askthecvcoach

A unique approach to job hunting

Alec Brownstein took an innovative approach to his job hunting. When top advertising creative directors Googled themselves, they got a message from him asking for a job. Probably the best $6 he will ever spend!

 

 

Typos in CVs

Spelling mistakes in CVs can easily be avoided by asking a friend to proof read the document for you.

You shouldn't rely on spell-checker as the following poem explains...

Stop facebook using your photos in adverts

On Friday, Facebook will start using your photos in ads that will appear on the profile page of your contacts. It's legal & is in the fine print when you create your account. 

To stop this:

Go 2 Settings, Privacy, Manage, News Feed and Wall.

Then: Facebook Ads (tab), choose "No one" - save changes.

 This morning's one minute!

A dark Thursday morning and it couldn't have been wetter,

But the economy's recovering and life's getting better,

With the job market improving and great candidates to supply,

These are my CV tips I suggest you apply,

Think about length - not too short or too long, 

Make that mistake and I'll think that you're wrong,

I know it's hardwork - in fact it takes ages,

To keep your career to a mere two pages,

Don't use jargon, exaggerrate or dare to tell lies,

Substantiate achievements or your credibility dies,

So here are some hints read out in verse,

Record your experience - chronologically reverse,

Whether you're a Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant or Banker,

If your CV has typos recruiters will think you're not right for the job!

Tom Hackforth

Principal CV writer

http://thecvclinic.com
 

The Apprentice

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After watching "The Apprentice" last night I was amazed that certain candidates hadn't learnt from the 2008 winner Lee McQueen's faux pas of lying on his CV. Or maybe the fact that he was the eventual winner made Loraine think it was acceptable to extend her tenure in one role by 12 months!! Apparently it's because she FELT like she'd been there longer.

The Returners CV

 

Returning to work after you’ve taken time out to look after your family can be difficult. An employer picking up your CV to see you haven’t been in paid work for the last eight years would probably consider you haven’t got enough up to date experience, given the rapidly changing employment environment and fast evolving office technologies. You know you can do the job, but how do you persuade an employer to give you an interview?

 

Photographs on CVs!

  

As part of The CV Clinic's commitment to keeping abreast of changes and trends regarding CVs within the recruitment industry we are delighted to announce the results of our recent  survey that was sent out to recruiters, head hunters and hiring managers.

In response to the question, “What should candidates omit from their CVs?” the most common gripe from recruiters was photographs (71%).

Top Tips for Creating a Functional CV

 

 

You’ve just spotted the job of your dreams.  You have all the right qualifications and experience, but it was five years ago, since when you been doing something completely unrelated.  Or, you know you’ve got all the right skills but you just haven’t got practical experience in that particular area.   Or, you’ve had lots of apparently unrelated jobs and your CV reads like a telephone directory. How on earth do you manage to convey to an employer that you’ve got what they need?   Sounds familiar?  Writing a conventional reverse chronological CV will only emphasise these problems. What you need is a Functional CV.

 

What is a CV?

What is a CV?

 

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is defined in the dictionary as ‘an outline of your educational and professional history, prepared for job applications’.  But it is much more than simply this: it is a personal marketing document which, if well designed, will effectively highlight your key skills and experience relevant to your target job. 

 

GETTING PAST THE RECRUITER

Making it to the shortlist is your first aim. But in reality, many applicants waste their time by not understanding or responding to what the recruiter needs.  When asked what really frustrated them about the CVs they received, recruiters were fairly clear – here a just a few of their comments.

 

“There is nothing more guaranteed to spoil a candidates chances of being shortlisted than not telling us what we need to know”.

“The last thing I want is pages and pages of waffle – I just want them to get to the point”.