Travel recruitment is on the up. Last week, we were working on finding placements for more than 50 new vacancies. We are expecting application numbers to increase as candidates feel more confident about the jobs market and assured about making a move.
It is, therefore, more important than ever to ensure the basics – spelling, layout, contact details – are right. Equally, as the competition hots up in what is a tough jobs market, you need to ensure you tailor your CV to each job application.
Given the volume of CVs we receive, we can only spend a short time on each one. It is, therefore, vital that a recruitment consultancy or employer can see you have the required key skills and experience on your CV. Here are my tips for making sure your CV is fit for purpose in the current jobs market.
Sell yourself
Use the profile at the top of your CV to highlight that you have the skills and experience that are required by the recruiter. This means spending time on every application: explain why you would be suited to the role – sell yourself.
Don’t apply for jobs that don’t match your skill set. This wastes recruiters’ time and could jeopardise the success of other applications you make within the same company. If you apply for every job on our books, you may come across as desperate, and that will put people off you.
Our recruitment team spends an average of two and a half minutes on every CV, and we receive just over 100 CVs for every role advertised, so you need to catch their attention and ensure you come across as someone worth considering for the job.
Periodically check the CV you have on any jobsites, and ensure the details are up to date.
Make it look good
Use the same professional font throughout the document – Calibri or Arial are easy to read. Don’t use fonts that are difficult to read. Keep the background white, as this is much easier to read, and don’t use a colour in the background.
If the ad does not state that you need to reply in a particular language, it is best to apply in English. Always proof-read your CV to check that the spelling and grammar is correct. Get someone to give it a second read, to make sure you haven’t missed any errors. You should aim to keep your CV to two pages.
Be professional
Make sure you send your CV from a respectable email address that will not cause offence: hotlips@xmail might be fine for friends, but it will put off a prospective employer. Make sure all your contact details are correct. About 6% of all CVs we receive fail to include the correct contact details.
If you are asked to send in a photo, remember to present a professional image – so don’t, for example, send one of you on the beach, on a night out or leaning on a sports car.
Include relevant details
Make sure there aren’t any gaps in your CV. Recruiters look for consistency. If you have a gap for reasons such as a year travelling, make this very clear on your CV. Clearly quote any references that are stated.
Do it yourself or get help
Don’t just copy your current job description into the body of your CV. This shows that you have tried to cut corners while creating your CV. You should you use your own words. If you’re unsure, professional recruitment companies will assist you at no cost. You should never need to pay for a CV-writing service.
Promote your achievements
Explain your job and achievements and don’t assume the person reading your CV will know the specifics of your job or previous roles.
If you have GDS training, name the systems. Likewise, if you are a specialist in selling cruise or Latin America for example, state the training you have done, and your achievements.
Web help
- For advice on writing a CV, download the Job Kit – Jobsearch Advice PDF from Jobcentre Plus
- Search the latest travel jobs and upload your CV on Travel Weekly
- Get more free advice on the Progressive Personnel website
James Roberts is general manager of Progressive Personnel’s operations in the UK and Dubai. Prior to eight years in travel recruitment, James was a travel manager for Siemens UK and a regional business manager with British Regional Airlines/British Airways.