Reply With QuoteSteer clear of CV Knowhow - I just paid them to have a go at mine, and the result was pitiful.
In need of a CV Writing/Designing Company-
Time for a career change, anyone used any reputable companies?
Any help much appreciated.
That’s what I’m worried about, thousands of websites just waiting to take some dosh for basically bugger all
Originally Posted by learningtofly
This is just my opinion of course BUT I run a recruitment business and have been in the space for 20 years plus and I would never suggest anyone pays for a cv in fact Ive no idea why you would, cv's are only a tool to get you an interview they don't need to be war and peace but relevant to the role you are applying for:
Google has so many tips regarding writing cvs as do all the normal job boards and below is a blog I published recently that may help however if you still want assistance drop me a line or if you still want to go down the route of a paid for service I have a colleague who offers a service OR Ill happily take your money :)
https://www.fusion-coaching.co.uk/services
HOW LONG SHOULD MY CV BE?
When it comes to creating a winning CV, you need to strike a balance between showcasing your hard and soft skills in a way that clearly demonstrates your suitability for the role. Don’t overwhelm the hiring manager with reams of information.
Wondering how long your CV should be, or looking for tips to present your experience in a clear, concise format?
Read on to find out more.
The downsides of a long CV
Along with your cover letter, your CV is essentially an advert for how brilliant you'd be at a given job. As such, when writing a CV, it pays to consider what makes an effective advert.
There is a reason that TV ads typically last no longer than 30 seconds: people lose interest if you can't communicate your message in a concise manner. In the same way, recruiters and hiring managers have little interest in wading through lengthy professional autobiographies. They want to access the most pertinent information as quickly as possible.
An overly long CV is therefore likely to do you more harm than good. In short, if you can't sum up your skills and experience in a concise manner, don't expect to be invited for an interview.
How long should your CV be?
Unless you're applying for an entry-level position, two pages is widely considered to be the perfect length for a CV.
However, that's not to say writing a two-page CV should be your goal. Always strive to incorporate only the most relevant facts. If you can communicate all the key information in a single page, that doesn't mean you've written a bad CV (although it may signify that you lack the necessary experience for more senior positions).
How about longer CVs? Even if you have decades of experience, recruitment experts generally recommend you detail the most salient points within two pages, up to a maximum of four pages if needed. Academic CVs are the only common exception.
Tips for reducing CV length
Found yourself with an eight-page CV that you're struggling to edit down? These top tips should help you separate the vital information from the unnecessary:
Write a concise personal profile
A short, sharp personal profile is an effective way to communicate your key skills and ambitions in a couple of brief sentences. Don't fall into the trap of telling your professional life story - at best it'll be ignored, at worst it could dissuade a hiring manager from reading on.
Cut down on duplication
Duplication isn't your friend when it comes to writing a concise CV, so don't lapse into repeating yourself. Concentrate on making a point and moving on, rather than attempting to convince through repetition.
Limit your experience to the past decade
The more experienced you are, the more you can include on your CV. But there's little benefit to detailing the specifics of a job you held 20 years ago; chances are that the revolutionary methods' you adopted at the time will just come across as outdated. Focus on your past ten years of experience, then summarise previous positions by company, job title and time in employment, as follows:
Employer - Role - Month Year – Month Year
Write your own CV after getting ideas on layout etc online, but make it concise and easily read, without the usual padding and excessive self praise.
You may be pleasantly surprised.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Thanks guys really appreciate the input-
I’ve been in the same industry for a number of years so looking for a new challenge, hence the new CV- I partly guessed as much, when you haven’t needed A CV for years it’s good to get a second opinion what the modern take on it is-
Right time to sit down, get my backside in gear and get it written :-)
I used a career coach a few years ago and it was really useful. CV, LinkedIn and interview technique all covered. Ive recommended the same chap to a few people and they’ve all been really happy with the results. Pm me if you want details.
These days don’t forget that a lot of people will check LinkedIn so consider having an entry tailored as appropriate
I've just updated mine with the help of a headhunter who helped me tighten it up and tell my story better.
No fee.
I don't know what industry you're in, but the good recruiters will invest time with you.
(I have a 6 month notice period, so resigned the other day as I fancy a new challenge. The challenge might be finding a job in the age of covid-19)
As others have mentioned, coaching on cv and interviews should be provided as part of the service via a recruiter its certainly something we offer in my business and don't charge for it (reading the below perhaps we should charge and rebadge it as life coaching) its something that will help you stand out for the crowd.
Another factor to consider is - if you are being placed by a recruiter there will be a fee on your head as such clients will often give us a much tighter brief than they would have themselves so think about the role you are applying for and your relevance if not apply direct the fee they would charge could go towards investing in you.
As mentioned below LinkedIn is the bible for recruiters so make sure your profile looks similar to your cv, flag that you are open to opportunities, get testimonials on there and likewise think about your social media presence as people will look into this to gauge who you really are.
Lastly research research research use the same tools that companies use to find out about them, look at the social media profile of the business LI is a professional site, as will the website but if they have an instagram or facebook page that will tell you a lot more about the culture within the business, look at the hiring manager and the staff on facebook will allow you to build an understanding, look at Glassdoor reviews to get an understanding of employee engagement etc
Arrive early, Look the part, greet the receptionist with a huge smile (Receptionists know everyone in a company and they will often get asked what they thought of XXX when they arrived), have some pre prepared questions that you want to know (Not do I get an Office, how much holiday do I have etc...) but key questions around the role? Why is the position available, what are the biggest challenges in the role etc.... (Again loads available online)
An interview will ask you questions based on what is on your cv so know the points and be prepared to expand and provide detail, additionally look at the job brief and be prepared to answer questions on what they have asked for!!!
I could write an essay on iv prep alone so research research research
If you need any more information feel free to drop me a PM on this
Last edited by R0bertb00th; 10th March 2020 at 13:06.
A lot of good points already. The people interviewing you would probably prefer to be somewhere else, doing their day jobs. As such a CV that is succinct and tailored for the role is much better that one that covers additional, but irrelevant experience, or showcase you as a great human being, of it a marvel of design. Make sure you get all the simple stuff right, no typos, consistent fonts, dates match up etc.
When I interview someone I want to know if they do the job and if they are a good fit (not the same, but not disruptive) with other people in the company. The don't have to be perfect, but need to show they know enough and are willing to learn the rest. The CV and your Linkedin profile should get you in the door. Your preparation for the interview will get you the rest of the way. I interviewed someone recently for a sales role. He told the interview panel that he was very thorough in the way he researched prospective customers, yet he knew nothing about anyone in the room. He had a list of names and could easily have researched them on Linkedin. So make sure you can back up your statements in he interview.
I often get sent CV’s from people who have given absolutely no thought into the job they are applying for. That is the reason why every last CV goes in the bin and applicants get directed to an online form to complete. That guides them through what we want.
Even then some people just copy and paste irrelevant passages from a CV.
Last edited by SydR; 10th March 2020 at 21:03.
Thanks again for the input-
Not had to attend an interview for a number of years, appreciate all the pointers and will take everything onboard.
I used https://www.taylor-cvs.co.uk/ , they were great, I had an almost two hour call with their writer who helped to put things in perspective and sent several drafts and re-writes until I was happy.
They also helped me review my Linkedin profile, as I've been with one employer for 23 years it was important to show individual positions and changes in responsibility. Oh, and they offered custom cover letters for 9 months, along with custom CVs if needed for specific industry vacancies.
Did it work? Well, in the end I didn't move employer as I was able to stay with my employer (Brexit uncertainty as I'm an EU Civil Servant and the job description states EU Citizen in big letters :-)). However I got multiple enquiries from Linkedin and was offered the first job I was approached for, the only negative was they couldn't match the salary expectation as I'd have been earning more than the VP interviewing me :-)
Even now my Linkedin profile gets multiple hits per day, and I still get spontaneous offers to interview from headhunters.
Your CV can only get you through the door, but it cn also set the tone of the following interview and help set expectations well in advance of any offer.
I compiled PowerPoint presentations for both CV and interview skills which I can email to you if you wish
Just remember that recruiters throw half the CVs in the bin withiut reading them, because they don't want the unlucky ones.
Sorry to write again on this but as Im in the space I must say I am amazed how many people think its a good idea and a value add to utilise these services - perhaps Im missing a trick and should be charging people?
for those who have commented what a great service they received I'm keen to understand what you paid ???
infact Ill offer my services free if anyone is interested in support then please contact me and spread the word as it may be a completely new revenue stream for me and my business!!!!!!
If you work in recruitment then you look at multiple cvs all day every day and so YES you tend to scan them but you know what you are looking for as most recruiters have specialisms so know what they are searching for but the common factors are (length of service, number of roles in the business and length of time in a role, the types of business they have worked for, steady progression, etc....)
If you apply direct many companies employ a HR advisor to sort the initial response, these people are not experts in there field one minute they are looking at cvs for an administrator, then a fork lift driver, then a sales rep, then a financial advisor etc etc etc how can they possibly know what good looks like?????
When companies take this approach a lot of the time they tend to search keywords in order to sort CV's thus multiple candidates don't make it past the application process so a cover note and the like are pointless as the person reading it isn't the person hiring.
Also remember as I said below recruiters are given very specific briefs by clients so if your cv doesn't meet the advert requirements then you will do well to get a response from a recruiter.
As an example Im recruiting for a HR director at the minute circa £90k Ive written an advert and specified that applicants must be cipd level 7, must have retail experience, must have exposure to tribunals and well versed on employee law Ive had 88 responses so far, of which only 12 of them applicants have the credentials and experience that I specifically asked for in the advert.
What I would add is that recruiters (Ive always found this in my experience) have a relationship with the hiring manager and so know exactly what the client want and are able to sell you as a candidate better than your cv will through having an understanding of the client, the team and the candidates experience.
Additionally I work with many clients who send me a job brief from HR you'd be amazed how many times when I speak to the hiring manager that the brief isn't correct ultimately because the job brief that was written historically or by the previous hiring manager who's needs are different to the current one and as such the requirements are out of date and not appropriate.
Last edited by R0bertb00th; 11th March 2020 at 15:53.
The best CVs are 'one page only' … if you cannot communicate your message in one page to prospective employers, don't bother sending it. Brevity counts and earns immediate respect … as do key achievements. Try and make the prospective employer want to know a little more. Put yourself in the position of the prospective employer reading your CV … and others' CVs … and make yours 'stand out' from the crowd.
This book is very useful https://www.amazon.co.uk/Overnight-R...4441042&sr=8-1 … read sample page 6 'effective resumé verbs'
dunk
Last edited by sundial; 17th March 2020 at 11:45.
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
I've occasionally reviewed CVs and have been amazed by some of the crap that comes through. Some people don't even change the filename from something that specifically refers to an entirely different career (which is obviously reflected in their experience as well).
Actually, that's my tip: make sure the filename includes your name and the role. "CV" is not useful!
Having hired several staff over the last ten years I echo many of the sentiments.
Please, please keep it brief. Mine is 2 pages. It is amazing to still see temp work from summer holidays at uni on some CVs. That is plain lazy/stupid.
Opinion is mixed, but I believe a passport sized photo can be beneficial (I choose not to have one); it does make the applicant more personable and less a wall of text.
I agree on the photo, but I've worried in the past that it somehow contravenes HR policies. As you say, candidates seem a lot realer if you have a photo to go with them - and certainly stick in the memory easier.
Its quite bizarre how this thread has turned full circle in the space of a couple of weeks and has opened my eyes to the fact that people are prepared to pay for a service that we provide as a matter of course.
On reflection and given the current climate it made me think that we are under selling ourselves and our expertise and as a consequence to the impending recruitment freeze and mass redundancies we are having to rethink our business model and offer this service:
The vast majority of candidates certainly those who are in work are now putting there search on hold (understandably given a lot have the security of being employed and not wanting to risk that)
Likewise pretty much all my clients are putting a recruitment freeze in place or are reducing staff numbers as a result and this is something we provide to clients who are making wholesale redundancies in order to support individuals in getting back to work but until now we haven't provided for individuals.
In regards to pricing from looking around it varies greatly and as such I would be happy to offer this service to anyone on TZ at a reduced rate as below
The reduced price for TZ members is in () as below which given the competition feel represents good value
This is a brief overview but there is a lot more involved which I am happy to discuss
CV re-writing = £100 (I can offer you a reduced price to £50)
CV & Cover letter = £130 (I can offer you a reduced price to £70)
CV & LinkedIn = £160 (I can offer you a reduced price to £90)
CV & LinkedIn & Cover Letter = £200 (I can offer you a reduced price to for all 3 services for £100)
In addition we offer a tailored interview coaching session with a charge of £150 (£100)
The interview coaching side is something that is of real benefit to candidates trying to secure the right job offer, especially as people need help to highlight and pick out the right skills and experience to promote when being interviewed for a new job.
This would cover 3 different stages of process
An initial conversation about your experience, and going through the CV to highlight what is important to talk about, this will be your homework to learn
The next stage will be to have a conversation f2f/Skype to go through a mock/ practice interview with you. This is to help you understand where and why you need to highlight key strengths
The 3rd stage will be a final assessment of how well you’ve done and work on a presentation (if necessary) and make sure you feel comfortable to do the best interview you can
If anyone on TZ is interested please contact me for an informal chat or indeed thinks I'm miles off please let me know
Last edited by R0bertb00th; 18th March 2020 at 15:37.
Based on my experience and in looking at this first hand I'd say the CV re-write especially (and LinkedIn extension) is a bargain price to TZers
Sorry just checked the thread, some very valuable advice and nice gestures-
The CV has gone on the back burner whilst the madness continues...
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
I currently work part time helping unemployed people back in to work. Part of my role involves developing and delivering CV and Interview skills presentations
From the interaction I have had with Rob (via email discussing technical material) I would highly recommend his professional experience/advice. He knows his stuff.
Given the current economic uncertainties I have an uneasy suspicion that many employers will at some point reduce their workforce in order to safeguard cash flows - that will probably mean competition in the jobs market will be as tough if not tougher than previous recessions.
Rob has extensive experience of working directly with employers and so is well placed to guide anyone needing to secure a new position.
To anyone unfortunate enough to become unemployed - seek assistance.
To anyone who will be OK but anticipates seeking another position - get your CV (LinkedIn account, contacts) ready now.
Last edited by Suds; 7th April 2020 at 09:52.
Many thanks for the kid words Suds :)
Thank you for your cool insights.
Last edited by bobocat; 31st October 2022 at 10:56.
Posting Permissions
