Practical advice from the recruiters at JobsTT and Progressive Recruitment Specialists 

When you apply for a job, it’s easy to feel like your resume disappears into a black hole. What most jobseekers don’t see is what happens on the recruiter’s side of the desk. At JobsTT and Progressive, our recruiters review thousands of applications across industries every year including finance, energy, FMCG, IT, manufacturing, and more. 

This guide shares what we look for when reviewing applications, what makes us stop reading, and what makes us shortlist you.

1. Proof matters more than promises 

Anyone can write “hardworking” or “team player” on a resume. What gets our attention is evidence. 

We look for resumes that use verbs and results. For example: “Reduced invoice errors by 20 percent by creating a new tracking system.” Cover letters should connect your past work directly to the role. In interviews, a short story about how you solved a real problem is much stronger than a vague claim. 

As one of our recruiters put it, “When I see a bullet point with a clear result, I know immediately what you can bring to the table. Without that, it feels like guesswork.” 

2. Relevance comes first 

The first scan of a resume often takes less than a minute. We’re not reading every line. We’re scanning for relevance. 

What helps: 

• Recent roles listed clearly at the top with dates 

• A skills section that reflects the job description (without cramming in every buzzword) 

• Evidence of working in similar environments such as retail for FMCG, compliance for energy, or accounting systems for finance 

What hurts: 

• Dense blocks of text with no structure 

• Job titles with no explanation of tasks 

• Typos or formatting issues in the opening lines 

One recruiter explained, “If I can’t see relevant skills or experience in 30 seconds, I move on to the next CV.” 

3. Your online presence counts 

A strong CV gets us interested. Our next step is often LinkedIn. We want to see consistency and effort. 

Minimum basics that help: 

• Professional headshot 

• A headline that says what you do (“Accounting Assistant focused on payroll and reporting” is stronger than “Open to work”) 

• A summary that gives a snapshot of your skills and career goals 

Extras that stand out: 

• Work samples, even if they are school or volunteer projects 

• A small portfolio for creative or technical roles 

• Recommendations from managers or colleagues 

As one recruiter said, “Your LinkedIn doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to match your CV and show me you’ve made an effort.” 

4. Tailored applications show effort 

It’s easy to spot generic applications. They don’t move forward. 

Tailoring doesn’t mean rewriting everything. It means: 

• Mentioning the company by name 

• Referring to a project, value, or detail from their website or job ad 

• Moving your most relevant skills higher up in your CV 

Even a single line makes a difference. For example: 
“I was drawn to this role after reading about your expansion into renewable energy. In my last job, I managed compliance reporting for an energy project, and I’d like to bring that experience to your team.” 

According to one recruiter, “Even one line that shows you know our company makes your application stand out from the 50 others that look the same.” 

5. Attitude and effort matter most in interviews 

By the time we invite you to interview, we already believe you can do the job. What we’re testing is how you approach it. 

Signals of effort that stand out: 

• Arriving on time and prepared 

• Listening carefully before answering 

• Asking one or two thoughtful questions about the role 

• Sending a short thank-you message afterward 

As one recruiter summed it up, “I remember candidates who show respect for the process. Sometimes it’s the small gestures that tip the scales.” 

From our recruiters’ desk 

We are not searching for perfect candidates. We’re searching for people who show they can do the work, present their experience clearly, and treat the process with professionalism. If you can do those three things, you will always stand out. 

Make your search easier with JobsTT 

JobsTT was built to help jobseekers apply these principles. 

• Save and track applications in one place 

• Get alerts for jobs that match your skills 

• Build a free profile that lets recruiters find you directly 

Start today at JobsTT.com and give recruiters what they’re really looking for.