Making a difference is becoming increasingly important to employees. In fact, 77% of global workers feel that a company’s values and purpose (including sustainability, diversity, and transparency) are important when selecting an employer.1 But this also means that jobs focused on social impact are in high demand. Therefore, we have put together five key tips to help you stand out to employers!
Whether you’re passionate about environmental sustainability, social justice, education, or community development, securing a role in this sector starts with a well-crafted CV. Here’s a comprehensive guide to creating a CV that stands out to employers in the social impact arena.
Creating a CV for jobs focused on social impact requires more than listing your work history. It’s about telling a story of your commitment, experiences, and the unique value you bring to the table. By following these tips, you can craft a compelling CV that highlights your passion and qualifications, making you a standout candidate in the social impact sector.
1. First Impressions are Everything
On average, employers spend six to seven seconds reading a resume.2 It is therefore crucial to make yours stand out with clear, concise and ordered content. There are hundreds of online tools to help craft your CV. Free sites like Google Docs and Canva offer an array of different templates to work from.
83% of recruiters said they are more likely to hire a candidate with a well-formatted CV.3 It is your job to make your CV as clear and easy to read as possible. A few crucial tips are:
- Make sure to use subheadings for each section e.g., Education and Contact Information.
- Spacing is key. Ensure you are not cramming the page with information – keep it clear and concise. For example, make sure there is enough spacing between each of your work experience examples.
- List your experiences chronologically as it becomes much easier to follow.
2. Showcase Relevant Experience
However, it can’t all be about aesthetics. Listing relevant job experience is crucial to demonstrating your commitment to social impact work. Whilst you may have shone as Captain of your local hockey team, it is not necessarily relevant to the job. Focus on recent experiences that highlight skills your employer is looking for.
Highlight specific projects and initiatives where you made a measurable impact. Have you worked with non-profits, community organisations or NGOs? Have you helped organise a successful fundraiser? Did you help with a branding campaign or run socials to boost outreach? Then explain the processes and outcomes of these experiences. Emphasise the tangible outcomes of your efforts, such as improved services, increased awareness, or enhanced community well-being. And, where possible, try to quantify your impact: use numbers, percentages, or other metrics to demonstrate the effects of your work. For example, a social media manager might explain how they boosted their Instagram outreach by 10%.
Finally, testimonials, feedback and references can make your CV shine! Include brief quotes or responses from beneficiaries, partners, or stakeholders that highlight the positive impact of your work.
3. Professional Development and Continuous Learning
As companies build the organisation of the future, continuous learning is critical for business success.
– Deloitte Insights.4
In an industry that is always evolving, show that you are committed to ongoing learning and development. Include any workshops, courses, or seminars you’ve attended that are relevant to the social impact sector. Not only does this add more tools to your belt, but demonstrates your proactive attitude.
4. Highlight Transferable Skills
Social impact roles often require a diverse skill set. Emphasise your transferable skills: from soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity and work ethic to hard skills including project management, fundraising, community engagement and data analysis.
Perhaps you’re a master of Photoshop or a Microsoft Excel genius! Maybe your expertise lies in your ability to rally the team and build strong connections. Whatever it may be, make sure you highlight it to employers, and provide concrete examples of how you’ve applied these skills in previous roles.
5. Tailor Your CV to Each Job
One-size-fits-all does not apply here. Three quarters of all CVs are never even seen by the human eye, instead scanned by a piece of software, known as an applicant tracking system, or “ATS.” In order to “beat the bots” you must tailor your CV for each application, emphasising the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the specific role and organisation.5
Each CV you submit should be reworded to reflect the language of each specific job description. ATS determines your suitability for the role based on how well the terms you use correspond with the keywords in the job listing. Therefore, to overcome these AI obstacles, you must ensure your CV is directly aligned to what the employer is looking for.
Impact Match supports both individuals striving to discover and maintain their true purpose in life, and organisations seeking exceptional talent. We offer strategic advice, and can help you connect with your ideal match. Find out more here about how Impact Match can help and book a call if you would like to find out more.
Footnotes
- https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/28-recruiting-statistics-on-the-candidate-experience/#:~:text=77%25%20of%20global%20workers%20feel,important%20when%20selecting%20an%20employer
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-long-do-employers-look-at-resumes
- https://www.qureos.com/career-guide/resume-statistics-for-job-seekers#resume-format-statistics
- https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2017/learning-in-the-digital-age.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/resume-how-yours-can-beat-the-applicant-tracking-system.html
