CV Writing Masterclass: Stop Letting Computers Ruin Your Career!

Tired of throwing your resume into the digital void?

While most modern recruiters rely on robots (Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS) to filter out candidates, Stafford Lawrence Ltd is proudly “old school.” They actually read your CV, which means you can stop playing keyword bingo and start writing a document that genuinely sells your professional value.

If you are dealing with other recruiters, yes, Google “how to make my CV ATS compliant,” but for this firm and any client who wants quality over quantity, follow these commandments!

Things to AVOID on your CV/Resume

If your CV looks like a party invitation, you’re doing it wrong. Keep it professional, people!

  1. The Rainbow Effect: NEVER use several different colours on your CV. You are not at nursery school, and you should have retired your sparkly crayons years ago. Stick to one color (black) or two if you’re feeling wild (maybe a dark blue). It’s not “creative”—it’s distracting, and frankly, a little odd.
  2. The Font Frenzy: Stick to one professional font. A random change in typeface is distracting to the eye and off-putting to the reader. Feel free to use different sizes, bold, or underline your job titles, but keep the font family consistent.
  3. Random Highlighting: Don’t randomly highlight or underline words. A recruiter knows what a “Project Manager” is; you don’t need to put a spotlight on it. It just screams, “I don’t trust you to read this properly!”
  4. Fussy Templates & Photos (Unless Asked!): Avoid pictures, company logos, and overly fussy graphs/text boxes. The best recruiters often reformat your CV to their own client-facing template. The more complex your design is, the harder it is to transfer, and the higher the risk of something breaking. Save the fancy infographics for your LinkedIn profile.
  5. The Third-Person Enigma: NEVER write your CV in the third person. You are not a historical figure or a royal decree. Write from your own perspective.

Key to Getting Hired: The Content Checklist

This is the non-negotiable stuff that instantly separates the serious candidates from the rest.

Project Experience is Everything in Construction

  • Include Every Relevant Project: For Senior-level Engineering and Technical Construction roles, recruiters like Stafford Lawrence Ltd prefer to see everything. If a job advert asks for experience in Port/Harbour or Dams, and you did that project 15 years ago, INCLUDE IT! Don’t follow the misguided advice to only list the last 10 years. Your lack of a single keyword could cause you to miss out.
  • Target Your CV: You absolutely should adjust your CV to fit the role you are applying for. If you have the experience but fail to include the specific project requested in the advert, you will likely be overlooked.

The Essential Details

  • Reverse Chronological Order: Always list your latest job role first. No one wants to start with the “Trainee Engineer” job you had two decades ago.
  • Contact Details & Professional Email: Include your name, telephone number (with country code), address, and a professional email address. Save that “rockstarengineer420” address for your gaming accounts.
  • Account for Gaps: Always provide the dates of your employment and account for any gaps (sabbatical, study, unemployment). Clarity prevents awkward questions later.
  • The Power Profile: Start with a brief, punchy paragraph or profile section—a general overview of who you are and your experience.
  • The Detail Under Each Job: For every role, detail your duties, projects, and reporting structure (e.g., “Reported directly to the Director of Cost”). If senior, detail your team or staff responsibilities and numbers.
  • Don’t Forget Your Hobbies! Include your interests and hobbies at the bottom. Hiring managers like to know you have a life outside of work and aren’t just a construction-focused robot.

Middle East Application Bonus Tips

If you are applying for a role in the Middle East, you need extra info for visa and compliance reasons:

  • Personal Data: Include your Date of Birth and Nationality (dual if applicable). (Note: It is becoming increasingly difficult to secure visas for candidates over 60 due to retirement ages).
  • The Professional Headshot: Include a photograph. This should be a professional headshot, not a random social picture from your mate’s wedding.
  • Certification Clarity: Detail your Chartered Award date, awarding country, and membership number (for MRICS, etc.).
  • Senior Leadership Proof: Detail experience in P&L Management and staff oversight.

A Polite Notice: Double-Check Your Attachment!

This is the most important (and funniest) safety tip of all:

BE VERY CAREFUL when uploading your CV attachment. Especially late at night, or perhaps after a relaxing weekend drink.

Stafford Lawrence Ltd has received everything from Kitchen Fitting Instructions to random holiday photos and even a gentleman’s pictures from The Rocky Horror Show.

If you don’t want an embarrassing photo or a private document “flying around the internet,” make sure you double-check your upload before hitting send!

Are you ready to stop being filtered by robots and start applying like a pro? Visit the Stafford Lawrence Ltd website UK Construction Vacancies or International Construction Vacancies or our LinkedIn page for current vacancies!