This article describes how to write a good CV, regarding the philosophy of how to approach creating the CV and tips on what to include and how to communicate it.

A CV is a sales document; it conveys succinctly the information of what you are looking for and why. Why you are qualified for such work and a story as to how you got to this point, covering your previous work experience, education, qualifications and interests.
I believe a CV should be a succinct story backing up a tag line about yourself. Often in interviews the main asked of the candidate is:

“Tell me about yourself”

This answer and the CV to back it up should be made as succinct, clear and relevant as possible to the position sought.

Obviously life is not as clear and simple as this and many of us have a complicated and confusing history in regards to work experience, education and life story, but effort should be made to make this as clear as possible in interview and on the CV. To present only the relevant facts to sell you most effectively for the post in which you are applying.

Profile
The profile should be a short sentence stating clearly:
• What work you are looking for
• What you have to offer (why you are qualified)
I believe in starting the CV with a profile. This explains to the employer or recruiter what you are looking for and summarises all of the attributes that can be found in detail on the rest of your CV.

The recruiter will know what they are looking for and if your profile states this in summary then you are making their job a lot easier and they are more likely to put you in the “yes” pile, as they quickly check a large volume of CVs.

Remember the recruiter is human too, think how frustrating it is when you look at a website that is not clear and it is hard to find the information you need quickly. Now think of the recruiter who has to look through a large volume of CVs for any advertised positions, if they have to look at a large number and it takes too long for them to find the information they need from your CV they may not take the time to do so.

Work Experience
Work experience should come directly after the profile in reverse chronological order.

The first thing a recruiter or prospective employer will look at is the last job you have had and if you had the relevant experience or achieved something relevant to the job you are applying for in previous roles.

Do them and yourself a favour and put this experience where they can find it easily. I.e. your most recent job at the top and your previous roles below this.

There will always be gaps and times when you worked for a short time, temping, travelling etc. It is your call as to how to include these but remember your story needs to be made as clear as possible, so if you worked somewhere for a short time then make the story relevant as to why or consider omitting some jobs altogether. Maybe include one line with the dates and mention what happened, e.g. temping role, or went travelling between these dates etc. This answers the question quicker than leaving gaps and having to explain them in interview.

Education
Education should be also in reverse chronological order.

Other Qualifications
If you have attended any training courses or have industrial qualifications they should be entered here. Remember this is a sales document – list everything you have done here – sell yourself!

Interests
Qualify your hobbies and interests. Do not mention generic things such as ‘I like to go running’ without qualifying it as to what has been achieved. For example, it would be better to say: “I am part of the Harriers running club” – or “I recently completed the Great North Run”

Good luck!

This article explains how to effectively get the right temporary job in the most efficient way with the least effort and best chance of success…

Temporary work is one of the best ways to gain experience or make money in a set amount of time. It can be a foot in the door to an industry you want to work in. Or a way to earn, even if you are looking for a more permanent job, it can help to fill the gap and take pressure off your finances and your nerves while you job hunt. It also helps out the company that requires temporary work cover!

There are a number of job boards, agencies and temporary work websites available and the options can seem overwhelming. There seems to be so many jobs, but no way of knowing if you are right for them. So most people would sit at home and apply for many different jobs, changing their CV and covering letter many times to suit the variety of jobs they are applying for, using considerable effort to find temporary work.

I would suggest there is a better way to find temporary work, a way that involves no changes to your CV, that guarantees real-time, real-world feedback, instead of sending application after application into the black hole of online applications to receive no feedback or a computer generated rejection email a little too late. This way can increase your chance of getting a job, as there is more than one person with a vested interest in finding you work is selling you to prospective employers.

This method however, requires a courage and willingness to pick up the phone and research, approach and sell yourself to the appropriate person.

This method is simple:

1. Create a good, clear and relevant CV, including in the profile the type of work you are appropriate for and what you would consider and why (see http://www.cvphoenix.com for a CV service that will help you affordably create this CV!)
2. Research employment agencies by location or job type or industry.
3. Call the agency (main number is fine) and explain you are looking for work and ask to speak to, or the name of an agent / recruitment consultant who deals with the type of work you are looking for.
4. Speak to the agent and ask for their email address.
5. Send your CV to the agent via email.
6. Follow-up sending your CV with a call to the agent, to ensure they received the email okay and whether they are able to open your CV in the format it is in.
7. Ask them if they could take a look at your CV, while you are on the phone and give you feedback on the CV whether you are suitable for any temporary work they have available at present.
8. Now that the agent knows your name, CV and how you present yourself on the telephone, he/she is more likely to think of you when a suitable placement there and then, when one is available later, or tell you what you may need to change in terms of your CV or what you are suitable for.

The fact that they have spoken to you puts you in a better position than the hundreds of applicants whose emails and CVs are sitting in their inbox, or received via faceless on-line applications.

I would suggest making a note of what recruiter you spoke to and when and call them back as often as required to see if they have recently got any suitable positions.

SELL YOURSELF!

It may be beneficial to meet the recruiter, if it is possible try and pop into the office and meet the recruiter, if they meet you and like what they see, they will find it easier to sell you too!

If you have one or two recruiters looking to place you, then you have allies looking for work for you: as well as your own efforts! These agents have better contacts than available to you and are motivated by the commission they get from the client in placing you and the job satisfaction in placing you, giving you a job and giving the client what they need.

It is a win-win situation!

Good luck!

Steve

I am back on the market again and applying for roles. One thing I have noticed lately is that the market is tight, in this competition; agents are hungry for new leads, even new names of hiring managers that they can cold call.

Well, I have seen more examples of my topic ever this week by agents in London! Often agents will ask for your references before you interview, sometimes before you have been put forward for a role!

Let me warn you all – Say NO to giving References to Agents!

There should be no reason to be providing an agency with contact details for your references until the on boarding process that you must go through when you have accepted a role.

Be warned – you may receive unsolicited calls from recruiters, pretending to have a role, but they are more interested in finding out the name of the hiring manager at your last position.

This is a form of social engineering, so be wary about calls like this.

Today I got a call from an agent about a role I applied for, without even pretending to go through the usual lies, “I will put you forward for the role, but first I need references etc..”

Today he told me that in the current climate they have a stricter process required for compliance. This is not true – what I told him, was what I suggest you tell them is:

The only time I need to provide references is during on-boarding after I have been offered and accepted a role.

There is no line that an agent can tell me or any promise they can make that will make me give up my reference contact details. There is no way I will run the risk of my references, that are managing directors at investment banks, being hounded by agents with cold calls because I have given up their contact details because an agent promised me that I would be “put forward” for a role.

Even worse would be that if an agent contacted one of my references for a reference on me for a role that I have been only put forward for. This would be career suicide, as if this happens my references may get annoyed, to the point that they may refuse to give me a reference for a real role that I have been offered!  The boy who cried wolf indeed!

Be warned!