What hiring managers are really looking for in a CV and the transferable skills that surprise them most
What hiring managers are really looking for in a CV and the transferable skills that surprise them most
Whether you're moving within your sector or transitioning into a completely new field, the first real conversation you have with a potential employer happens long before an interview.
It happens on paper, through your CV and motivation letter.
Across industries, hiring managers consistently say they can spot a strong candidate within seconds. But what exactly are they paying attention to? And which transferable skills genuinely stand out, sometimes even surprising hiring committees?
Drawing from conversations with hiring managers in the UN system, international NGOs, governments, and the private sector, here’s a distilled look at what matters most.
1. What hiring managers want to see on a CV
a. Clarity and relevance — fast
Recruiters spend an average of 6–10 seconds on the first scan of a document.
They’re looking for:
A clear professional identity (“Who are you in one line?”)
Roles and achievements aligned with the job
Clean formatting and easy-to-follow structure
If they cannot understand your value quickly, they move on.
b. Achievements, not job descriptions
A common mistake candidates make is listing responsibilities instead of accomplishments.
Hiring managers want evidence of:
Results achieved
Problems solved
Impact made
Quantifiable outcomes where possible
Instead of writing “Managed a team of 12,” say “Led a 12-person team to deliver X ahead of schedule, improving Y by Z%.”
c. Your story
Hiring committees look for a story:
How have you grown?
What skills have you deepened?
Why are you a logical next step for this role?
Career gaps are not the issue they once were; unexplained gaps still are.
But what about your skills? more specifically transferable skills? What are the transferable skills that most surprise hiring committees?
Many candidates underestimate how valuable their experiences are, especially those coming from peacekeeping, humanitarian work, or public service into new sectors.
Across dozens of interviews, these three transferable skills routinely surprise hiring managers:
a. Crisis leadership and decision-making under pressure
b. Cross-cultural communication and community engagement
c. Operational problem-solving in complex environments
Most candidates underestimate the value of the very things that make their background unique.
Hiring managers don’t just hire technical expertise — they hire:
Sound judgment
Adaptability
Emotional intelligence
The ability to lead and deliver under pressure
If your CV and motivation letter tell that story clearly, you will stand out far more than you realise.
👉 Want expert help preparing your documents?
Book a 45-minute video call with a U.N. career expert through the United Career Coalition. Get personalized feedback, practice competency questions, and learn what panelists are really looking for.
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