Everyone will probably agree that right now, trying to navigate a competitive market is proving more and more difficult, for both candidates and hiring managers. We are seeing more applicants applying for jobs compared to previous years, which invites questions such as “Is my CV getting lost amongst others?” “Do other CVs stand out more?” “Why am I not getting feedback on my CV?” and many more.
Having spoken to many managers and candidates, and also managing my own inbox full of CVs, here are my top tips to help you get noticed by recruiters and managers in the current market as a Software Tester!
Make Sure You Meet the Requirements on the Job Description (don’t lie)
Seems obvious, right? However, I see so many applications where the person doesn’t even meet 50% of the job specification, or sometimes not at all.
You should clearly demonstrate how you meet the job description on your CV (don’t be afraid to highlight key points) and if you are lucky enough to be invited to interview, be able to talk about those points confidently and with examples.
Recruiters don’t have the time to guess if you meet the requirements of the job description, and in most cases have never actually used the technologies required for the role, so rely on you to show us that you have the experience. We have spent a long time building relationships with our clients and want to make sure we put the best CVs forward of those who can confidently do the job.
And if you don’t meet every point? No problem, either mention similar technologies you have worked with or skills you have gained that show how you can learn quickly.
Showcase Your Technologies on the First Page of Your CV
Due to the high volume of candidates that are applying for roles, our inboxes are bursting at the seams with lots of great CVs. However, our clients only want to see our “top candidates” which is usually 2-3 of the best CVs that we can source. As such, we are very limited on the time we have to screen each CV and give feedback to candidates.
One of the best things that candidates can do is to list all of the technologies that they have experience using and highlight them on the first page of their CV. Again, recruiters don’t know if the technology you have used is similar to the one mentioned in the job description or not, so it’s a great help when we can see what you have used and what it is used for. Eg. Programming languages: Java, Typescript, Python. Test Management tools: Jira, Testrail etc etc
Keep The Format Consistent and Clear
A CV with a clear layout, consistent size and font, that is relevant and to the point, is more likely to get noticed than a CV that has been put together without much thought.
I always advise candidates to follow the same format as their LinkedIn profile;
- Contact details (make sure to include a phone number!)
- Summary highlighting your key skills that make you a good fit for the role
- Job history that follows the “date, company, job title, duties/experience gained” with your most recent role first.
This will help your CV to flow, make it clear and easy for recruiters to read, and show that you have spent time making your CV presentable.
Keep it Personal and Ditch AI
In an age where we have easy access to AI and ChatGPT, it's all too tempting to use it to write a detailed CV. Can we spot a CV written by AI? Absolutely.
Make your CV personal and write it from the heart to help make you stand out as an individual. Even if you have also gained 10 years of experience as an Automation Tester, your experiences, skills and responsibilities will be completely different to someone else, and there might be something particular that the client is looking for that isn’t mentioned in the job description!
Don't Cast Your Net Too Wide
Whilst it’s tempting to apply for every Software Tester role on the market and hope you get a bite, this isn’t the most effective way to secure a role right now.
A candidate who tailors their CV to a specific role, highlighting why they want it and why they would be a good fit, will always stand out compared to someone who has applied for so many jobs they don’t know which one you are calling them about.
We want to work with dedicated candidates who will demonstrate to our clients that they truly want that role, and aren’t applying out of desperation and will potentially leave for a role that they actually want when it comes along.
Every candidate and every role is unique, which is why at Reperio we will spend time getting to know you as an individual, supporting you in your application, and ensuring that you have the best chance possible at securing your new role.
If you are looking for your next opportunity in QA/Test in Ireland, reach out to me at r.miskimmin@reperiohc.com. If your area of tech expertise is something different, another member of our team can help you out!
(Written by Rachel Miskimmin)