CVs and Interviews

How important is the visual appearance of your CV?

I believe there are 3 key ingredients to an impact CV – Content, Information Positioning and Visual Appearance. I rank Visual Appearance number 3 and least important of the 3 points. Content is number 1 and information positioning is number 2.

CV Writing – What do I mean by content?

“It’s amazing the difference words make. I feel so confident looking over my CV and I hardly even recognise myself”. This is a testimonial for one jobseeker I reworked a CV for. I have hundreds of testimonials but the above words stand out. CV content is critical and without doubt the most important aspect of CV writing. Unfortunately most jobseekers fail with content on three key points. (a) They write a CV about themselves focusing on information that they think is important and ignore the employer. Tip: Embrace the potential reader and their requirements. Your CV is a marketing document focused on the reader. (b) They “can’t see the wood for the trees” and are unable to communicate duties and responsibilities which minimises ability to sell themselves. Tip: If you are having difficulty outlining duties and responsibilities then brainstorm with some friends or cheat and review descriptions of similar jobs online (c) They fail to breathe life into their CV with facts, examples and achievements. Tip: If you “talk the talk” you must “walk the walk”. Helping paint a picture for the reader will help your CV stand out.

CV Writing – What do I mean by information positioning?

There are mixed messages on the topic of CV layout/format. Most CV “experts” will tell you exactly what information your CV should contain and in what order it should be found on the document. Much of this information is stiff and dated. A CV is a fluid document and should not be tied to a rigid layout. CV’s are similar to newspapers and the important headlines have to make the first page. I have created a CV with References on the first page and another CV with Hobbies & Interests on the first page. Why? Because it was relevant information to help sell the jobseekers for that particular role. Never leave it to chance that the reader will progress to the second page of your CV. More than likely they will have made a decision as to your suitability for interview before they get to the end of the first page.

CV Writing – What do I mean by visual appearance?

Quite simply this means that your CV is easy on the reader’s eye. Visual appearance does not rank as my number one priority but it cannot be ignored. I am a fan of the “Clean & Simple” CV. I believe that you can still produce a professional document without the bells and whistles. There is nothing too complex here – white space, clear headings, bullet points, uniformity of font type and size. Effective visual appearance does not have to mean fancy font or coloured paper.

Quite often jobseekers want a CV that looks good but has no substance. They focus on what the CV looks like rather than what it says. If your strategy is to land interviews through quirky CV design you might have an extended time period in the job market. Your CV may stand out visually from the others in the pile but will hit the bin when read. Change your focus now with the following tips:

1. Ensure your content packs punch and integrates quantifiable facts and figures. This will make a greater impression on the reader.
2. Ensure any relevant information make front page headlines. If it doesn’t make front page it might not get read.
3. Keep the layout and design of your CV clean and simple. Fancy designs might get you noticed but won’t get you the interview unless there is substance to match.

CV Writing Service Ireland

I reviewed a CV WRITING article on IRISHJOBS website today titled “EIGHT EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT CV”. After reading this article I would say that it should be titled “EIGHT EASY STEPS TO A CV FAILURE”. Ok there were a few valid points but more schoolboy errors. Below are the eight steps outlined and my comments. Obviously you will take what I have to say on board

1. Include the following sections, and preferably in the following order: – Personal Details, Personal Profile, Education and Qualifications, Any other relevant qualifications, Employment History & References

Yes you will have these sections on your CV but I totally disagree with the fact that the layout must follow the exact order outlined above. Let’s say you were applying for a sales job in the pharmaceutical sector. The job description asks for 10 years Pharmaceutical sales experience and a Degree in Chemistry. You have the 10 years relevant experience BUT only a Diploma in Chemistry. Why would you place your qualifications at the top of your CV? I would rather let the hiring manager read about my excellent experience before they realise I don’t meet educational requirements. The above point is what text books will tell you about CVs BUT reality is very different. You need to get the relevant info onto the first page of your CV an tying yourself to rigid rules as outlined in point one will not enable you to do this.

2. Ensure your CV is concise, preferably no more than 2 A4 pages

I agree in principle but have a funny story. Back in 1997 I worked in recruitment and this was era before email when we used fax to send CVs. A candidate sent me a 9 page CV and I politely told I him it was cr*p. Due to time pressure I submitted CV as was and he got an interview with the company. I phoned him after interview seeking feedback and he proceeded to tell me that the hiring manager told him he loved the CV. Egg and Face. Generally it is expected that CVs will range between 1-3 pages but I always tell jobseekers if their first page does not make an impact forget about the rest!!

3. Choose your words carefully to provide maximum impact – especially in your personal profile where you really need to highlight your skills and knowledge.

This is true and a valid point. I don’t like this whole idea of a “profile” and personally lean towards a targeted value statement. Yes words can make an impact BUT not as much as quantifiable data such as achievements and results.

4. List your Employment History with the most recent job first.

No No No!! – This is text book stuff and again it will limit your ability to market yourself effectively. I have written CV’s that have thrown this rule out of the window. Remember my point that if it doesn’t make first page it may not get read. If your work experience is most relevant let the chronological rule force you to place it towards the end of your CV.

5. If you do not have any work experience then substitute this section for, ‘Personal Successes’ and describe your achievements and the skills required e.g. voluntary work or sporting achievements.

Good point – It is essential to get relevant information, skills and competencies across to the reader.

6. Make sure your CV is tailored to suit each job you are applying for, focusing your attention on the skills that job specifically requires.

True!!

7. Do not include any clip art or photographs.

Again 99.9% of the time I would agree BUT there was one occasion when I did put a picture on a CV but there was a valid reason for doing this.

8. Check your CV to make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.

YES U SHUD CHEK UR SELLINS AND GRAMMMER.

Measurability — CV Writing Service delivering Interviews and Interview Coaching delivering job offers.

I read an interesting CV article this morning – Actually it was not that interesting or even that informative. The article quoted research from a leading recruitment agency telling me (or most jobseekers) anything new. They did not have to waste time on a survey to get their quoted facts as they are already easily accessible on the web. Rather than state the obvious the article could have provided some creative solutions about “how to help your CV avoid the bin”.

Let me quote you some of the facts from the article.

a) 92% of CV’s received by employers go straight into the bin.

d) More that 50% ill prepared for competency based interviews.

Solutions provided by the article to help CV’s avoid the bin.

a) Be careful with spelling and grammar – recheck your application

g) Prepare for interview

Some of my thoughts ….

Yes many jobseekers have poor CV’s and interview skills. Let’s face it there has been a skill shortage for the last decade so jobseekers did not need these skills. If all the supermarkets pulled out of Ireland tomorrow it is obvious that there would be a market for fishing and hunting courses. Having not had to hunt for a few years so would be a bit rusty with these skills.

The most important element of CV preparation is content yet this article leads with spelling and grammar. Come on – spelling & grammar ranks about number 10 in the CV to do list. Have these people not heard of spelling checks – I review many CV’s and this is not a major problem. CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT!!!!!

CV should be no more than 1,000 words. Is this a more creative way of saying two pages? I remember telling a jobseeker some years back that their seven page CV was too long only for the employer to tell the jobseeker at interview that he loved the CV. The amount of words does not matter – If the first page does not make an impact it does not matter how many words or additional pages your CV has.

Using non-traditional methods – Is this recruiter telling us not to use recruitment agencies? Joking!! Again stating the obvious – look on the job boards and agency sites – they have fewer jobs and as most jobseekers use these reactive routes this means more competition. Accessing the hidden job market is essential BUT please tell me how!!

Prepare for interview – Most jobseekers can’t survive a traditional interview never mind a competency interview. Again outside the HSE, Public Sector and the odd multinational competency interviews are not really used. The large proportion of my interview coaching clients face traditional interviews.

CV Writing Service

I came across a website at the weekend offering CV’s for EUR 59.00. Yes you read this right – EUR 59.00 for a professional CV writing service. I actually found his site under a search for “professional CV” – hmmmm!!

Believe it or not this is not the lowest price I ever came across. I did come across a service offering a CV writing service for EUR 45.00. Interestingly this price offering did not last long as the same provider now charges EUR 95.00 for CV writing.

I reviewed the market recently to see what competitors were doing. I came up with some interesting finding. Prices ranged from EUR 85.00 to EUR 395.00. Now obviously the lower end was for Graduate CV’s and the upper end was for Senior Executives. This means that if you pay between. This leads me to believe that the following prices are a fair reflection of the Irish CV Writing marketplace.

Graduate CV – Range EUR 85.00 – EUR 125.00
Mid Level CV – Range EUR 125.00 – EUR 160.00
Executive CV – Range EUR 160.00 – EUR 395.00

Price is very important but if I was a jobseeker considering the EUR 59.00 CV service I would also want to know the following:

Why is the CV service so cheap?
What is the background and experience of the CV writer? (Website does not reveal)
Do you consult me as part of the CV writing process?

I would also review the writer or company online to see what presence they have. Ok this is a new service so the company may not be visible online BUT the writers should if they are from a HR, Recruitment or related field.

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We have launched a new CV Writing Service website www.cvsolutions.ie to meet the growing demand for out CV services. CVSOLUTIONS is a new site BUT is developed by an established CV expert Paul Mullan of Measurability.

The site is still in its infancy as it was only launched this week. Over the coming months the content will be developed further offering a wide range of free  CV Tips & Advice and Cover Letter Tips. Currently there is expert opinion on CV Layout and CV Format. You will also find CV Examples and CV Samples.

If you need a CV that stands out in the market place then visit www.cvsolutions.ie NOW!!

To compliment cvsolutions we have also launched www.interviewsolutions.ie. So we can get you the interviews and help you land the job. Again for those seeking to prepare alone will have free interview preparation tips, interview questions and interview answers. This information will help you improve your interview skills and interview techniques. 

CVSANDINTERVIEWS offering free CV TIPS & ADVICE and free INTERVIEW TIPS & ADVICE to jobseekers in Ireland.

Securing a new job has never been so difficult BUT some would say landing an interview has never been so difficult. There is increased competition for jobs therefore CV’s have to stand out. I read an article that they estimate that 120 people apply for every job. I cannot confirm this BUT some of my HR contacts indicate that they receive a lot of paper (CV’s) these days.

Your CV must stand out in the crowd if you want to get called for interviews. Below are some steps to follow that will help give yourself the best possible chance.

Don’t let the spelling and grammar gremlins ruin your chances. I am not going to write too much about this basic stuff. Spelling, Grammar and Clean & Simple format.

First page of your CV is the important page. If it doesn’t make 1st page it is not important info. Don’t assume that an employer will take the time to read beyond this. Help the reader save time and energy by locating relevant data as early in the CV as possible.

Less is more – focus your content to relevant data. Try not to clutter your CV with irrelevant information. Help the reader find what they want – emphasis on relevant and less emphasis on irrelevant data.

Achievements and successes bring a CV to live and help you stand out in the crowd. This could be that little edge that makes your CV stand out over the competition.

Remember our Career Workshop on 25th April in Dublin – for info email info@measurability.ie

Just a quick post to let you know about a workshop I am running in April with Jane Downes of Clearview Coaching Group. There will be separate workshops on the day – a morning session from 10-1 and an afternoon session from 2-5. The workshop wull focus on 3 key areas

Find Jobs – Efiective Job Hunting Strategies

Getting Interviews – Effective CV & Cover Letters

Getting Job Offers – Effective selling at interview

This will not be text book information normally churned out but key advice to stand out from the crowd.

If you are interested read the full details below – email paul@measurability.ie if you want more information (p.s please quote the site you read about the workshop)

The job market in Ireland has changed dramatically. There are less jobs and increased competition for them. Job hunting requires a more dynamic approach to find success.

• Are you struggling to find suitable jobs?
• Are you struggling to get called for interview?
• Are you struggling to convert interviews into job offers?

This powerful workshop is led by two of Irelands leading “on the ground” Career Experts – Jane Downes of Clearview Coaching Group & Paul Mullan of Measurability. It will enable the opportunity to access expert opinion and advice in three key areas;

• Job Search Strategies – How to access the hidden job market.
• CV’s & Cover Letters – How to market yourself & get more interviews
• Essential Interviewing Skills – How to sell yourself & get more job offers

Workshop & Booking Details

Date:    Sat 25th April 2009
Venue:  Bewleys Hotel Dublin Airport
Address   Baskin Lane Cloghran, Dublin
Workshops: 2 separate workshops – morning and afternoon
Time: 10.00 – 1.00pm & 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Cost: €120

Email paul@measurability.ie for additional information and to secure your place – limited to 15 participants per workshop so don’t delay book today.

Meet the Experts

Paul Mullan is founder of Measurability (www.measurability.ie) a leading Career, Outplacement and HR consultancy. Paul is a leading commentator in Ireland as career doctor for Irish Independent and CV expert for RecruitIreland. He has 15 years career coaching, recruitment, outplacement and HR experience in Ireland and UK.

Jane Downes if founder of Clearview Coaching Group (www.clearviewcoachgroup.com) and practices career and executive coaching. Jane also co – owns Irelands first Development Assessment and Coaching Centre for Emotional Intelligence – EiIreland. Jane is regularly invited to write articles for the National Press in the areas of Motivation/Performance/ Goals/Career & Interview Coaching and Work Life Balance. Jane has a Social Science Degree from U.C.D and Fas Approved Training/Facilitation Qualification (N.U.I). She is a Qualified Life & Business Coach and Career Coach Assessor (fireworkcoaching) and a licensed and qualified Emotional Intelligence Assessor (EQi).

When a CV is not doing its job it may need additional work to make a greater impact. BUT what if it has been reworked and it still does not create the results you want? Perhaps you need to try to take the emphasis away from the CV. It is likely that you lack a key component for the job like a qualification, relevant work experience or relevant industry experience. Does this mean you should stop? Most will but you can do more. This is a recent article I wrote for RecruitIreland about strategies to get the job you want – “CV or not CV – That is the Question”.

CV Writing Services - BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE

I have just completed CV work for a client. This is normal as it is a big part of my service offering. Not this particular case though. You see this individual was coming to me straight from the arms of another CV competitor. They paid out for a service which did not get them any results. If you saw what was produced you would know why.

Now I am not saying that I am the best and I know some other very professional CV writing services across the country. What I will say is that jobseekers need to do some investigation before they fork out any money for CV or any other Career Service. There are many service providers popping up each day to service the demand for CV, Career and Interview advice. This choice is creating confusion.

Below are a few points to consider before you part with any hard earned cash.

Background & Experience – This is essential. There are many proclaimed experts with no background or experience to back this up. One professional said to me once if the company cannot put profiles of themselves or associates on a website – beware!! Recruitment & HR are two key popular backgrounds (Having said this I regularly write CV’s for HR professionals).

Online presence – This is a great indicator of reputation. Google the company or the professional (if they have revealed themselves on the website). Companies using Google Ads will be relevant BUT investigate them further. Does the professional or company have good online presence?

What others say – Get referrals from trusted friends and contacts. References on websites are fine but I have seen providers spring up recently with a lot of testimonials accumulated very quickly. You see this profession takes time and energy to build up a reputation and with this in mind I question the references on some sites.

Geography – Just because you live in Clare does not mean that you have to use a local provider. I do CV’s for clients nationally and in fact I refuse to meet clients for CV assignments (only Interview Coaching & Career Coaching). CV’s can be completed via phone and email. This should give you more choice of services.

Cost – I guess it all comes down to the dollar. Cheapest is not best BUT equally neither is the dearest. You want someone who will stand by their work and refund if individuals are not happy. On average I spend at least 2/3 hours on a CV. Anyone charging below EUR100.00 beware about the amount of time and effort they will put into the document. (A quick point – You may get less than EUR100 price from regional providers but certainly should not from greater Dublin providers).

Happy job hunting.

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CV Tips – Content is King!!

For me “Content in King”. CV content is critical and without doubt the most important aspect of CV writing. Most jobseekers fail miserably when it comes to developing content for their CV. (1) Most jobseekers write a CV about themselves and focus on information they think is important and ignore the fact that it should be information important to the reader that is important. Tip: CV is a marketing document focused on the reader. (2) Most jobseekers “can’t see the wood for the trees” and fail to communicate their duties and responsibilities effectively. Tip: If you are having difficulty outlining duties and responsibilities then brainstorm with some friends or cheat and review descriptions of similar jobs online (3) Most jobseekers fail to bring their CV to life with facts, examples and achievements. Tip: Back up any statements on your CV with facts.

CV Service Ireland – Get better results with your CV

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