace. So how do you do that?

When I’m reviewing Project Manager CVs—and I’ve reviewed tens of thousands in my career—I go through a filtering process. If your CV makes it easy for me to filter, you’re more likely to make it to the interview stage.

The Hiring Manager Doesn't Have Time

Many people sifting through CVs are not professional recruiters. They have a day job leading a team, and recruiting is an additional task. If you get 300 applications for a role (not unusual in my experience), and spend five minutes reading each CV, that would mean spending 1,500 minutes, or 25 hours—three full days—just reading applications. That’s not going to happen. Even if you spend just one minute per CV, that’s still five hours, on top of a regular workload.

Your CV needs to make it obvious, within 10 seconds, why the hiring manager should spend longer than 10 seconds on it.

Match Your CV to the Filter Process

What should you showcase in those first 10 seconds?

1. You are eligible to work. A significant portion of CVs are from candidates outside the country, needing visa support. Make your address visible and obvious so I can see you’re in the country. Put it at the top of your CV, and don’t be afraid to write “[country] citizen.” If you're from another country, make it clear when you'll be in the country and what support you need to get a job (e.g. visa, relocation, etc).

2. Show relevant experience clearly. If the role is for an "ERP Project Manager," make it obvious that you’ve held 2–3 recent roles where you were an "ERP Project Manager." Don’t make the hiring manager work to figure that out. If your job title was simply "Project Manager" and you worked on an ERP project, don’t bury that in the text. Instead, say "Company X, ERP Project Manager." You’re not altering your job title; you’re helping the hiring manager see that you’re a strong candidate for the role. Remember, you need to pass the 10-second test. Anything that isn’t bold or in a larger font may not be seen in time.

3. Education, certifications, and publications. Stop putting these on the last page and move them to the first page. After proving you’re eligible and experienced, show that you have the skills and qualifications to do a great job. Again, it’s the 10-second test—this is the headline stage, not the detailed reading stage. Show your degree, PMP certification, or that you’ve spoken at conferences on ERP project management.

If you pass these three tests—proving eligibility, experience, and skills—it’s likely your detailed text will be read. But all the hard work you put into perfecting your CV won’t matter if you don’t pass the 10-second test.

Take a Risk to Stand Out

If you’re feeling more adventurous, or if you’ve applied for jobs you were perfect for but haven’t secured an interview, consider taking a risk to stand out. The goal is to get noticed. A year ago, it was about showing you fit well with the organisation; today, it’s about being different. Here are some ideas to get you started, but I’m sure you can think of more:

• Include testimonials for your work on the first page of your CV.

• Increase the font size for the items you need to pass the 10-second test—go one size larger than you’re comfortable with.

• Use the first page as an executive summary, rather than jumping straight into detail.

However, avoid colour, graphics (unless you’re applying for a role in the creative industries), and background images.

Remember, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” (By the way, not an Albert Einstein quote! Look it up.) So maybe stop sending the same CV that hasn’t landed you an interview yet and change things up. What have you got to lose?

Good luck out there, everyone. And if anyone wants a second opinion on their CV (I’ve hired thousands of Project Managers in my career), DM me and send it over. I’m happy to help out.