Step One: Review the Cover Letter
Not all employers require a cover letter but, even if you don’t ask for one, candidates may choose to include this document to further explain why they believe they’re the best fit for the role. A cover letter will not only clarify skills and experiences, but it can give you an idea of a candidate’s level of confidence and self-awareness, their excitement about the opportunity and any background research they may have done before applying. It can also give you a peek into their personality.
Step Two: Perform CV Scan
job description you developed. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for grammar and spelling, which can help you identify whether or not a candidate pays attention to detail and knows how to present themselves professionally.
Step Three: Deep Dive into Skills and Qualifications
Your second CV read-through will allow you to examine specific elements more carefully. First, consider the skills and qualifications and determine whether they are relevant to the job role you’re looking to fill. Ideally, candidates should tailor their CV to each job they apply for and should highlight proficiencies that will help them excel at your company.
Compare their list of skills to the job requirements and consider any gaps. If the job role requires a skill the applicant hasn’t listed, make a note of this and, if you decide to pass them through to the next phase, you can ask them about their capabilities in that particular area.
Step Four: Thoroughly Review Previous Employment
Next, you’ll want to delve into the applicant’s employment history. Consider job titles and primary duties and consider whether these experiences will help the candidate fulfill the responsibilities you’ve outlined in the job description. Also carefully review dates of employment. Make a note of any gaps in employment or short stints, and consider asking the candidate to expand or explain if you decide to move them on to the next round.
Step Five: Determine Whether the Applicant Qualifies for the Next Phase
After you’ve read the cover letter, performed an initial CV scan and analysed skills, qualifications and employment history, it’s time to decide whether or not you want to move the applicant on to a phone screening or interview. Once you’ve made your selections from the stack, be sure to file away other impressive CVs for later. If a candidate’s CV is strong, but it doesn’t fit the job role you’re looking to fill, keep the CV on hand in case they may be a good fit for another opportunity in the future.
These five steps will help you learn how to review CV efficiently so you can quickly recognize which applicants are the best fit and move along to the next part of the hiring process.
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