"Just 35 seconds & 131 words to impress & get that dream job interview"
It takes a mere seven seconds to make a first physical impression. People often judge others based on how a person looks and sounds. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/first-impressions?msockid=2220aca83cd26f592d1bbde33d9f6e38
a challenge
So, here is a challenge, if you had 35 seconds to impress someone who had the power to change your life and help you achieve your dreams, what would you do?
Personally, I would try to make a strong and memorable impression by highlighting my uniqueness. Each individual possesses distinct experiences, skills, and lives that set them apart.
- I would introduce myself confidently (remembering to say my name and smile)
- Highlight a key achievement (depending on the context, mention being a part of a TV series such as BBC’s “Child of Our Time” OR obtaining a Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching & Leadership Development, OR my next travel adventure.)
- And show my enthusiasm and vision by elaborating on my achievement. Explain how I have used it to make a difference.
And I talk fast – so I can probably do that in 35 seconds if I planned it in advance. But what about you?
How would you use those 35 seconds?
BUT let us change it up – they are reviewing your CV for your dream role without meeting you in person. You cannot impress them with your appearance or conversation skills.
You have to impress them with a couple of pieces of paper submitted via a portal.
They will have numerous qualified applicants to evaluate and a limited timeframe to complete the process. Therefore, within just 35 seconds, they will determine whether you will be invited for an interview for that potentially life-changing role or placed in the “not successful at this time” category.
The average person can read and process in 35 seconds an average 131 words. Remember those two numbers – 35 & 131.
- Introduce yourself – name and qualifications of note.
- A key achievement – a sentence or series of strong words about you which are relevant to the role.
- Enthusiasm and vision – an about you paragraph that tell them about why you have the skills, abilities, and ambitions to deliver in this role.
Does your current CV deliver in 35 seconds those three things? If not, then why not change it. After this section what about the rest of your CV.
Here are a few more tips.
- Highlight Achievements, Not Duties: If possible, use quantifiable metrics to showcase your impact.
- Use Keywords Strategically: Incorporate keywords from the job description to pass applicant tracking systems. I reviewed an advert for a Marketing Officer in the Met Police – the keywords you might consider for that role: Strategic Commissioning, Policing and Crime, Community Safety, Crime Prevention, Stakeholder Engagement, Budget Management, Partnerships, Service Improvement.
- Keep It Clean and Professional: Use a simple, modern layout with plenty of white space and the same font throughout. Remember a cluttered or inconsistent layout can make your CV hard to read. And selected use of bold or italics to draw the readers eye to a point.
- Too Long or Too Short – CV that is too lengthy can overwhelm and demonstrate an inability to summarise, while one that is too brief might not provide enough information. Two pages is a great length with no more than 10 years of job history.
- Showcase Unique Experiences tailored to the role that you are applying for: Include volunteer work, certifications, or side projects that demonstrate initiative and leadership.
- Incorrect Contact Information: Providing outdated or incorrect contact details.
- Unprofessional Email Address: Using an unprofessional email address can make a bad impression – check that the one that you created as a fun Oasis looking teenager is still professional looking! A free email is easy to set up – Microsoft outlook https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/outlook/email-and-calendar-software-microsoft-outlook?rtc=1
- Or Google’s Gmail https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
And finally, proofread it: Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors.
And then check it again before pressing send – at the very top of the first page does it sell you in 131 words / 35 seconds? And if you can get someone else to look at it one last time.
By focusing on these elements, you can create a CV that captures attention quickly and leaves an impression.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed. But investing time in your CV will increase your chances and make that dream even more achievable.
Need further help, members of our LinkedIn group can get a free CV review https://www.linkedin.com/company/everychatmatters