At Metyis, we are looking to create dynamic teams, which means our recruiters are not only looking for skill but also potential and character. Many successful candidates are able to tell a compelling story about themselves in their job applications, answering many questions that reveal how they would fit into a particular team.

Showcase your prowess

How many years of relevant experience do you have? What skills or abilities make you a strong candidate for this job? What part of the job description resonated with you? Do you have publications showcased somewhere online? In research journals, Websites or GitHub? Have you created any new algorithms or frameworks?Try to highlight your hard skills with products, projects results, and quantifiable achievements that you can elaborate on during interviews.

Own your professional narrative

How has your role, scope, and circle of influence evolved? Why did you decide to dedicate yourself to your specialisation? What have you learned from mentor figures in previous positions, and what have you taught others? What critical career decisions most influenced your professional development? How have you grown professionally and personally?Perhaps you can gain inspiration from Ira Glass's quote, “Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” Your CV should be a compelling narrative that conveys your identity through your impact and ambitions while encapsulating your professional and personal journey.

Demonstrate that you are a team player

How do you integrate differences and transform them into opportunities when working amongst teams whose approaches are varied? Have you worked on cross-functional teams? What are your experiences collaborating with international partners?Modern professionals must navigate complex social situations and overcome interpersonal challenges. Highlighting teamwork, leadership, public speaking, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills on your CV will signify that you will be comfortable leading and collaborating with diverse partners.

Quantify your impact

What is the purpose of your role at your current company? What is the added value you are bringing at this moment? What challenges are you looking forward to facing and growing from? What budgets have you managed? Have any of your projects slashed costs or working hours for employers? Use numbers and percentages as CV quantifiers. For example, “I automated a process that slashed expenses by 15%.”It is absolutely paramount that you keep track of your achievements in your current job. It is advised to keep a “brag file” where you record any instance where you have been praised by leadership or added value. You can use these to build your CV and enrich it with accurate quantifiers.A talented worker blends interpersonal and technical skills to convert exceptional complexity into actionable business solutions and creates impact for their clients. Your technical and soft skills, and measurable achievements will breathe life into your CV.

Adjust your skills section for each individual job application

Add a skills section to your CV and fill it with keywords directly from the job listing. This section should be divided into four sub-categories: Interpersonal, Expertise, Tools, and Languages. The interpersonal sub-category can include soft skills like cross-cultural communication, leadership, public speaking, conflict resolution, and remote team collaboration.If you see that a job description specifies that a candidate has a certain skill, such as digital marketing, be sure to include that in your expertise sub-category - if it is not already there. If the role requires data visualisation, add Tableau to your tools section, and don’t be tempted to lie about anything that can be disproven.

Display authenticity

What are your hobbies? What makes you an enjoyable colleague? Do you volunteer or work on any community-based projects? Have you lived abroad? What differentiates you from the competition?You must consider the value you bring to the table and how you see the mutual fit based on the role and your aspirations. Share unique traits that can humanise you so the decision-maker can feel they have a sense of your personality. Show creativity in your writing and demonstrate confidence that you will rise to the occasion and thrive if offered the position.

Format your CV

If a decision-maker only dedicated thirty seconds to review your CV, what key messages would they gather from it?Curate your CV’s presentation and aesthetic. You do not want your story to be overlooked because your CV is difficult to read. Aim for consistency and legibility across the font, line spaces, indentation, margins, Bold, Italic, and general formatting.Your CV should not be too long or too short. One page is ideal and two could be warranted when needed. If you struggle with this, consider hiring a CV builder who can capture your essence or leverage every resource your university careers services office provides.

Applying for jobs can be a great opportunity for a well-needed self-assessment. Also, it helps you build your network and establish your reputation within your industry, even if you are not ultimately hired at any given company! Be sure to thank each interviewer with a personalised email and connect with everyone you meet on LinkedIn. Tailoring CVs to match job specifications gets easier each time you do it.