CV 4 Jobs

Jobseekers are facing a tough job market in Ireland and need to ensure they are in tip top shape to ensure they maximise full opportunities. The basic foundations need to be set in that you need to know what you are looking for. Key tools like CV’s and cover letters need to be sharp and ready for action. Then interview techniques need to be fine tuned. Jobseekers can no longer enter the job market without thorough preparation. Once upon a time any old CV would get you interviews and below par interviews landed job offers. Well you can no longer expect this as the job-jobseeker ration has swung full circle.

CV Tips

The CV is certainly a key ingredient for any successful attack on the job market. There is much advice available but stick to the basics outlined in these 3 articles and you will have a solid foundation.

CV Tip 1 – Make sure your CV is visually attractive

CV Tip 2 – Help the reader find the information they need

CV Tip 3 – Focus on the content of your CV

Take these CV Tips on board and you will find an improvement in your application to interview ratio. Improve this ratio and you will increase your chances of landing a job.

It amazes me how many jobseekers have only one CV which they send to every position the see without any content or format changes. In reality what you are saying to the client that this is what I do and I don’t care what you are looking for. Jobseekers that follow this approach will have a lower CV-Interview ratio. Ultimately they will miss out on opportunities and possible job offers.

Jobseekers must realise that each employer is different and each job requirement is different no matter how small. Most employers have job vacancies to help them solve a problem and when reading your CV they don’t see this in a short space of time it will be filed in the bin. In reality it is the employer and their job specification that will dictate your CV content and format.

Yes it does take more effort to have an employer focused CV for each position. This may mean complete CV overhaul in some cases but it can also mean just tweaking the CV with minimal changes. As the saying goes “the harder I work the luckier I get” and you will find an increase in responses and CV success by this additional effort.

The employer decides if you will be called for interview. They have the power and your CV must make an immediate impact. You must realise that your CV should be designed with the employer’s need in mind. Best of luck in your job hunting.

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.

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.

They Lack focus – Jobseekers write CV’s without considering the employer or hiring manager. If you have one CV that you send to every job you are say to the employer this is what I have got and I don’t care what you want. You must think about the employer, identify what it is they want and the put together your CV.

They lack evidence – Jobseekers do not outline achievements on CV’s. OK they tell what they have done BUT not how they did it. You must provide successes and achievements to support you CV. This will help bring your CV to life.

Want an impact CV? Check out this site.

Job hunting can be a difficult and stressful task for most but what I don’t understand is why jobseekers make it more difficult for themselves. I received a CV today from a senior professional working in the Financial Services sector. The CV needed a fair bit of work BUT one thing jumped out from the page immediately. What was this you ask? Was it poor spelling and grammar – no, was it poor formatting – guess again or did t lack impact – wrong again. This jobseeker had a ridiculous contact email address. If you are trying to create a professional image you certainly will not impress with an email address like funkymonkey2222@hotmail.com, dippyhippy1234@yahoo.ie or dumbestblond@gmail.com. Do yourself a favour and make life easier – set up an alternative email account.

Lets switch to Interviews for this post.

What questions should I ask at job interviews?

This is another popular question along with the salary question that I am regularly asked by my interview coaching clients. Some career experts will advise to ask questions that make you look good BUT I advise you to ask question to get the important information you need to make job choice decisions.

An interview is a two way process and you have to ensure that the job and the company are right for you. You have identified what you want in a new job so use this opportunity to get the valuable information that you need. There are many questions on the internet that people suggest but if you ask questions for the sake of it you are missing an opportunity.

Points to consider when asking questions at interview.

Most questions are fine except perhaps the salary question. It is probably better to let the client bring this up. When asking questions it is important not to ask for information that has been provided during the interview. If your questions have been answered during the interview then point this out to the client and never say that you have no questions to ask.

If you are seeking new employment in financial services or the shannon, tralee or carlow regions check out careersandjobs.

I have viewed four CV’s today and all four are littered with spelling and grammar mistakes. When I coach 1-1 or workshops on CV writing I often forget to mention spelling & grammar as this is very basic stuff. Unfortunately this basic stuff will cost you valuable interviews. Spelling & Grammar mistakes send out the wrong signals and I know many hiring managers who refuse to bring those guilty applicants to interview.

We are all human and we are all prone to making mistakes BUT please do not make Spelling & Grammar mistakes on your CV.

How can you overcome this potential problem?

1. Get someone else to script and type your CV – a professional or a friend.
2. Microsoft Word – Tools – Spelling & Grammar
3. Proof read your CV or get someone else proof read your CV.
4. Then trust and verify – proof read it again.

I will be posting other interesting CV, Interviews and career information over the coming weeks.

p.s I hope there are no Spelling & Grammar mistakes in this post. If so remember the saying “do as I say and not as I do”.