Analysing CVs

You've made the decision to recruit and now you have now a mountain of CVs to get through. How do you sort through it? It looks like a pile of paperwork needing your attention. Reading and extracting the vital information you need can be like holding a virtual interview in your own head.

Key skills and achievements

• How would their skills benefit you?
• Have they showed that they can set goals and achieve them?
• How involved have they been in other studies?
• Do their key skills that correlate with job?
• What makes them unique?

Qualifications and education

• Do they have the educational background needed to complete the job?
• Have they done other courses to develop their skills?
• Are their grades consistent? Have they exemplified a professional standard in their studies?

Employment

• How long have they been with each employer?
• Have they worked for a variety of different employers? Consider size and structure/systems, team size, location and nature of the business
• What was their position, who did they report to?
• What clients have they worked on?
• Have they put forward any initiatives?
• Did they receive any promotions?
• What were their responsibilities?
• What successes have they achieved?
• Have they been unemployed for a long duration?
• Have they travelled or gained worldly experience?
• Have they worked from the bottom up? Do they have any grounding or administrative skills that would help them in the position?
• If a graduate, were they capable of working and studying at the same time? What work experience do they have? Did they win any work placements?
• Have they given a reason for leaving their current position

Hobbies and interests

• What are their interests?
• Are they team players or do they 'play' on their own?
• What character do their hobbies and interests suggest?