Writing a CV For the Sustainability Sector

If you missed the first Sustainability Sector Insight Event of the 2022/23 year, here is a summary of the messages that came from that session.

CV Tips

1. Make your CV stand out - grab the reader’s attention

During the session we heard how an initial CV check can take as little as 5-10 seconds. Given such a short time frame to make an impact, it’s important to grab the attention of the reader in those initial moments.

A clear structure and signposting to relevant sections helps readers quickly find relevant information that supports your application. Clear headings enable the reader to navigate their way through your CV that showcases your skills. Make sure to have the most relevant information appear first in the CV, as this will be the first thing the reader sees.

A profile or summary at the beginning of a CV can grab the reader’s attention. During the session we heard about a profile acting like a movie trailer, showcasing the most important information. This can be a useful way of demonstrating your qualities, but make sure to keep your profile concise and avoid generic statements that can be applied to numerous different roles.

2. Maintain the reader’s interest

Once you’ve grabbed the reader’s attention you then need to keep them interested and show them why they should put you through to the next stage. A great way of doing this is through shining a light on your relevant skills and experiences.

During the session we were introduced to the idea of ‘more relevant, more room, more prominence’. This means giving your relevant experiences enough space, so that you’re showcasing your skills and making sure they appear early in your CV. By having these relevant experiences prominent throughout your CV you’ll be sure to maintain the reader’s interest and ensure they hear about your qualities.

3. Use action verbs

Having considered how to highlight key areas of our CV, let’s now focus on what to write for those experiences. Summarising experiences concisely whilst showcasing relevant skills can be tricky, and so using action verbs is a valuable way of getting your points across.

Action verbs enable you to get straight to the point and start adding context to the skills you’re demonstrating. Resources are available to help you match action verbs to skills, as mentioned in our How to Write Amazing Applications CareersLab video. Using such language will make sure you are highlighting necessary competencies and breaking down buzzwords by giving a description of how you’ve previously demonstrated necessary requirements. 

We introduced the concept of ‘action, scope, outcome’, which is a useful summary to structure your experiences. Breaking down your examples to what action you took, in what circumstances followed by the outcome of your actions will ensure you cover key points whilst providing examples in a clear, concise manner.