CV review services

[scubadude]

Hi

I am of the opinion my CV is in need of an overhaul as my applications seems to be disappearing into a black hole at the moment as I probably don't have the right keywords and emphasising/selling my knowledge and experience in the right way to get past 1st line of defence at recruitment agencies. So I'd like to know if many people have used any CV services and what their experiences have been with them. I used "The CV Center" about a year ago (who were at the time I used them recommended by this site) and I found them to be nothing more than a bunch of incompetent charlatans so I am very wary of ever using this sort of service again, especially as I am being quoted the best part of £800 by FullerCV and upto about £400 by others!

[cojak]

Improve your CV yourself and learn about Lean while you're at it.

Research what makes a good CV and the Keywords to put in it. Release it into the wild, see what works, change it a bit more, release V2 and see what works etc. CVs and covering letters: advertising your value

Pay particular attention to Performance CV - this is well-suited to contractors; ignore the Cons: agents and clients aren't worried about gaps if you've got the skills they need. Three to four pages is an average length.

Thinking about keywords - take a look at this: CV Power words

Doing this is FAR more valuable to you than paying £800 to some stranger for a short-term fix (which might not work and you'll end up with a CV you don't want to amend because it cost you too much in the first place...).

Oh, and sorry but NO CV service is recommended by the regulars on this forum (that I know of, anyway).

[TheFaQQer]

I'll do it for £390 + VAT. PM me for details.

[d000hg]

Advertise a role, review the CVs you get, and take inspiration from them.

[sal]

What Cojak said. If you have troubles writing a CV, how do you expect to run a business? A couple of pointers:

- use .doc not .pdf as file format as many agencies are adding headers etc. before sending it to the ClientCo as standard if they have to go through the trouble of converting it, it will go to the bin instead.

- Keep formatting to a minimum, there is a chance the entire document gets bungled because you wrote it on Office 2013 while the agent/client is using 2003/2007 for example.

- Put your name and contact details at the top for clarity and easy access

- Keep it 3 pages or less, this is not high school paper - less is more, forget the double spacing 12+ font

- Clearly list all your relevant skills and indicate which ones were used in each role

- Keep the role descriptions short and list the major achievements etc. No one wants 1 page day-by-day account for your activities at the last client.

- Keep your personal interests, hobbies etc to your permie CV

Hand it to a friend or a colleague who is a contractor for opinion. Using CV review services is disgusting.

[d000hg]

What Cojak said. If you have troubles writing a CV, how do you expect to run a business?

If you can't do simple accounts or understand contract law, how do you expect to run a business?
And yet...

Using CV review services is disgusting.

But you pay an accountant to do your accounts and a solicitor to review your contracts.

Besides, people who run businesses read CVs not write them

[sal]

If you can't do simple accounts or understand contract law, how do you expect to run a business?
And yet...
But you pay an accountant to do your accounts and a solicitor to review your contracts.

Comparing apples to oranges here...

Law is far more complicated than writing a CV
Personally i use accountant because i need references when applying for finance, mortgage etc. or trying to rent a place. I can do all of my books on my own. Contract review likewise i use for piece of mind and to save myself valuable time.

Besides, people who run businesses read CVs not write them

People who run business need to be able to sell their product/service. In our case the CV is doing just that, even permies can do it.

[sociopath]

Employees submit CVs. Contractors submit Profiles. There are plenty of employee profiles of established consultancies of various industries online that you could have a look at for ideas and inspiration. All just a click away on a google search for free.

[cojak]

Employees submit CVs. Contractors submit Profiles. There are plenty of employee profiles of established consultancies of various industries online that you could have a look at for ideas and inspiration. All just a click away on a google search for free.

I submit CV's.

Go figure.

[sociopath]

Ideally you should submit a company profile (rather than a CV) and attend a business meeting (rather than an interview). Presenting your CV in the traditional way simply makes you look like an employee in a number of ways. This is not a big deal though.