Tips for securing your first meeting

After you’ve sent your CV, job seekers often cross their fingers and hope to receive a positive reply.

Here are some tips on how to secure your first meeting if you are working with a specialised recruitment consultant.

Tidy up your CV

Your CV is one of the major factors that will lead to a face-to-face meeting with a recruiter. A good CV is highly likely to land you a first meeting instantly. Make sure that it is organised and neat and written in proper and concise English. Bear this in mind even if you have decades of experience.

A recruiter is usually most impressed by a CV that is three to four pages long, six pages maximum for more experienced candidates. We’ve seen candidates who list their primary school grades – This is not necessary; if you must include such details, just the name of the school will do.

List your jobs in reverse chronological order with the most recent job at the top. Tip: Include and quantify your achievements instead of merely listing your job responsibilities – For example, if you won the top sales award for your team, etc. Most importantly, make sure you include both your email address and contact number so the recruiter can contact you easily.

Drop a teaser email or call

If you are suitable for the role, this could work in your favour. With recruiters getting inundated by CVs, a teaser email or phone call indicating your interest in the role adds a human touch. If you have relevant experience and skill sets for the position, getting in touch before even sending your CV could potentially pique their interest.

An example of a teaser email would be an indication of the role at hand, your years of experience and what you can offer – but only a sneak preview. The same goes for a phone call. If the recruiter is interested, you can follow up with sending the actual CV.

List your jobs in reverse chronological order with the most recent job at the top

Be enthusiastic and keen, not desperate

After sending out your CV, remain enthusiastic and keen. Never appear desperate. Some candidates can get demanding in wanting a response from their recruiter, but circumstances may prevent them from doing so – For example, when recruiters are in the midst of shortlisting other candidates or if the employer may have specific requirements to add on to the role.

Incessant phone calls or emails may irk the recruiter and reduce your chances of securing your first interview. Instead, drop a polite email or make a phone call about a week after sending your CV to them. This helps you maintain your profile on the recruiter’s radar and you might just catch them at a time where there has been a development in the role, or if there is a new role suitable for you.