Case study: building PureTax's full system
How we designed and built the digital front door for PureTax, an Alberton-based tax and accounting practice — fast, mobile-first and built to turn visitors into clients.
Recruiters often decide in seconds whether a CV deserves a closer look. You don't need a gimmick — you need the important information to be easy to find. These seven fixes help.
1. Lead with a sharp summary
Two or three sentences at the top: who you are, what you're best at, and what you're looking for. Tailor it to the role. "Customer-focused retail supervisor with five years' experience leading teams of eight" beats "hard-working individual seeking opportunities".
2. Put achievements before duties
Duties describe the job; achievements describe you. Start bullet points with strong verbs and add numbers where you can: "Reduced stock losses by 12% by introducing weekly counts" tells a recruiter far more than "Responsible for stock".
3. Use a clean, consistent layout
Consistent dates, aligned headings and enough white space make a CV feel effortless to read. Pick one accent colour and stick to it.
4. Match the job advert's language
If the advert asks for "stakeholder management" and you've done it, use those words. Many employers screen with keyword searches or applicant-tracking systems; an editable Word version of your CV is usually the safest format for online application portals.
5. Keep it to two pages
Most CVs need no more than two pages. Older or less relevant roles can be summarised in a line each.
6. Make contact details effortless
Phone number, professional email address and city near the top. Add a LinkedIn or portfolio link if it strengthens your application. You don't need your full street address or your ID number unless the advert asks for them.
7. Proofread — then get someone else to
Typos suggest carelessness. Read your CV out loud, then ask a friend to check it.
Want a head start? The STM CV Builder can import your existing CV, and our templates handle the layout for you.
