CV 4 Jobs

CV Preparation & CV Distribution

There are many great articles on this site telling you how to prepare an impact CV. There is excellent information about CV Layout, CV content, CV design and cover letters. There are occasions when I come across clients who spend that much time perfecting a CV that they neglect distributing the CV. Yes you need to spend time on your CV BUT remember if employers or recruiters do not see it you will not get a job.

Rather that focus on preparing a CV lets look at where you can locate suitable jobs to distribute your CV.

Recruitment Agencies – Probably the most popular job search tool as it takes the work out of job hunting for the jobseeker. Remember to identify agencies that tailor for your skill set and try if possible to meet the recruiter.

Online Job Boards – There are unlimited job boards in Ireland including EmployIreland, RecruitIreland and SalesJobs to name a few. My only advice here is to visit them regularly and not rely too much on job alerts.

Newspapers – There has been a sharp decline in newspaper job advertising and the fact that most newspaper groups own the online job boards would highlight this point. Certainly no harm to review the main job papers of which Thursday Irish Independent Jobs Supplement is still No.1.

Networking – This is a proactive approach to find potential jobs. Can be hard work but introduces you to valuable industry contacts and can unearth real job gems. When you consider that over 50% of jobs are never advertised it is strategies like networking that will help you access the hidden job pool.

Choosing a CV Writing Service

I review some really bad CV’s on a daily basis. A lot of the mistakes are quite basic. Interestingly I often deal with jobseekers who have already forked out good money on bad CV services. Ok – I don’t like people throwing money away but most of the time they are their own worst enemy.

We are getting ripped off in Ireland for groceries BUT we are creating this situation. We pay the prices and we are too lazy to shop around. Similarly many jobseekers run with the 1st CV service they see on the web without shopping around or checking out the provider. Below I will outline key criteria to consider.

CV Service – Considerations.

What qualifies the CV writer? – OK there is no official qualification for writing CV’s in Ireland BUT the background of the writer is important. Any CV provider who does not have a bio on their website – BEWARE!!. Typically a good background for CV writing is a vast experience in recruitment or HR. Basically somebody who has been heavily involved in recruitment, sifting CV’s or interviewing.

Reputation of CV Writer – Are they known in Ireland? Who refers them? I have references on my site (they are legitimate) BUT these can be made up. Does the CV writer have any industry or company references? Do they blog? Do they write for any online sites or newspapers?

Price of CV Writer – As we all know price can no give a true indication of service. A high price does not mean good service and visa versa. Ok we all have a budget BUT remember an IMPACT CV will help you secure that dream job.

And now for the sales pitch – CV Writing Service Ireland.

Professional CV writing is a key service I provide for jobseekers in Ireland. I have reviewed written CV’s across most skill-sets, business functions and roles. There is one common problem with most jobseekers on the CV writing topic, whether they are Executive, Professional, Graduate or Technical. They all ignore the person reading the CV – the recruiter or employer.

CV Preparation – The job specification has the answers

Ask any salesman if they had access to the buyer’s requirements before the sales meeting would it assist with securing the sale. Yes – would be the unanimous answer. This information would impact the marketing information they would send to the client and the approach at the sales meeting. A job specification is just the same. An employer is telling you what they want. So why do so many people miss this huge opportunity? It certainly puzzles me!!

Incorporating the job specification into your CV

I guess one reason is that most jobseekers are lazy. They write a CV about them. This is normally a general document – one hat to fit on all jobs. Is this you? If it is you are probably missing out on key interviews as a result. You must analyse the job specification and identify what is key for the client. Ensure that you highlight related experience and achievements on your CV. Make it easy for the employer. I agree it does take time but you will get the results. Job focused CV’s work.

CV Service in Ireland- Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

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The cost of CV Services & Interview Coaching in Ireland

We are not great shoppers in Ireland. RIP OFF REPUBLIC!! Many say it is our own fault as we are lazy. I certainly do not shop around when I am on the market for good or services. I guess most jobseekers are the same. They need CV Services & Interview Coaching Services and go with the 1st professional they call. You could be lucky (and call me) or you could be unlucky. Price is certainly not the most important thing when seeking CV & Interview services but we all have a budget.

I had a funny feeling that I was not charging enough for my services so I embarked on a bit of market research. Let me share with you what some providers are offering in Ireland. I will provide the information I have to date and add to this as I am still awaiting additional info.

Interview Coaching – Cost!!

a) 150.00 for 1.0 hours (= hourly rate 150.00)
b) 175.00 for 1.5 hours (= hourly rate 116.00)
c) 290.00 for 2.5 hours (= hourly rate 116.00)
d) 145.00 for 1.5 hours (= hourly rate 96.00)

CV Writing Service – Cost!!

CV services are a bit misleading because you don’t know what you are getting. I refer you to this article on CV services and checking them out. For example I could knock a CV out in about an hour. It would cost very little and get you very little results. Here are some of the prices I found.

a) 175.00
b) 115.00
c) 269.00

Please post a comment if you have been charged a different rate or any other CV on Interview Coaching experience you had.

CV Writing & Interview Services in Ireland – Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

An impact CV is a key ingredient for success in the job market. Unfortunately most CV’s I review do not sell the owner and lack impact. Below I have outlined a number of excellent articles that can help you improve your CV preparation skills. Improve the quality of your CV and you will increase interview invitations. This will help you land your dream job.

Common CV mistakes – Avoid!!

As stated most CV’s I review are flawed. They fall down in many areas but there are common mistakes I see every day. Here are a couple of articles which will outline some of the most common CV mistakes you should avoid. Read CV Advice – mistakes and CV Preparation – mistakes.

CV preparation – CV Layout & CV Format

CV layout and CV format are very important for an impact CV. CV Format & CV Layout outlines some of the basic CV format and CV layout points to consider. Take these on board when writing your CV.

How many pages? – CV Writing

A common question I am asked by jobseekers is “how many pages for a CV?” CV Advice will answer this question.

CV Writing & Interview Coaching

Do you need professional CV writing support? Measurability CV Service offers a professional CV advice to jobseekers across Ireland. Need Interview coaching?

I was asked an interesting question today – “Is there any difference in CV Layout, CV Format or CV Templates for the various counties in the South of Ireland?” I will quickly answer this question and then give some general information on CV Templates, CV Formats and CV Layout in Ireland.

Answer – There are 26 counties in Republic of Ireland and from experience the same CV principles apply to all 26. In fact the same principles will apply to most countries. Can anyone name the 26 counties? Answer at the bottom of the post BUT I am sure you all got it.

CV Template in Ireland

There are many CV templates used in Ireland varying from simple to fancy. Personally I sway towards simple. Whatever CV Template you use it should contain the following – Personal Details, Education & Training, Work Experience and Hobbies & Interests. The order of these will depend on the role and your background. Other topics can include Value Statements, Key Skills, Additional Information and References.

CV Format in Ireland

The most popular format in Ireland in Chronological CV. Most recruiters expect this type of CV and can access information easily. There are other formats that can be used in certain situations. This post will provide more information on CV Format.

CV Layout in Ireland

CV Layout is equally important in a CV. Ensure that you have a focused CV and this will ultimately dictate your Layout. Do you want to know how to focus your CV?

Here are list of counties promised – Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow, Clare, Cork, Kerry Limerick, Tipperary & Waterford

Cover Letter Tips — CV Writing Tips & Help

CV Format is very vital when you are writing a CV for the Irish job market or any job market. If you ignore this element you will miss out on possible interviews. As outlined in a previous post there is a variety of popular formats but I advise jobseekers to take a fluid approach to CV format and not restrict to set formats.

CV Format – The Functional CV

Functional CV’s are common in the job market but not as popular as the chronological CV. Rather that list your work experience you would dissect your experience into functional exposure – like sales experience or IT experience. This type of CV is beneficial if you have gaps in employment or if you have changed jobs frequently after short periods of time. Functional CV’s are also beneficial if your recent work experience is not relevant to the role that you are applying for. The problem with Functional CV’s is that they can generate suspicion from the recruiter. It can also frustrate recruiters in that it is difficult to identify what you actually worked at. Having said this, these CV’s are necessary if you have some of the above outlined issues.

CV Format is only one ingredient for CV success.

As outlined in previous posts there is much more to CV writing than selecting a CV format. There are many areas to pay attention to including the basics like spelling & grammar but also key areas like CV layout and content. CV4jobs has free many posts with free advice on CV writing so feel free to browse the other posts for information to help you design a good CV. Read this useful article.

CV Services for jobseekers in Ireland

You will find many professional CV services in Ireland that can help you improve your application to interview ratio. Measurability offers professional CV services for professionals nationwide. Visit www.measurability.ie for more information about the CV Format and other services.

You invest time into writing your CV and now feel you have a document that will make an impact and get you interviews. A strong CV will help but it is only part of the process for securing interviews. You have to distribute your CV. Easy you might say but you would be surprised how many individuals I meet who can’t seem to find jobs and manage their job search ineffectively. Below are some of the key channels to explore.

Recruitment Agencies

This is a popular resource for jobseekers as it takes the hard work out of finding a job. Send your CV off to an agency and sit back and wait for the interviews. There are some important points to remember when dealing with agencies. You need to find the right agencies for your skills so you must research the market. A tip to find suitable agencies is to see what agencies are advertising for your skills on the job boards and or you can ask for recommendations from friends or work colleagues. You must also try to meet the recruiter and build a relationship. A final point is to take the initiative and keep in touch with your recruiter(s). They may not have a job for you immediately and you cannot assume that they will call when they get a suitable job. Agencies house thousands of CV’s and recruiters vary in ability.

Job boards

CV databases are an increasingly popular tool offered by job boards in Ireland. You submit your CV to the job board database and the job board will offer this database to employers as part of their service. This is still in its infancy in Ireland and I question how many recruiters or employers actually put the effort in to searching the databases. If you want a good database try this job board.

Sending out speculative CV’s

It has been many moons since I heard of a jobseeker walking the local industrial estates and distributing CV’s. With the market tightening in Ireland this practice may return. If you cannot find suitable jobs online, with agencies or in the papers then go and look for them. This is a time consuming approach BUT an option all the same.

If you need help with CV distribution or you want professional advice on job search strategies in Ireland why not seek help from an expert. Help jobseekers nationwide – Dublin, Meath, Louth, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo and all other counties.