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Recruiter-led profile optimisation

Most profiles are rejected in under 11 seconds.We tell you precisely why.

Expert recruiter-led career strategy & CV/resume optimisation — for every career stage.

Built for UK, European, and North American hiring standards.

Powered by Optima Search since 2013

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01 — Reality

Why qualified candidates are filtered out.

Four patterns appear in nearly every profile we review at senior level. None of them are about your experience.

Aligned with UK, EU, and US recruiter expectations

01

The opening 40 words rarely earn the rest.

Recruiters read top-down. If the first paragraph does not establish seniority, scope and outcome, the document is closed.

02

Responsibilities are listed; impact is not quantified.

Without numerical reference points — revenue, headcount, margin, time saved — your work cannot be benchmarked against peers.

03

Senior profiles read like junior profiles.

Leadership candidates present execution detail instead of strategic remit. The level of the role is unclear within seconds.

04

Format works against the reader.

Dense paragraphs, inconsistent tense and decorative design slow comprehension and reduce shortlist probability.

See what recruiters actually look for in your profile.

Explore Packages →
Recruiter reviewing a candidate profile
02 — Method

The recruiter evaluation framework.

Every audit is scored against the seven criteria search firms apply during longlist review. You receive the framework, your scores, and the specific changes required.

01

Positioning

Seniority and remit communicated within the first paragraph.

02

Commercial impact

Outcomes quantified in the language of the buyer.

03

Scope clarity

Headcount, budget and territory unambiguously defined.

04

Career narrative

Progression read as deliberate, not accidental.

05

Format integrity

Hierarchy, density and typography aid the reader.

06

Keyword alignment

ATS parity without compromising executive tone.

03 — Your Path Forward

From rejected to progressing.

01

Audit

We diagnose why your profile is being filtered out.

02

Rebuild

We rewrite structure, narrative, and keyword alignment.

03

Activate

You apply with a profile built to win shortlists.

Decide

Choose your starting point.

Start with a profile audit or go straight to full optimisation.

View Packages →Start Your Audit
Voices

What Candidates Say

Trusted by professionals across the UK, Europe, and beyond

“Excellent, highly professional service. A seamless transition into my new role.”
Elisa Tastieri
Marketing
🇮🇹Italy

“The most professional recruiter I have worked with.”

Sven Lehmkuhl
Business Consultant
🇩🇪Germany

“Exceptional quality of service and depth of experience.”

Pavel Čejka
VP Sales
🇨🇿Czech Republic

“Went above and beyond in securing my next role.”

Marta Trajkovska
Email Marketing
🇲🇰North Macedonia

“Clear communication and a highly professional experience throughout.”

Jaime Hutchins
Customer Implementation
🇬🇧United Kingdom

“A highly positive and professional experience.”

Melanie Mitchell
Solutions Consulting
🇺🇸United States
Next step

Your next role starts here.

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04 — Packages

Packages

Start with insight. Go as deep as you need.

Built on Optima Search recruitment expertise, led by a founder with 18+ years in executive hiring.

01 — Entry

Profile Strategy Audit

£49one-off

Entry point. Immediate insight.

  • —Detailed CV / Resume review
  • —ATS compatibility check
  • —Recruiter-led profile analysis
  • —Key issues + action steps
  • —Delivery: 2 days
Start My CV Audit →

Secure payment • No call required

Most Popular
02 — Recommended

Profile Review + Consultation

£99one-off

For active job seekers.

  • —Everything in Audit
  • —Role positioning insights
  • —Profile structure optimisation
  • —30-minute review call
  • —Delivery: 7 days
Get My CV Review →

Secure payment

A higher tier
04 — Executive tier

Executive Career Package

£995

For senior leaders — C-suite, Board, Partners.

A complete repositioning of your professional profile.

  • —Full profile rewrite (CV / Resume)
  • —Executive biography & dossier
  • —Search firm positioning strategy
  • —Two rounds of refinement
  • —60-minute strategy session x2
  • —Priority delivery
Book Executive Package →

Includes two strategy consultations

Speak to me first →
Executive boardroom
05 — Credibility

Built by recruiters who longlist for the firms you want to work for.

Our reviewers have held search roles at international executive firms across financial services, technology and professional services. Every audit is conducted by a recruiter with at least eight years of longlist experience — never by junior staff, never by automation.

18+
years in executive search
Thousands
of profiles reviewed
UK · EU · NA
hiring markets covered

Experience across early career to executive leadership. Built from real hiring decisions, not generic career advice.

06 — Outcome

Your profile is not a record of work.
It is the instrument that moves your career forward.

Your profile stops being a barrier and starts doing the work it was meant to do.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers before you decide

Ready to position yourself more effectively?

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