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What does an employer look for in Shortlisting a candidate?

UAE employers receive a high volume of applications for their job postings due to the growing population of job seekers in the country. They have the challenging task of shortlisting only a couple of candidates who they can then call for a face-to-face interview. Ideally, they would like this to be done in the shortest time possible. What this means is that employers don’t have the time to go through each CV in detail. Therefore, candidates need to keep in mind the few criteria that every recruiter or employer will have in order to shortlist CVs.
 

There are certain key things that an employer looks for in an application:

• Whether or not your resume is professionally developed.
• Your education and experience should meet the job requirement.
• Skills and achievements should be highlighted clearly.
• References should be available in case the employer wants to conduct a background check.
   

In addition to these, there are also some factors that may pose as a red flag in an employer’s mind. It is best to avoid the below in your CV:

• No job roles or achievements: This is one of the first things an employer looks for in your CV. Consider your application as rejected immediately if you miss out on this.
• Extremely wordy – Avoid filling your CV with unnecessary information. Focus on what’s important to get you the job you are applying for.
• Language and grammatical mistakes – Make sure the tone of writing is correct and consistent throughout the CV.
• Inconsistent formatting – Ensure that the fonts, bullets, and text size used is consistent throughout the CV in order for it to look professional.

Only once you pass the initial screening, will you be considered for a telephonic interview or the first round of interviews.  Some employers also upload CVs to an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which strips down all the formatting. Here, it becomes even more essential that your content is on the point and in the correct order. Professional CV writers can help you a great deal to ensure your CV is able to get through the ATS system. There are a number of CV writing services in Dubai and the other emirates that help you get shortlisted and guarantee an interview call.