Unlock Your Dream Job: Mastering Tailored CVs and Cover Letters with Olinio’s Expert Guide

Few people actually enjoy writing CVs or cover letters, but they are a necessary evil to find a job. They may be relatively short documents, but there is so much riding on them if you want to pursue your dream career. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the pressure, especially if writing is not your strong point. Have no fear, Olinio is here to help write your CV! One tip found on many ‘How to write a great CV or cover letter’ lists is to tailor each CV to the specific job you are applying for. We understand the challenges of producing even one CV, let alone several, but if you’re committed to securing your dream job, precision is your ally. Tailored CVs and cover letters definitely maximise your chances of being invited to the next stage of the process, but how do you actually go about this? Our Content Creator has written a step-by-step guide to doing exactly this:  

1. Start by creating a template CV. While it is usually great advice to keep your CV as brief as possible, don’t fret too much about shortening this draft- it’s not the finished product. Make sure it includes all your greatest skills, qualities and achievements.  
2. Next, scour the advertisement of your dream job and make a detailed list of all the skills, requirements and desirable experience/qualities specified.  
3. The third step is to do some detective work- get sleuthing! Try to find out as much as possible about the organisation you are applying to. Websites like Glassdoor might offer insights into workplace culture, company history, and employee count. Look for a ‘Meet the team’ page, to see what sort of qualifications and qualities the existing employees have. Understanding your potential employer like this gives you an incredible amount of leverage to ensure that when they read your CV, you are exactly the type of employee they’ve been searching for. 
4. Now it’s time to take all the data you’ve just obtained, and use a mixture of logic and intuition to figure out exactly what the company is looking for. For example, if it is a startup or relatively young organisation, the management team is likely to value creativity and flexibility; maybe they would prefer to hire generalists with a broad range of skills who are willing to ‘wear many hats’. A more mature company might be looking for someone with a more specialised focus and a proven track record in a specific field. Add any insights or observations to your list. 
5. Now it’s time to customise your CV. Highlight all of your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the profile you’ve built of the organisation’s ideal candidate. Remove anything that contradicts or which doesn’t add value.  
6. Put your new CV and the list side by side. Go through the list and check off every item that you have managed to effectively cover in your CV. Give yourself a pat on the back for being so thorough, then send it to your mum/partner/friend/aunt who is really good at proofreading for a final check. Make sure you follow all the traditional advice of making sure it is error-free. 
7. Lastly, let’s get that cover letter written. Here you get the chance to prove that you are capable of the skills and characteristics that are not already covered by your CV.  

Consider this scenario: You have deduced that this is a startup company that seeks a creative thinker, an area not showcased in your CV where you’ve been immersed in data entry for five years. However, for the past year you have been working on a personal project on the side that has required plenty of problem solving and creativity. Tell them about it in your cover letter! While it might not be a great idea to spend three paragraphs telling them every little detail, a concise sentence or two telling them how your personal passions have prepared you for such a position could be very persuasive. 

Strive to touch upon every characteristic in the hiring organisation’s requirements. It can be tempting to exaggerate or fabricate your experience, but we really do believe honesty is the best policy here. Addressing gaps in your professional development candidly exhibits transparency and willingness to grow, attributes employers find appealing. Emphasise how keen you are to skill up or gain the desired experience; recruiters often respond positively to a candid approach.  

Olinio wishes you success in your job-hunting endeavours. If you have had enough of the daunting task of CV writing, consider reaching out to us- we offer an array of writing and proofreading solutions that may liberate you from the ceaseless application cycle. We look forward to hearing from you!