Question for employers......what do you look for in a cv?

[thefroggy]

I hardly ever get a response, never an interview.

I'm more than qualified for the jobs I apply for and have plenty of experience.

I'm thinking my cv must be crap.

Ideas?

I just belong to the ' just get on with it ' brigade. I dont stop and take legal advice before i fart.

er, ok then.

Perfectly calm as it happens, and mildly amused, but if imagining me frothing works for you, go ahead.

Not sure what you've said that you feel I 'haven't listened' to, but if you're bored and don't wish to discuss further not a problem.

Nothing wrong with 'just getting on with it' at all. I was merely pointing out that in my view, your particular method of getting on with it might get you into hot water and/or possible not be the best way of getting the best person for your business.

You are of course free to disregard my opinion and carry on with what you are doing as I'm sure you will.

What you havent listened to is the fact i do not merely select on a handwritten letter ffs. Its just preferable to the mundane CV.
The rest of the process is normal, short list, interview, etc etc. Followed by contracts, etc etc.
Zzzzzzzzzz

I knew of someone who used to employ in a customer based business. She often had to advertise for staff, and they had an application form. She said anyone who left the hobbies and interests bit blank, went straight in the bin. If they had no interests, she figured she would have no conversation with the clients.

Anyway OP.......

I would ensure that you are taking the time to modify your CV and letter for every potential job opportunity. If the employer has provided a list of essential/desirable skills/qualities then you need to make sure you address these clearly and concisely. You need to EVIDENCE your skills and abilities.

In the current job market, for an admin job, the employer may be reviewing 50-100+ applications. They may well be shortlisting against a formal checklist of essentials/desirables, and the easier you make it for them to assess whether you meet them, the easier it is for them to select you amongst the many.

So if the employer asks for :

1. Experience of working in a similar role
2. Knowledge of 'x' sector
3. Skills in typing and managing budgets

You need to set your letter/application out in exactly the same format:

1. Experience

a)This is my experience of working as a PA b)....

1. Knowledge

a)This is my knowledge of the electronics sector...... b).....

1. Skills

a) I have the following typring skills.... b) I have skills in managing budgets and using spreadsheets......

So when they are going through their ticklist, you will have answered every one of their criteria in a clear and transparent way, and you have not expected them to pull out the information they require from lots of narrative.

I did listen to that. You said printed cvs go "straight in the bin", so those candidates you are disregarding based purely on handwriting.

In fact giving any weight at all to handwriting as a criteria is wrong and lacks business sense for the same reasons mentioned previously.

Sorry OP!

BTW when I say evidence your skills/abilities, what I mean is don't just say 'I have experience of managing budgets'. You need to say something like 'I have experience of managing budgets as evidenced in work at 'x company' where I was responsible for a budget of £100K. In the 5 years I successfully managed this budget, we consistently came in underbudget.'

Dh is left handed. His teachers at school didn't know how to teach a left handed child to write so he never learned how to form his letters. His handwriting is appalling. He is however an excellent pianist and a brilliant music teacher.

Using handwriting as a criteria is so discriminatory. If a job requires legible handwriting then it can be printed. Soneobe could have RSI anr had an injury or anything.

When I look for a CV I like to see relevant qualifications in reverse order, your relevant degree at the top of the list not some unrelated subject you did at school 10 years ago and I like to see your skills clearly laid out not a load of waffle.

Read the criteria and specifically detail how you meet those criteria, don't make me try and prise the information out of a load of irrelevant stuff.

Just noticed my 'typring' typo!!!!

Do you specify that you want handwritten covering letters?

Most people would type a covering letter and application, so if you are disregarding people for not doing something that they haven't been asked to do then that is a little bit crazy.

Oh dear! A bunfight over a cv....{runs off}

Argh! No, they go in the bin because they have exhibited an inability to follows basic instructions! D'oh.
Ie. Applications in own handwriting.

Advert reads:
Would you like to work in weevils company? Applications in own writing to weevil.
Not rocket science is it?
I just want to see WHAT they write, using their own initiative. But i have phonecalls saying 'i've seen the advert, what do you want in the application?' or 'how do i apply?'

I will probably regret wading into this, but...

Weevil, if that is what your ad says, I would not read
'This is an exciting dynamic business and I want you to show me your initiative and creativity in your application letter.'

I would read
'This business is run by a slightly out of touch older person who thinks it is 1955.'

On that basis I wouldn't apply! Sorry.

No worries fanny, staff turnover is never an issue in my company so i wont be recruiting for a while. It must be something about the Mum friendly hours, flexibilty etc, 1950's cookie jar, wind up gramophone. Bloomin marvellous 'tis. And the fact our old fashioned ways have weathered through this recession. Ho hum!