How to gain cut through in a crowded job market.

So the ground in Wellington has been feeling a little shaky lately… and this time, it’s not just the fault lines. The latest government shake-up has seen public service job cuts reach the thousands. And that means thousands are dusting off the old CV and starting the job hunt. 

Whether it’s wide-sweeping cost savings, policy reversals, major rounds of redundancies, or broader economic shifts, there are myriad reasons you could end up fighting for an interview in an unusually busy job market. 

But whatever the cause of the overload, one question remains. If countless CVs just like yours are swimming in the same pool of possibilities, how do you make sure yours floats to the top?

Start by taking the opportunity to take stock.

A change in circumstances can be a prime opportunity to look back on where your career’s been, and where you want it to go. What was it about your job that you loved? What skills do you wish you got to flex more often, and which tasks would you be happy never to touch again?

Maybe your current role just isn’t filling your cup, or your work-life balance is totally off-kilter. Maybe the company’s values or culture don’t line up with your own. Maybe you’ve been in a leadership role when all you really want to do is be on the tools. Or maybe it’s taken you 3.5 years of post-Covid-working-from-home to realise you miss pub Fridays and you’re keen to head back to the office.

Take the time to go deep. Jot down that list of things you want to do more, and want to do less. Then when it’s time to take the next step, you’ll have a clear idea of where it should take you.

Know your audience well, and write a CV with them in mind.

One of the biggest secrets to standing out is almost stupidly simple; know your audience. And no, we don’t mean stalk them on Facebook and turn up uninvited to their kid’s 4th birthday party. We mean try to see things through the eyes of the recruiter who’s eyeing up your CV. 

What, and who, are they looking for? Which specific skills do you have that are relevant to the role? What’s the culture like at the company, and how can you demonstrate what a great fit you’d be?

This is where a good cover letter can shine. Recruiters and HR managers are busy folk, often with hundreds of CVs to sift through. A strong, simple and succinct cover letter is a great shortcut to grabbing their precious attention. 

While your CV is about proving your overall value, your cover letter is the place to get super-specific. Make it all about this particular role, backed by at least three reasons why you’re interested in the company/role.

Here’s a Stellar tip…

Before sending your CV, give the rercruiter a call. Ask them what they’re looking for, then base your cover letter on your conversation. This simple act shows you’re confident, proactive, and keen. And best of all, hardly any job-seekers do it – so it’s a sure-fire way to stand out.

If the thought of picking up the phone sparks nerves, talk to StellarCVs. We’re by recruiters, for recruiters, so we know your audience better than anyone. We can help prep you for the call, so you can put your best foot forward.

Write an effective CV, backed by a unique framework and proven CV structure.

Writing a good CV sounds easy on paper (pun definitely intended). But it can be hard to pull off in practice. That’s why so many CVs rely on meh adjectives like ‘hard-working’, ‘motivated’ and ‘enthusiastic’. Or straight-out-of-ChatGPT terms like ‘results-oriented’, ‘highly dynamic’, and ‘team player’.

Good CV-writing means diving deeper than corporate clichés or AI-generated buzzwords. It means zeroing in on exactly what you’re capable of, backed up by explicit examples that showcase those skills in action. 

At StellarCVs, our CV writing framework is all about identifying, evidencing, and promoting your skills. It’s a proven structure that strips out the fluff, gets down to business, and makes your value ultra-clear to recruiters. No ChatGPT nonsense in sight.

Presentation, presentation, presentation. 

If your CV was a book, recruiters would definitely judge it by its cover – and by every other detail, too. So from the first word to the last, it needs to look and sound on-point. 

Don’t just whack some Times New Roman into a Word doc and call it a day. Put time and thought into your CV design, making sure it’s slick, modern and professional. Check, double-check, then triple-check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure it flows beautifully and is a pleasure to read. 

These may sound like basic boxes to tick. But you’d be amazed how many job-seekers leave them unchecked – and recruiters always take note. So show them you care. Show recruiters you’re capable of putting a cohesive and coherent CV together, and it’ll show them you’re capable of so much more.

If all else fails? It could be time to consider a career change.

Maybe you’ve tried everything, and you’re still not cutting through. Or maybe you’re scoring interviews, only to realise you don’t even want the job anymore. If so, maybe now could be the time to change gears – and maybe even change careers. 

Think about what would make you the greatest, happiest, most motivated version of yourself (shoutout to leading business coach, co-founder of GHMM, and friend of StellarCVs – Peter de Boer). What would you really love to do? Could now be the time to do it? The idea of following your dreams all the way back to square one may be daunting. But you could have more of a head-start than you think.

Throughout our careers, we pick up all kinds of transferable skills that’d be right at home in another sector. It’s just a case of identifying those skills, and packaging them up for recruiters so your potential just oozes off the page. 

For example…

Say you’re fresh from a role at the Ministry of Primary Industries. After being knees-deep in the agricultural sector for a decade, you’ve realised you’re ready for a tree change. So take the ‘agriculture’ out of your CV, and see what transferable skills are left behind. 

Do you love research or analysing data? How have you influenced relationships in your role? Do you have proven experience building systems and processes? Skills like these are in high demand in a huge range of industries, and could pique the interest of recruiters in all kinds of markets – not just the farmer’s market. 

An overcrowded job market can feel like an overwhelming hurdle.

But with a clear idea of the role you’re looking for, a solid understanding of your target audience, a proven CV writing framework and an eagle-eye for detail, you could give yourself a major headstart over the competition. 

For help writing a CV that cuts through the crowd, talk to StellarCVs. And let’s work together to get you that all-important interview – no matter how many applications land in the recruiter’s inbox.