Is your CV fit for purpose?

The insurance job market is booming, skills shortages abound, and you’re looking for a new challenge. Make sure your CV gives you the best opportunity to secure an interview for that attractive new role.

“the objective of a CV is to get an interview”

It’s not just an overview of your technical skills, it’s an opportunity to really showcase your skills, experience and achievements to potential employers.

Here are some tips to help you achieve this.

Why should an employer shortlist you above others?

A good CV makes you stand out from the crowd. It needs to be easy to read, concise and to the point.

Best to stick to Word and not use images if you can avoid them.

Language is everything – use the same or similar language as the Job Description or online ad.

Pick out keywords from their key responsibilities section and use the same phrases to describe your work experience

Make sure the information is relevant.

Focus on your skills and strengths – what you can offer the employer?

Include specific examples, such as:

“The insurance market is continually changing, I was tasked with reviewing our policy wordings to ensure they met with policyholders’ expectations and current legislation. I successfully managed this process, and as a team, we made the necessary changes”

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The CV Format

Personal Information
Insert your name, current job title, and contact information here (email / mobile / Suburb, State, Postcode).

Summary Statement
This is your elevator pitch – the place where you showcase your key assets, helping explain why you’re the right candidate for the job. Use the same or similar language as the Job Ad description.

Try to keep it brief and to the point.

Experience
Start with your most recent job, moving backward in time from there.
List the role, company and period of employment, followed by up to five bullet points under two categories: Key Responsibilities and Key Achievements

Ensure you use the same Terminology and Keywords when describing your experience. If possible, try to quantify your achievements.

Key Skills
Most employees look for a mix of technical (type of clients, product lines, projects) and soft skills (teamwork, adaptability and so on). The Job Ad will give you a clear indication of what they want. Match that up with the skillset you possess.

Education
Keep this section short and simple, including your highest level of education. It’s okay to list multiple tertiary qualifications.

Certifications
Keeping up with changes in the industry naturally involves extra training. This is the area to showcase what you’ve done, listing them in the same way as the requirements in the Job Ad.

Interests
Insert 2-3 interests

References
Normally “Available on request”

Ideally, your CV should be 1 – 3 pages long.
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Finally:

• Double check everything – spelling, dates of employment and that tenses are correct.
• Read and re-read – ask a trusted colleague to proof read and give an objective review.
• Make sure things are specific and keeping to the point.
• Does the information sell you and your skills effectively?
• And don’t forget you will need references – people who can provide detailed responses on how well you performed your tasks and responsibilities, who you actually reported to, and who you are confident will give you a good review.

 

“If you’ve got a good CV, you’ll get an interview.
If you interview well, you’ll get the job” 

 

Remember, Rowben’s team are here to help and only a phone call away – call either of our offices if you need help with your CV and finding a new role.