Terrible CVs

[PymChurchBeach]

Disclaimer: I know times are hard and shitty right now and a lot of people are desperate for work so probably chucking out CVs left right and centre at anything and everything.

BUT. I have worked in HR for nearly a decade now and it has always been the same. The general standard of CVs is bloody awful. I'm recruiting for a mid level role at the moment and I have seen the following:

• people using little hearts and stars instead of bullet points
• massive glamour model style photographs taking up the whole first page of a CV
• people's dates of birth and marital statuses written up at the top. Just no!!!
• wacky, colourful borders and fonts. Comic sans. Enough said.

Also - this last one is possibly controversial but when women have had a break to look after DC, there really is no need to list all the skills gained as a SAHM - e.g. "excellent time management skills etc". You can just say you had time out to raise children. That's all you need to say. I'm not going to think any the worse of you for it.

I am desperate to implement application forms rather than have CVs and cover letters but my CEO is old fashioned and will not have it.

Purple the best advice I've been given - and which I still use now - is to print off the job description and get three different highlighter pens. For this example let's use green, orange and yellow.

Go through the JD and everything that you know you can do - and evidence through your work history - colour it green.

Everything that you are confident you could do but don't have evidence of - e.g. no direct experience but you have transferrable skills which would mean you could do it - then highlight in yellow.

Everything that you have no experience of, highlight in orange.

Looking at the green and yellow will help give you the confidence when you see just how much of the job you know how to do. The orange bits will help you focus on what you don't know, and the trick with that is to think of a way where you could address those gaps - i.e. when asked at interview, how would you get round these gaps, is there some self study or a training course you could do? Someone you know that could mentor or coach you?

If you meet 75% of the criteria already then I would definitely apply

It’s in the finance sector and requires quite specific qualifications (which I have) and experience (which I have most of). I think if it had been a slightly more junior position it would have been perfect. Just annoying because I would have loved to work for the company and got a bit too excited when I saw the vacancy. Thanks for your advice @Puzzledandpissedoff

If you have the qualifications and most of the experience then apply for it.

One of the common differences between men and women, which a PP pointed out, is that men tend to be more ambitious in applying for vacancies which might be a stretch. Whereas women can talk themselves out of applying for jobs unless they are confident they can meet 100% of every requirement.

Go for it. The worst they can do is say no.

@PurplePrickley

It’s in the finance sector and requires quite specific qualifications (which I have) and experience (which I have most of). I think if it had been a slightly more junior position it would have been perfect. Just annoying because I would have loved to work for the company and got a bit too excited when I saw the vacancy. Thanks for your advice *@Puzzledandpissedoff*

I was recruiting in the finance sector.

I would suggest you apply for it - they'll be many others who fall short on the criteria who will.

Provided you have the qualifications then I'd give your CV a second look if all that was missing was some experience in certain areas.

I’ve worked as an English teacher for more than ten years, so I thought that I couldn’t be more shocked by the state of literacy in this country.... and then a few years ago I started a sideline rewriting people’s CVs and I’ve been absolutely flabbergasted by some of the things people are sending out to recruiters.

PurplePrickley from what you've said I'd apply for it.

A poster a couple of pages back said to never click the “apply now” button on a jobs website and to apply directly instead. But what if the company isn’t listed and the recruitment company that listed the job is never returning calls (I wanted some more job info and have tried to call 5 times over a couple of weeks and have been assured they will pass on my number for the appropriate person to call me back, but she hasn’t so far)?

In this scenario should I just apply via the button on the website and cross my fingers?

What I would love is a great example of an executive resume / CV. I feel I under sell myself and would love to get a feel for what is normally seen in an executive resume. Online searches aren't helpful.

Are there any pointers or good resources for this?

Depends what you mean by 'executive'. In my experience that means a c-suite level director. Having seen a few their CVs are usually short - no more than 2 pages - very punchy and focus primarily on their last decade of achievements, with roles prior to that being summarised in a brief paragraph.

The achievements are often listed in bullet points, with each one being a key deliverable that they were responsible for, or a particular aspect of their experience which was the reason why they could do XYZ.

An example for a chief Operating Officer would be: I oversaw the delivery of an IT transformation programme to remedy the firm's outdated infrastructure and address the Board's business continuity concerns. This resulted in an annual maintenance cost-saving of £x.

Obviously us mere mortals aren't going to be able to boast about saving millions! But it's a good point about emphasising what you've achieved to bring your skills to.life, rather than what you did. E.g. instead of saying "I was responsible for data entry in an NHS Trust", state "As data entry clerk for the Trust, I achieved a consistent average accuracy rate of 99%".

On the listing hobbies point. I've just recruited a solicitor, so all CVs were very appropriate, all well set-out, perfectly spelt.

First go through, I grouped into yes, no and maybe. I was wavering on one who's experience was fine but didn't particularly stand out and there were a couple of much better CVs.

I put it in the "yes" pile on the strength of hobbies "Running (mostly around after my 3 boys)." This actually made me laugh out loud.

And yes, reader, I recruited her.

So, from my point of view as an occasional recruiter, I can be influenced by a little humanity and humour. Without that line she probably wouldn't have had an interview.

@PurplePrickley Definitely apply - as a pp said, a man wouldn't think twice about it.

Incidentally, I had a recruitment agent who, I realise now, 20 years later, was a bit of a misogynist dinosaur. He may also have been slightly xenophobic. As a result he sent me for a job that I was too senior for and didn't have specialist expertise. Only it turned out, the person hiring realised from my CV the job I SHOULD have been sent to her for. And that's the one I got. Apply - if you've got 2/3 of it, it's absolutely worth it.

@NellGwynsPenguin I also don’t mind that they’re married to John for 25 years... shows loyalty, and commitment. Women who work are people not robots. As an employer we have to take care of our employees’ health and well-being.

Do you even realise how discriminatory that is? So the woman who is a single Mum doesn't show loyalty or commitment? I am seldom actually offended on MN but that really annoys me. The single parents I know are usually even more committed to the children because they were the ones who made hard decisions for their children's benefit to NOT stay in relationships that don't work, where they are cheated on and/or abused. Even just "growing apart" takes courage to accept the relationship is over.

I can also assure you that DS' best friend who is one of 3 and whose mum left his Dad when the youngest was 6 months after she discovered he'd been having an affair for 2 years while leaving her at home to deal with all the crap (literally).... she doesn't have hobbies on her CV. She barely has time to look after her children, work and worry about money.

Thank you all. I will apply. I’ve learnt loads of great tips on here, how to shape up my CV. You never know it might help, and the worse they can do is say no.

Hey everyone... I've been following this thread and about to submit my cv for a role which I am suited for.

I have one question - I have three previous roles in which my duties are almost identical - it's doesn't look great just listing the same duties 3 times under different headings - what can I do!?

Thanks

Focus on what you delivered. I've given an example of this in my last post. What were your results? E.g. I achieved a consistent quality check result for my work, of 96%. Or, my client feedback was always positive, as evidenced in all of my NPS scores during my time at 123 Ltd.

The purpose of your CV is to show off your skills - it shouldn't just be a chronological record of where you've worked over the years. What did you do well in that role that means you'd be a good fit for this one?

I have one question - I have three previous roles in which my duties are almost identical - it's doesn't look great just listing the same duties 3 times under different headings - what can I do!?

Yes, please don't just list duties. "Managed calls and diaries, organised travel" etc.

What projects did you work on, with successful outcomes?
If you were doing travel arrangements, were yo part of team implementing new programme? Did you come up with a way to save the firm money? Did you work with multiple travel providers? Basically - what did you do that made you successful and good at managing travel arrangements.

And also if your last three jobs have been essentially the same, then what's the story for moving on? I'm always interested to know why someone's moved on to a similar job in a different company. Redundancy? Better hours? Study opportunity? Career progression opportunity because there wasn't anything at the last firm?

@Tappering

And also if your last three jobs have been essentially the same, then what's the story for moving on? I'm always interested to know why someone's moved on to a similar job in a different company. Redundancy? Better hours? Study opportunity? Career progression opportunity because there wasn't anything at the last firm?

Ah so this is another thing that I am worried about - I have been made redundant... my career was heading in the direction of the last three roles but at the moment this can't happen as there are no roles available - I am worried that employers will think that if they hire me it will be a stop-gap.

A PP said to never click the “apply now” button on a jobs website and to apply directly instead. But what if the company isn’t listed and the recruitment company that listed the job is never returning calls

Since agencies don't want to give away their work for free it's common for the company name not to be listed, but if they can't even answer calls I'd edge towards thinking they're either disorganised or maybe even that it's a "ghost job", posted to get more people on the books

Either way that would be good reason to give them a swerve

@BlingLoving

I have one question - I have three previous roles in which my duties are almost identical - it's doesn't look great just listing the same duties 3 times under different headings - what can I do!?

Yes, please don't just list duties. "Managed calls and diaries, organised travel" etc.

What projects did you work on, with successful outcomes?
If you were doing travel arrangements, were yo part of team implementing new programme? Did you come up with a way to save the firm money? Did you work with multiple travel providers? Basically - what did you do that made you successful and good at managing travel arrangements.

I will do that but it's still extremely similar as I did the same at each company ... I'll have a think

@Tappering

And also if your last three jobs have been essentially the same, then what's the story for moving on? I'm always interested to know why someone's moved on to a similar job in a different company. Redundancy? Better hours? Study opportunity? Career progression opportunity because there wasn't anything at the last firm?

And sorry the last three jobs:

Role 2 bought the book of business from role 1 and hired some staff - new contracts etc so new role.

Role 3 headhunted me - hours were better suited to me, more pay, better career progression... or so I thought until I was made redundant

@BlingLoving

I have one question - I have three previous roles in which my duties are almost identical - it's doesn't look great just listing the same duties 3 times under different headings - what can I do!?

Yes, please don't just list duties. "Managed calls and diaries, organised travel" etc.

What projects did you work on, with successful outcomes?
If you were doing travel arrangements, were yo part of team implementing new programme? Did you come up with a way to save the firm money? Did you work with multiple travel providers? Basically - what did you do that made you successful and good at managing travel arrangements.

So if I state things like

During my time at XYZ Company I was instrumental in streamlining ABC system which reduced turnaround times, enhanced quality and minimised the opportunity for error. This ABC system reduced the workload across all relevant teams.

@Puzzledandpissedoff thanks, dealing with recruiters is extremely frustrating!

The post has enough info about the role, where it’s based, that you could wfh 3 days a week etc, that I’m inclined to think it is real. Surely a “ghost” ad wouldn’t bother writing up requirements? Or am I being ignorant? Plus it’s a perfect fit for me!

And to clarify the recruitment company do pick up their phones, it’s just the woman who apparently is handling that role that never returns calls or picks up her phone.

If you saw my CV you 'd call me in for interview right away. I've never had any problems because I'm a good writer. However, I clam up in interviews and go blank thinking of answers off the cuff - to the extent that not only have I failed 4 interviews recent!y I am so anxious I can hardly bear to do it again and have underachieved all my professional life as a result.
CV's don't tell you everything about a person who may be the opposite to me i.e. excellent in person but a terrible writer. Depends on the job if this is important. (They should employ professional services to sort their cvs out in that case though.)