WWYD - how honest would you be?

[chelle792]

Someone I know and am relatively close with has asked that I look over an application. We both have backgrounds in the same industry. I've read it and it's just not right. She's been applying for jobs and not getting anywhere.

My honest opinion is that it needs scrapping and starting over. I don't feel that there's really anything appealing in the letter. It doesn't highlight her good qualities and although she outlines her experiences, doesn't relate them to the person specification. She won't get a job with this letter.

She's already really stressed about her contract coming to an end with nothing to move on to and has been to the doctors because she is struggling.

Do I either make a few changes and tell her good luck, knowing she won't get anything or tell her that it needs majorly reworking and potentially make her even more stressed?

The deadline for the application is Monday

[chelle792]

Or agreeing to help, rather

[PirateFairy45]

Be honest so as she'll get a job

[EarthboundMisfit]

Tell her! I can't see much to lose and a lot to gain. I'd be thrilled if someone helped me with that.

[JuneBuggy]

Everyone needs a critical friend from time to time. She's come to you for help and you think you've found the issue.

Could you write one for her, suggest she submits that and see how she gets on? People are often really rubbish at seeing and verbalising their best qualities, especially in applications / CVs / interviews!

[chelle792]

So I have an update....
I ended up spending most of Sunday on and off on the phone to her. We reworked the whole thing.

I've just had a text from her and she's been invited to interview!!

[chelle792]

So glad I was honest as she's had so many rejections!

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Yay! That's brilliant news OP. Well done

[sunnyoutside]

Aw this is a lovely thread. Being honest without being mean is so important and it really comes across how much you care and how much you think of her. I hope her interview goes well

[AyeAmarok]

Great news! Well done both of you!

[Winterbiscuit]

Fantastic!

[HighDataUsage]

Well done, it's always good to be honest in situations like this and it has benefited her. So the next stage is to help prepare her for the interview stage. I googled '10 hardest interview questions' and worked through those.

www.theguardian.com/careers/interview-help

[FinallyHere]

Well done, both of you.

I am eternally grateful to the person who helped me with mine. Im supposed to be good at this stuff, but just couldn't see it for my own CV. Just like you,my friend didn't push the fact that it needed a total rewrite, just concentrated on examples of what i could do differently. I'll be for ever grateful....

[magicstar1]

That's great...well done.
I had that conversation with my old boss surprisingly. He was getting no interviews, even though he's highly qualified. I redid his cv and he got some straight away. It was just worded badly and too long.

[chelle792]

Interview is Tuesday and it's not far from my house so she's coming to stay Monday night. I hope she can act confident in the interview! Although she's now decided this area isn't manageable as it's too expensive she's right but she should be fine on her wage