paddyo

'air-head girls'.......hmmmm....nice to see generalisation is not dead then! I don't think that totally sexist and misogynistic comment is warranted. As for CV's, going back to your original point, you do still NEED them as an entry point. Whether they are valid or not is for an experienced recruiter, both internally and externally' to resolve during the rest of the process.
In my limited experience, both as a recruiter and now as a trainer, the best job recruiters are those who head hunt for senior positions. They are the ones who know the industry, the customers and also know that if they put a crap candidate up for a job their reputation will suffer so they go the extra mile to ensure the candidate suits the role.

Vash the Stampede

It does seem to vary a good deal. My aunt gave my CV a complete facelift just before I arrived (she has recruitment experience) and it's a lot more presentable now.

When I registered with Hays, they were happy with my CV but advised me that they would tinker with it on an "as needed" basis before submitting it to clients. I think their aim is to ensure that it emphasises the skills and work history most relevant to the position.

Some industries seem to have specific preferences; others will take whatever comes out of the bag. Government jobs are the hardest, since they will demand an endless criteria-focused essay.

Oh, and... I took an irrelevant arts degree at uni.

paddyo

As a word of advice, if you get an interview after Hays uses and 'tinkers' your CV, make sure Hays provides you with a copy of the 'tinkered' CV BEFORE attending any interview. It will save any embarrassing moments of silence when they ask you something about your CV that you are unaware of!

Amazulu

The blonde with big tits from HR that I usually deal with is hot. Definitely worth a punch.

DadAgain

2 different rules...

1) Private enterprise corporate employers:
Normal CV - 2-3 pages.. up to 4 or 5 perhaps if its good relevant experience with over 10 years of work in multiple significant but varied roles (i.e. IT contractor) and theres lots of white space to keep it readable.

2) Government Jobs:
Throw your CV in the bin and write an 8,000 word dissertation on how your skills match precisesly those of the specified requirements and why, even if they KNOW who the job is going to because they've been in line for it for years and its just being advertised as a formality to satisfy the HR jerks - they should give it to you..... Come to think of it why do you want to work for government anyway? 60% of the salary of the private sector and 300% of the bureacratic nonsense.... save your time...

(I have applied for government jobs in the past out of desperation - but always been quietly happy when I havent got them!)

Vash the Stampede

Haha, I can just imagine!

"So, Mr Stampede, tell us about your time as Chief Executive Officer for BP's South Pacific division..."

"Er... I visited Fiji once. Does that count?"

homewardbound

I tinker with my cv for every job i apply for - it takes me an average of 3 hours to tinker and write cover letter to meet spec sheet. Fortunately i have 3 months grace during my probationary period in my new job phew!

BadgeIsBack

I would not apply for a job which had this attached to it. Just not the way I think. Alarm bells would ring.

I did once do it for a govt job I did not really want and it involved a lot of cutting and pasting. "I've told you already!"

BadgeIsBack

Whereas I take 2 mins per job application. It's all in the CV - and an email, and for the most part - it stands alone - and unmodified(!) Haven't written a cover letter since I left school.

BadgeIsBack

I've been interviewing a lot recently and I'm quite amazed at how crap some candidates are. Many go bright red to the most mundane questions. One character went as red as a beetroot when someone asked him 'So tell me about yourself". (Did he still live with his mother?) Another was very dry and slow and spoke like he had terminal depression..

"Well - when you live with a mentally ill people".....

We asked him about this previous role:

"There were issues...one bloke hit another bloke. Not me though.."

My way of answering questions: I always keep it relaxed, but then try to make incisive, pointed remarks so they think - 'could work with him, but he's no *****w*t or an arse'. Say something general - show breadth of knowledge (this is your chance to show this - don't blag or waffle) - then cut immediately into a insightful detail which shows understanding and a degree of savvy. Then stop. A lot of interviewees start great then don't really stop. Show a little humour.

DibDob

Originally Posted by DibDob
I have recently discovered that on top of the covering letter (no more than 2 pages) and your resume/cv, in a lot of jobs you also have to answer each of the job specifications and personal specifications

I have to!! all my employment is in health this is the standard and is expected everytime you apply!

chelly77

Well I seem to have opened up a right can of worms with this

Has anyone who interviews or has been for interview in the past month or so any tips or advice on CVs, cover letters etc?

I've spent the last 16+ years in IT doing everything from building the machine, setting up networks, running training sessions to now doing telpehone and email support for a anti-virus company.

I'm currently a junior team leader (general dogs body is more like it) and want to move into full management.

Though it might help to post what I do in case that makes a difference

homewardbound

Think someone in IT should answer this as it is industry specific... I recently applied for 3 jobs - got nothing from 2 jobs and was offered the job i actually really wanted - this was with my improved revised 3 page CV only covering my last 5 years work history and cover letter covering the job spec. And I"ve only been unemployed for 3 weeks.

Previously it took me 7 months to be offered an interview and then offered the job from my UK fully inclusive 6 page CV with full work history, paragraphs on key skills, experience etc.

Bermudashorts

I don't get the question. Why would my CV be any different for an Australian employer than a UK one? Surely they will want to know the same things as anybody else regardless of nationality: i.e. education, qualifications, work experience.

paddyo

LMFAO!!!