Hitting the mark – CV and cover letter secrets that work

So you’ve found it — the role that makes you sit up straighter in your chair. Not just another job listing, but the one that genuinely excites you. The organisation you’ve admired for years is hiring, and you tick every box on the description.

Now comes the real challenge: how do you stand out from dozens, maybe hundreds, of other applicants and secure that all-important interview?

Here are some practical Top Tips on mastering the art of CV and cover letter writing.

DO – Make it concise

When it comes to your CV and cover letter, less is often more. Hiring managers are busy, and long-winded applications can lose their attention quickly.

Aim to keep your cover letter to one page and your CV to just a few pages. This forces you to carefully choose what to include, focusing only on the information that clearly demonstrates your suitability for the role. Highlight your most relevant skills, achievements and experience rather than listing everything you’ve ever done.

Think quality over quantity.

DON’T – Undersell yourself

Your CV is essentially your personal marketing brochure. Its purpose is to present you in the best possible light and persuade an employer that you’re worth meeting.

That means showcasing your strengths confidently and clearly. Avoid vague statements and instead provide specific examples of what you’ve achieved. If you improved a process, increased sales, or led a successful project, say so.

Presentation also matters. Spelling mistakes, clumsy sentences and poor formatting can create a negative impression. Before sending anything off, proofread it carefully. Better yet, ask a trusted friend or colleague to review it and give honest feedback on whether it presents you as strongly as it could.

DO – Demonstrate you’re well-rounded

Employers are not just hiring skills, they’re hiring people. Including voluntary work, community involvement or personal interests can help paint a fuller picture of who you are.

Activities such as team sports can suggest collaboration skills. Leadership roles in clubs or associations can highlight initiative and responsibility. You might also include professional memberships, industry affiliations, foreign language skills or notable achievements such as awards.

These details can help differentiate you from other candidates with similar technical qualifications.

DON’T – Share unnecessary personal details

It’s no longer standard practice to include personal information such as gender, age, marital status, religion, ethnicity or health status.

Not only are these details irrelevant to your ability to perform the job, but including them can make your CV look outdated. Employers are interested in your skills and experience — not your personal background.

If any personal detail is genuinely relevant to the role, it can be addressed appropriately in your cover letter. Otherwise, keep the focus on your professional capabilities.

DO – Keep everything relevant

As your career progresses, not every past role needs the same level of detail. If you’ve been working for many years, you don’t have to describe every job comprehensively. For earlier or less relevant positions, simply list the job title, employer and dates.

Prioritise experience that directly relates to the position you’re applying for, even if it occurred some time ago. Some experienced candidates choose to highlight more recent roles while summarising older employment briefly.

The same principle applies to education. Start with your highest qualification and omit high school details if you hold a tertiary degree. In most cases, professional experience should come before education on your CV, unless you’re a recent graduate or applying for an academic role where qualifications are the primary focus.

Remember: employers are primarily interested in what you can do. Shape your CV and cover letter to clearly show that you have the experience, skills and potential to excel in the role.