How To Get a Professional CV Critique Online

How To Get a Professional CV Critique Online

Many websites offering paid resume help also provide a free evaluation of your CV. For anyone in the middle of their job search, a professional CV critique can be helpful.

Many job-seekers cannot evaluate their resumes objectively or simply don’t know what elements of the resume matter most for an employer. Therefore, you can unknowingly make resume mistakes that can cost you an interview. Today, we will explain how everyone can receive a free professional CV critique and improve their resume so that it brings more interview calls.

Job-seekers in the US can order a free CV critique service online. An experienced CV consultant will review and check your document and point out the strengths, shortcomings, and areas for improvement.

The reviewer will send you an email with step-by-step recommendations explaining what should be corrected. Free resume critique is provided confidentially and does not oblige you to make a purchase.

Signs that you need a professional CV review

Rules and best practices for resume writing change frequently, and unless you are an HR professional, it is challenging to compose a resume that pleases the employer. Every job-seeker will benefit from showing their resume to an expert and receiving constructive feedback. Yet, a pro CV critique is especially recommended in these situations:

• You apply to dozens of jobs and never hear back. Or, you receive interview calls, but they want to interview you for a completely different job. A resume is the first touchpoint with the employer. If you apply to jobs you are qualified for and rarely hear back, some resume issues likely turn off the recruiters.
• You haven’t updated your CV for 5+ years. If you worked for the same employer for years or took a long career break, your CV looks a bit outdated. A qualified resume consultant will point out in what areas your resume needs to be improved.
• You are unsure if the resume positions you well for your target job. Modern resume need to be optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS), focus on achievements, and emphasize relevant experience. Generic resumes don’t bring results, so you need to be confident that your CV is perfectly optimized for a particular job posting.
• You are not good at writing. Good resumes use a confident tone, are written in flawless business English and focus on accomplishments. If writing is not your forte, it is better to consult a resume reviewer since the employer will pay attention to your writing style.
• Your career story has issues. If you took a long break from work, changed jobs frequently or if you want to start a career in a new industry, note that these issues need to be explained. Otherwise, the employer will simply reject your resume.

CV Critique Online: How to receive a resume critique?

Resume reviewers often have a background in HR or as professional resume writers. They have seen hundreds of resumes and know from practice what an effective resume should look like.

To receive a CV critique, upload your document on the site. Some companies will ask you to send a copy via email. In a few business days, you will receive an email with pointers explaining what works in your resume and what should be fixed. With these step-by-step recommendations, you can build a stronger CV that brings more interviews.

Some websites also offer paid CV reviews; if you can afford to spend some money on resume improvement, it is better to stick with a paid option. In the case of the paid review, a CV consultant spends more time analyzing your CV and will provide more detailed recommendations. In fact, you will receive a personalized resume guide that will help you improve your resume in no time.

4 tips to avoid a scam when choosing a website for a CV review

To receive a quality CV critique, you need to choose a reliable company. Avoid scam websites that send you a useless critique or nothing. Here’s how you can choose a reliable company for your CV review:

• Pay attention to the website. Good resume companies usually have a modern and user-friendly website.
• Look for customer reviews. Hear what other customers have to say about the company and the services they purchased. If the reviews are positive, it is likely that a free CV critique will be good as well.
• Choose a professional CV review, not an AI evaluation. Opt for a website that offers a resume critique performed by a human reviewer, not software. AI can hardly give you a ‘big picture and evaluate your resume objectively.
• Talk to the support rep before sending a CV for review. Ask what precisely a CV evaluation entails, how soon it will be ready, etc. It is a bad sign if the company does not have a phone number or chat.

A professional CV review can go a long way in improving your resume, provided that a resume expert does it. So, avoid suspicious agencies and order a CV evaluation from reputable companies that offer resume writing services.

CV Critique Online: The most common CV mistakes that job-seekers make

Resume experts state that job-seekers often make typical mistakes that turn off the hiring manager. To give your resume a quick check, take a look at these popular resume mistakes (and how to fix them):

• Your resume takes longer than 2 pages. According to the statistics, long resumes make professionals 72% less hireable. If your resume is too long, consider removing early jobs and irrelevant details or changing the formatting.
• Messy formatting. Different fonts and formatting styles make the CV difficult to read. Use the same font type and size throughout the document (you can use a bigger font for headers). Format in bullets instead of paragraphs, and avoid bright colors.
• Personal information. Listing your age, marital status, nationality, or sexual orientation is a big no-no in most situations. It is illegal for an employer to ask for this information, and hiring decisions should not be based on it.
• No action verbs. Starting your bullets like “Phone calls & filing” or “Accounting department management” won’t help you present yourself as an accomplished professional. When describing your work history, use strong words like Achieved, initiated, organized, implemented, etc.
• Poor grammar and punctuation. 59% of hiring managers will reject a resume that has typos and grammar issues. Proofread the document using an online spell checker and then check it manually.

Writing a strong CV is challenging, especially if you are unaware of the current hiring practices. A professional review will help you understand the shortcomings in the CV, correct them and get better results in your job search.