Online CVs

[HairyArsedBloke]

I'd be tempted to send a picture of someone considerably younger and better looking than myself if I was asked for this I'm afraid.

You could use my picture.

[expat]

A couple of years ago I had a German agency bird on the phone trying to wedge my age out of me. I kept her going on the required skills for 15 minutes before she realised what I'd done and I let on

Last month I was asked for a photo, which I am told is quite commonly put on ze CV in ze Fatherland.* On request maybe, but I ain't putting my ugly mug up on the web.

* is this a request anyone else has had for jobs in Europe?

Yes, it's very common. In France it's required. Some will bin it if it doesn't have one, some will ask for a photo before they can proceed. I dropped in to one agency with my CV, with no photo on it, and they whipped out a Polaroid from the top desk drawer and took one instantly! Photo shops in France do "special CV" offers, 40 or 80 ID photos at once: nobody would think of applying for a job without a good supply of photos.

DOB is often required from the start. Also nationality. In Germany it's common to put your address on the CV. Etc.

[Fred Bloggs]

You could use my picture.

I'll use your avatar, thanks

[EddieNambulous]

It also means I can spot the "You have an interview this afternoon" emails more easily.

So you actually deal with agents who think email is the most appropriate medium to inform you about such urgent matters?

[Sysman]

Yes, it's very common. In France it's required. Some will bin it if it doesn't have one, some will ask for a photo before they can proceed. I dropped in to one agency with my CV, with no photo on it, and they whipped out a Polaroid from the top desk drawer and took one instantly! Photo shops in France do "special CV" offers, 40 or 80 ID photos at once: nobody would think of applying for a job without a good supply of photos.

Thanks. I'd forgotten about the French obsession with photos. An English colleague there had his passport stolen and he ended up sticking a photo on his UK driving license so that he had something official looking with a photo on it.

It's just come back to me, the French street hawkers did a roaring trade in "Plastifier vos documents" - plugging that into Google brings up lots of hits, so it's still a popular thing to do.

I might just nip to France to get stocked up. That's a good tip.

DOB is often required from the start. Also nationality. In Germany it's common to put your address on the CV. Etc.

What I had to do a couple of years ago was produce a certified copy of my degree certificate (easy peasy), and also get a transcript from my university which was essentially a list of subjects taken and marks per year. I'd never heard of such a thing before but fortunately I found I could order one online.

[RichardCranium]

So you actually deal with agents who think email is the most appropriate medium to inform you about such urgent matters?

I once returned home from an interview to the email with the job description, who was to interview me, a map which had been sent about 2 hours after I set off.

All agents are tulipe. Live with it.

[Ardesco]

So you actually deal with agents who think email is the most appropriate medium to inform you about such urgent matters?

I have learnt over the years that if it isn't in writing it isn't going to happen. I never go to an interview now if I haven't had an e-mail confirmation. Worst case scenario I can wave the e-mail around at the client offices saying look I do have an interview here and make the agent look like a right bloody arse!

[EddieNambulous]

I have learnt over the years that if it isn't in writing it isn't going to happen. I never go to an interview now if I haven't had an e-mail confirmation. Worst case scenario I can wave the e-mail around at the client offices saying look I do have an interview here and make the agent look like a right bloody arse!

Guess I've been pretty lucky so far then. All notified interviews have materialized as promised.

Then again, if I get any indications early on of dodgy/incompetent behaviour from an agent, I'll find a reason not to go any further with him/her/it regardless of how much I want the gig. It's just not worth the risk, especially these days.

Hmmm...on reflection, that should probably read "unusually dodgy/incompetent behaviour" else there'd be no agents left to deal with