How recruiters shortlist inspectors, and how to write a CV that gets you shortlisted

What we check first, in order

1. Your job title matches the role

   The first line under your name should say exactly what you are: "Senior Welding Inspector (CSWIP 3.2.1)", not "Engineer" or "Seeking a challenging position".

   In the builder: Step 1 sets your target title from your discipline and puts it under your name.

2. Certificates, with number and expiry date

   Clients verify certificates before approving an inspector. A certificate without a number or expiry date has to be chased, and an expired one can stop the process.

   In the builder: Certificates go in a table near the top, with body, number and "Valid until" lined up. The free CV check warns you about expired or expiring ones.

3. Client approvals

   Many operators only accept inspectors they have already approved, such as Saudi Aramco CBT, PDO or ADNOC approvals. If you hold one, it often decides the shortlist.

   In the builder: A separate Client Approvals table, straight after your certificates.

4. Relevant projects, latest first

   We look for the same kind of work: the client, the contractor, the project type and your role. Newest first, with dates.

   In the builder: Every job has fields for client, contractor, sub-contractor, project and location, and jobs are sorted newest first automatically.

5. Codes and standards

   Codes show you can work to the project specification: ASME, API, AWS, ISO, NORSOK, client standards.

   In the builder: Each discipline suggests the codes recruiters expect, so nothing important is forgotten.

6. When you can mobilise

   Notice period, rotation, passport and visa. Project recruiters often need someone on site within weeks.

   In the builder: A short key-facts line under your name shows experience, notice, rotation and visa at a glance.

Why good inspectors get missed

These are the CV problems we see most often. None of them is about skill, and every one is easy to fix.

• Certificates listed without number, level or expiry date.
• An expired certificate that looks valid.
• Jobs without client or contractor names ("worked on various projects").
• The newest job at the bottom, or jobs without dates.
• Long paragraphs instead of short duty lines that name the equipment and the codes.
• A scanned image or phone photo of a CV: it cannot be searched or copied into the client's format.
• Only a PDF when the client or agency asks for Word.
• No phone or WhatsApp number, so a fast shortlist moves on to the next candidate.

Tender and client formats

Operators and EPC contractors around the world often ask agencies to submit CVs in their own format: a personal details table and one project card per job (employer, project, role, client, contractor, sub-contractor, description). If your CV already has these details, an agency can submit you the same day.

The builder's Tender Format and Project Annexure designs follow this layout. Premium CV includes an editable Word file that can be copied into a client template.

Before you send your CV: one-minute checklist

• Target job title under my name
• Every certificate has number and expiry date, and none has expired
• Client approvals listed (if I have any)
• Latest project first, with client, contractor and dates
• Codes and standards I actually work to
• Notice period, rotation and visa status
• Phone / WhatsApp and email
• Word and PDF versions ready

The builder's free CV check goes through most of this list for you and gives your CV a score out of 100.