CV and Job Search Advice

Twenty84 is a niche recruitment agency specialising in compliance, financial crime, risk, finance and regulatory change. With over a decade of knowledge behind us, we know the industry inside out and are dedicated to delivering your greatest recruitment experience. When you enlist the help of Twenty84, you will benefit from your own financial recruitment consultant who will help you to take the stress out of job hunting and make sure your next move is the right one. That's not all: we will also provide you with expert advice on your entire job search strategy, from writing your CV to ultimately landing your dream role.

WRITING YOUR CV - Having been in the financial services recruitment industry for over 16 years, there's nothing our dedicated financial recruitment consultants don't know about writing a CV that gets you noticed. Here are our top tips for writing a standout CV so you can get that interview:

1. Keep it short It's unlikely that hiring managers and in-house recruiters will have the time to read through endless pages of a CV. Regardless of the length of your career, it's only necessary to go into detail about your most recent roles - perhaps the last three of four - or any roles that are particularly relevant to the job you are applying for. Any other roles can be listed with just one line to ensure there are no gaps - and if you can keep the whole CV to a maximum of two to three pages, then great.

2. Keep it neat When it comes to writing a strong CV, attention to detail is essential. Make sure your formatting is on point, your fonts are consistent and your themes match up; for example, if one job title is in bold, you'll need to make sure all the others are too. If you use bullets points, be careful to use the same size and shape throughout to stop the CV looking messy. This also makes your CV easier to read and helps hold the reader's attention.

3. Start with a bang You need to ensure that the first few lines of your CV grab the reader's attention to make sure they continue reading. At Twenty84, we recommend adding a profile or personal statement at the beginning of your CV. By including a few lines telling the reader what you do, what you're good at, and what you do for them, you can hold the hiring manager's attention and make sure your CV makes the cut.

4. Tailor it You don't have to use the same CV for each job application. Instead, you can tailor your CV for each job you apply for. If you have a specific set of skills that are required for a particular job, bring them to the top of the CV. In addition, if you can, talk about what you have done in your latest role that matches the job spec and desirable skills for each job so you can show the reader why you are right for the job.

5. Sell yourself Don't be shy to use language on your CV that really sells you as a candidate. You could include your key achievements for each role and outline what you've done in your career that has been outstanding - especially if it includes something tangible and measurable such as saving money or writing a new process. Don't be afraid to sell yourself; in a competitive market, it could be the thing that sets you apart from another candidate and gives you the edge.

YOUR JOB SEARCH STRATEGY - Our candidates often ask us what they should be doing to maximise their chances of finding and securing their dream role. When you use Twenty84 to assist you with your job search, your financial recruitment consultant will provide bespoke advice that's unique to your personal situation - but we've collated some general advice and tips below, too.

1. Work with a good agency There are many advantages to partnering with a good recruitment agency in your job search rather than just going it alone. For starters, a specialist recruitment agency will always be motivated to go the extra mile to secure you a position. This means they will spend hours chasing feedback, work hard to sell your skillset to hiring managers, provide a sounding board for you throughout the process and give you inside advice about the company, too. Once they have secured you an interview, your financial recruitment consultant will help you to prepare and give you interview tips and advice. If things progress to an offer, they can also negotiate on your behalf and have the awkward conversations about salary and package for you. Although it can be tempting to apply for jobs directly, using a specialist recruitment agency can help to give you an edge over other candidates. We often have situations where in-house recruitment teams and hiring managers aren't sure on a candidate's profile, but because we have good relationships with them, we are able to talk through these concerns. We've been building these relationships for over a decade, so our clients really trust our recommendations - and this has often resulted in job offers for candidates who may not otherwise have got an interview.

2. Be Pro-Active It's not enough to just apply for adverts and wait to be contacted. In a busy and competitive market, it pays to be proactive. A good way to do this is by using LinkedIn to find contacts; search for people that work in your industry, or even sector-specific recruiters, and send them a message or an invitation to connect. Even trying to get a casual coffee meeting booked in can be very useful and can make sure you stay at the forefront of recruiters' minds.

3. Applying to adverts When searching for a financial services role in a competitive market, it's important to have a multi-pronged approach. Applying online for appropriate roles is a great way to make sure you are covering all bases. You can find adverts not just on the traditional job boards, but also on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google Jobs and of course, direct websites.

4. Get your CV right A good CV is still the most powerful tool you need to get you across the line. See our CV writing tips above for expert advice from our financial recruitment consultants.

5. Prepare You can never be too prepared for a job interview. Look at LinkedIn profiles to get an idea about who you are meeting, do some research on the company and above all think about how you can sell yourself. Can you give any tangible examples of your best work? Good preparation will instil you with confidence, can help you stand out from other candidates and can stop nerves getting the better of you on the day, too.

If you're a financial services professional looking to take the next step in your career and would like more advice, contact Twenty84 today. When you enlist the help of Twenty84, you'll benefit from your own dedicated financial recruitment consultant who will provide you with expert advice every step of the way and help you get to where you want to be.