How to Get a Professional CV Review Online and What Are the Benefits of It

In today’s competitive job market, it is getting extremely difficult to get noticed. Hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing each resume, and you need to catch their attention within this time frame. And if you are not sure how the hiring process works, or what matters to an employer most, you can easily be overlooked even if you are qualified for the job.

Unless you have specific knowledge and experience, it can be difficult to evaluate your resume and be confident that it got what it takes to bring interviews. In this situation, showing your CV to a professional and receiving a constructive opinion can be a solution. In this article, we are going to explain who will benefit from a CV review service and how to get your resume checked by an expert for free.

Some resume writing agencies offer a paid resume review service. However, it is possible to get a free CV critique online for free – for example, at cv-review.org. An experienced reviewer will point out the strengths of your resume, mistakes that need to be fixed, and areas for improvement. After the CV check, you will receive an email with actionable steps that you can follow to give your CV a quality boost.

What will you get after a pro CV review?

A resume review means a comprehensive evaluation of its writing style, structure, content and design. A reviewer will read and evaluate your CV carefully, paying special attention to the points as follows:

• General structure and organization of your CV;
• The document’s length and what should be added or removed;
• Possible ‘red flags’ (such as gaps in employment), and how to address them;
• Visual presentation and design of the document;
• Compatibility with the ATS that most companies now use to select candidates;
• General writing style, use of strong language, results and accomplishments;
• Writing issues, such as typos, grammar, and punctuation.

After a CV review, a candidate receives a detailed report with the strengths and areas for growth. Based on this report, you can update your resume and make it more appealing to top employers.

What types of job-seekers will benefit from a professional CV review?

Hearing an expert opinion about one’s resume is equally helpful for all types of job-seekers, from students to C-level executives. Yet, in certain situations it is a must:

• You’ve worked for 5+ years in the same position. Resume writing rules and strategies change quite often. So, if you haven’t updated your resume for 5 years or more, it probably looks outdated. Moreover, it could also miss some skills crucial to today’s workplace (i.e. remote collaboration tools or industry software skills).
• You want to change your career path or industry. Writing a resume for a career change is one of the most challenging tasks. You need to translate your prior experience for a new industry and point out the transferable skills. A reviewer will explain if the resume markets you well for a new role.
• You are not getting interviews. If you are not getting interview calls or are getting irrelevant ones, it is a sign that your resume has issues. Maybe, it has mistakes that turn off the recruiters, or is not tailored for a position you are hoping to get. In either case, you need to identify these issues and fix them quickly.
• You are aiming for a promotion. Companies have different expectations from managers than they have from specialists. You need to emphasize different skills and experiences and show your ability to bring actionable results.
• You want to find a job faster. Resume shortcomings can sabotage your job search, and you might not even know about it. A professional reviewer will explain where the problems could be and suggest quick solutions. After updating a resume, you are more likely to get results in your job search.

How to choose a free CV review service?

Many websites offer to review your CV for free. Although you are not spending money on this service, you still need to choose wisely to receive quality feedback.

Choose a professional review, not an AI resume checker

Many online resume graders offer to review your resume instantly and for free. These checkers definitely can point out some issues, especially minor ones. However, the software cannot give you a big picture and evaluate the general effectiveness of the resume as an experienced resume writer can. So, it’s best to get your CV reviewed by a human, not an AI website.

Look for a confidential service

Some CV review websites may store or share your personal information. The resume has your contact details, information about your jobs, degrees, and other private details. So, before you send someone your resume for review, ask about their confidentiality policy. Opt for a company that offers non-disclosure of your personal data.

Pay attention to testimonials

A poor CV review can mislead you and actually do more harm than good. So, look for reviews and testimonials about the CV review website and read what other users had to say. Did they find the review helpful and if it helped them improve a resume on their own? Find it out before sending your resume to someone for evaluation.

What are the secrets of an interview-winning resume?

Keep the resume to one page

A resume longer than two pages turns off 17% of hiring professionals. If your resume exceeds two pages, consider removing outdated skills, jobs you had over 15 years ago, and irrelevant positions. This will also make the resume more focused.

Explain your career gaps

Ideally, your work history should not contain any long gaps or breaks. Yet, if you had such breaks to study or raise a child, make sure to explain it in a resume or a cover letter. If you worked on a personal project during a career break or were a freelancer, mention it as well.

Keep your job descriptions brief and specific

Avoid copying and pasting the list of responsibilities from the internet or someone else’s resume. Also, it’s not the best idea to use generic statements such as “Answered phones and emails”. Instead, say “Handled 60+ calls from customers daily with a 90% resolution rate”. Whenever possible, add details and share the results of your work with figures. Keep the job descriptions short – 6-7 bullets per job will be enough.

Add details about the company

If your company is unknown on the market, it is useful to indicate its industry and size. It will help the hiring managers evaluate your areas of expertise better. You might also want to mention the company’s main clients (if they are well-known organizations) and the number of people you supervised.

Include relevant skills

Adding a list of skills is helpful for two reasons. Firstly, it informs the hiring manager about your areas of specialization at a glance. And secondly, it helps you pass the ATS screening. So, add the skills and competencies from the job posting in a resume. If you have many skills, use categories (e.g. Languages, Software knowledge, etc.)

Edit and proofread

59% of hiring managers will reject a resume with mistakes. It is necessary to proofread the document a few times until its grammar, spelling and punctuation are perfect.

Showing your CV to an expert can give you a competitive edge in your job search. A professional reviewer will give you recommendations for fixing shortcomings and improving the quality of your resume in general, making it more appealing to recruiters in your field.