CV Statistics to Keep In Mind

Want to know how you can make your CV stand out from the crowd? Check out these CV statistics and see how you can improve your CV today.

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cv statistics
cv statistics
cv statistics

CV statistics

One of the most unique ways to better understand how to write a CV is by using CV statistics. CV statistics can give you a better idea of how other people are looking for a new job and what career advice you should be incorporating into your CV as well. If you’re looking for quantifiable results in your job-hunting endeavour, you need to draw on job search statistics. Here’s how you can improve your CV templates by listening to CV statistics.

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Basic CV statistics

CV statistics start with the actual way you construct your CV. Here are a few points to consider when you’re preparing to write a CV:

  • 51% of documents have buzzwords, cliches, and grammatical errors.
  • Around 25% of hiring managers only spend 30 seconds or less reviewing a CV.
  • Job seekers consider these to be the top factors when looking for a new job:
    • Career growth
    • Health benefits
    • Compensation
  • Only about half of job seekers include a cover letter.

What do these statistics say about writing a CV for a job posting? First of all, 85% of recruiters agree that potential candidates inflate their competencies. When as many as 25% of hiring managers look at your CV for less than half a minute, you need to get across that information as quickly as possible if you’re hoping for a job offer. The best way to do this, is with quantifiable metrics (dollars, amounts, percents) that add easy spot verification to your skills.

Soft skills recruiters love to see on a CV

Soft skills are an important starting point when listing your key skills. These skills revolve around the way you communicate with other people and the way you handle yourself. They’re personality-based skills. Here are a few of the soft skills that might make you more likely to land a job interview:

  • Communication skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Time management
  • Teamwork
  • Creativity
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Work ethic
  • Adaptability
  • Attention to detail
  • Leadership skills

You’ll often see these skills listed in the job description of an open position.

Hard skills recruiters love to see on a CV

What about hard skills? While soft skills are all about your personality, hard skills are specific knowledge that applies to the job you’re applying for. Here are a few of the most common hard skills you might see on a CV:

  • Data analysis
  • Social media
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • Project management
  • Team management
  • Digital marketing
  • Troubleshooting
  • Resource management
  • Web analytics
  • Operating systems

It’s important to remember that hard skills will naturally vary depending on the job. If you’re applying to be a professional CV writer, you’re probably going to need to know how to use Microsoft Office. If you’re applying to be a data scientist, you’ll need to know how to use machine learning algorithms and write in Python and SQL. Your industry will have an impact on the hard skills you use, so don’t feel like you need to use all of these skills.

FAQ: CV statistics

Q: What are the most common mistakes on a CV?

There are typically four common mistakes that may make a hiring manager reject your CV outright, often without looking at any of the actual content. Avoid these mistakes if you want to get a job offer:

  • Poor grammar, typos, and misspelled words
  • An unprofessional email address
  • Lack of quantifiable information
  • Poor CV formatting

You can fix many of these problems with the CV builder at CVHelp. If you’re willing to use extra tools, you can avoid most of the common CV mistakes.

Q: What percentage of CV are rejected?

More than 70% of CV are rejected, and a common reason for this rejection is that the CV don’t make it past the applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS is an automated process to make it easier for a hiring manager to fill a position. With ATS, if a CV doesn’t have the right number of CV keywords, it never even makes it to the hiring manager. You can avoid this problem by actively looking for more keywords and paying close attention to the job description.

Q: Does a cover letter make your CV stand out more?

Yes. Around 45% of people applying to a job opening don’t even include a cover letter with their CV, which means that you can stand out from almost half of the applicants on average if you write a cover letter. This is just one more reason why cover letters are so important even today.

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