The Soap Box: CV Pet Hates

Posted in Candidates

You wouldn’t rock up to an important job interview wearing a bin bag so why do the shooting-yourself-in-the-foot-equivalent on your CV? Considering it’s such an industry standard, an essential marketing tool that is the first step in getting your foot in the door of a potential employer, we’re constantly amazed (or should that be aghast) at how many people get it wrong. Whilst we love reading CVs, we have our pet hates. Here are just a few…

1. photos especially those with a ‘come-hither’ look
2. omitting your current place of work
3. coloured fonts and backgrounds
4. 8 page CVs = cross eyes and headaches for the recipient
5. long, wordy paragraphs
6. CVs written in the 3rd person
7. pompous profiles
8. typos which should have been proofed

How to get a recruitment consultant to pick up the phone straight away aka ‘The Works’ CV wish list’

1. one or two pages
2. clear and concise
3. highlight key achievements
4. an interesting and relevant profile
5. include client names and what they do
6. chronological order with your most recent experience first ? you would think this is obvious, but you’d be surprised!
7. degree results ? organisations will assume a 2.2 or third unless otherwise specified
8. engaging (but not too whacky!) interests?this does not include “reading and socialising with friends”

Are there any recruitment or communications issues that you’d like us to focus on in coming editions? Any burning issues? Let us know at sarah@the-works.co.uk or tel. 020 7559 6690. Alternatively, click on our website at: www.the-works.co.uk