5 tips to optimise your CV for job search

1. Use the right keywords

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Try to include keywords to match the job description that you are applying for, whether it is a specific job title or certain skills. If you are applying for the role of an administrative assistant, and you have been an administrative assistant before, ensure that the job title is in your resume. If the job description is looking for someone with knowledge of specific software, name that software in your resume.

2. Avoid marketing fluff

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Trendy terms such as "self-starter" and "specialised" mean nothing to a bot. Instead, list specific results or skills to qualify your expertise. For instance, instead of claiming that you are "flexible", say that you "covered shifts for colleagues in other departments to help keep operations running successfully".

(Read also "Don’t Include These Details In Your Resume If You’re Looking For A New Job")

3. Stick to common category titles

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It can be tempting to jazz up a resume with headings such as "life journey", when the common category "work experience" would do just fine. A bot does not know what someone's life journey means.

4. Avoid images

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Charts and pictures look great to human eyes, but the bot will unlikely be able to process them. Even unusual fonts may not be readable.

5. Use the right file format

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Instead of uploading the resume as a large image file, for example, keep it simple by saving it as a plain text document. Some bots cannot read PDF files either.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.