CV 4 Jobs

Most businesses and processes have changed drastically in Ireland in the last decade – Recruitment, Careers and HR is no different and in actual fact may have changed more than most.

I was thinking about when I moved back to Ireland about 12 years ago. I joined one of the bigger recruitment consultancies in Ireland at the time. My how things have changed!! There were two PC’s in the office and one of those was for show – it didn’t actually work. The other was to receive CV’s from the very few high tech individuals who had email which was very few I may add. CV’s were faxed to the employer and the queue for the fax was as bad as the M50 today. Online Jobboards – you must be kidding. 99% of jobs were sourced through the local and national media. Online interviews and job fairs – next you will be telling me that people have landed on the moon.

So you can see how much thing have changed in the job market in a short space of time.

CV – Online CV or Video CV

It looks like the traditional CV could be changing. Online CV’s or Video CV’s get mixed reviews BUT I think when done right they can make an impact. They enable you to give that little bit more information to the employer that a piece of paper cannot. Video CV’s allow you to get your personality across and bring you to life. This is difficult with a paper CV. Have a look at this online CV. I cam across this site through another blog and this CV impressed me.

If you need a CV service or Interview Coaching check out these links. A professional can help you get the edge and make an impact in a competitive job market.

CV Preparation – A quick story!!

I read this CV story recently and though I would share it with you.

Two students finished college for the summer and they turned their attention to finding a job. The first student spent the first two weeks perfecting their CV and after two weeks had a Killer CV. The other student got on the phone calling employers and got a job.

Key points:

You don’t need a CV to get a job

Don’t waste time preparing your CV – use a professional CV writing service.

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

A CV is a key tool for job hunting and it is a key requirement when applying for most jobs. It is essential to have an impact CV and this will improve your performance on the job market. I have worked with all types of jobseekers and all types of CV’s in my time tweaking some and transforming others from frogs into princesses. However a professional can only do so much with your CV without blatant lies.

So what do you do when your CV is not getting you interviews?

Hide the CV!!

Quite often I meet individuals who are totally different than the image their CV gives with positive attitude and personality that cannot be caught on paper. The problem is that they keep relying on their CV’s and struggle in the job market. What do they do? Normally keep sending CV’s and become deflated with the rejection.

If your CV is not working try calling the employer directly. Have your sales pitch ready and use the opportunity to get you point across. Remember you are your CV and not the piece of paper. You will get knock backs from some clients when you call BUT others will entertain you. Good luck.

For more CV advice check out this post.

CV template examples for you to download. Click on the links below for some “CV Templates”.

CV Template from Employ Ireland

CV Template information from this post

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.

More and more people are looking for employment on Second Life and guess what – many are finding employment and making a living.

There are recruitment agencies on Second Life to help you find that job. I wonder are they any better than the agencies in the real world.

Does anyone actually know anyone working and making a living?

I did visit Second Life a few times but found it hard work. Thats the old man in me.

Is the real world that bad?
Are real jobs that bad?
Are real agencies that bad?

Many jobseekers are reactive when it comes to job hunting. When I say this I mean is that they rely on recruitment agencies or job board and sit back and wait for the interviews to roll in. Great if it is working (there are some great job boards in Ireland) but what if you are not experiencing positive results. You have a number of options;

1. Keep doing the same thing – BUT you will keep getting the same results!!
2. Try a different approach when dealing with agencies or search the job boards.
3. Try a proactive approach.

What is proactive job hunting?

There are a number of possible strategies available including speculative CV’s. Here are some tips if you are following this strategy.

Take a focused approach –target an industry sector or a geography region. Approaching this strategy in an ad hoc manner can prove fruitless.

Bypass HR – Sending a speculative CV to Human Resources can prove a waste of time. Although recruitment is managed by the department they may not be completely aware of what is happening in departments. For example the Finance Manager may know that an accountant has just handed in notice or that it has been agreed with the Directors to increase headcount and this information has not reached HR.

Focused cover letter – A generic cover letter will lose impact. Find out the name of the department manager and address it to him/her directly.

Follow Up – Follow up with the person you have sent the CV to. Prepare short sales pitch for the call.

This article was provide by Paul Mullan a CV expert in Ireland.

Ever wondered where would be a great place to work in Ireland. I just read a post listing the top 50 companies to work for in Ireland. So if you are writing your CV why not send it to these companies.

Many jobseekers fail to land dream jobs because they don’t catch the eye of the reader before their application details are filed in the bin. You have a 10-30 second window to make an impact. I have read thousands Cover Letters and to be honest I would have more fun reading a law journal. Cover Letters play an important part in the job hunting process so. They are even more important if you are not an ideal fit to the job specification. If you are struggling to get called for interviews then push the boat out and get creative.

Handwritten Cover Letters

If you have better writing than your children then try hand writing your cover letter. A decade ago a typed letter stood out from the crowd of hand written cover letters. Nowadays the opposite is actually true. In a world of email, Bebo text and computer hand writing is a rare commodity. This is why a hand written application could bring attention to your application

Show your personality on a Cover Letter

When I read cover letters I lied. I rarely read cover letters because they are all the same boring stuff. I would normally just jump to the CV. Some clients are the same but it is still important to send a Cover Letter and let the client make the decision to read it. Cover letters can provide the opportunity to show your personality so use this opportunity. Use the Cover Letter to tell the employer how much the job means to you and what you can bring to the table. In your Cover Letter write how you feel and not like you are writing a solicitors letter.

Other helpful resources

For additional career advice check out careersandjobs.

For news about jobs in Ireland check out jobsnews.