What the hell is up with the market (or is it just me)

[SueEllen]

I do not write covering letters or tailor my cv. I seem to be doing okay though, hmmm ... perhaps the bells and whistles might add a few pounds to the day rate though so I might consider it when I am on the bench.

Once you have your various versions of your CV it takes only a few minutes to modify it for any advert worth applying for.

The only thing you need to remember is to ensure you keep the version you fired off to the agent.

Though there are ways of getting the CV you sent off back from the agent before you are interviewed.

[Peter Loew]

I am almost convinced that agents don't read cover letters anyway. Employers probably will, but agents get hundreds upon hundreds of applications every day. I'm sure they just run them through their auto filter and flick through CVs, calling up who they see as best fitting.

[SueEllen]

I am almost convinced that agents don't read cover letters anyway. Employers probably will, but agents get hundreds upon hundreds of applications every day. I'm sure they just run them through their auto filter and flick through CVs, calling up who they see as best fitting.

I've been told by various sources that agents rarely do regardless of sector.

Considering with IT or scientific roles most CVs are more than 2 pages if they read a one page covering letter for every applicant they would end up have to read through at least 4 pages per candidate......

If going direct then it's best to put in a maximum of five lines with the email that you attach your CV to.

[MarillionFan]

I modify my CV to fit every advert's requirements

WHS.

I have multiple CVS tailored which I can fire off or I modify one.

[Old Greg]

I only work in one sector (healthcare) and have a niche skillset around changing clinical practice. I have 3 basic CVs: for that niche

- IT PM
- IT Business Change / BA role
- Service redesign (non-I.T.) role

I then adapt one of these CVs for every single role. If I send a CV on spec to an agent I've dealt with before when my contract is coming to an end, I ususally send them 2, one for I.T. and one for non-I.T.

It works well, but the healthcare sector is hard work at the moment, although it seems to be picking up a little after 2 years in the doldrums.

[MarillionFan]

I am almost convinced that agents don't read cover letters anyway. Employers probably will, but agents get hundreds upon hundreds of applications every day. I'm sure they just run them through their auto filter and flick through CVs, calling up who they see as best fitting.

You don't put a cover letter, you do it in your CV.

My CV is primarily the same apart from the header, which I have a different profile and I list key achievements differently.

Eg.

I am an experienced Project Manager of 10 years working in Retail & Banking on X Y Z

Then list the projects you've managed.

Then

I am an experienced BI Consultant of 7 years working in Sales & Marking on A B C

That's all I do and that's how you tailor

[kaiser78]

You don't put a cover letter, you do it in your CV.

My CV is primarily the same apart from the header, which I have a different profile and I list key achievements differently.

Eg.

I am an experienced Project Manager of 10 years working in Retail & Banking on X Y Z

Then list the projects you've managed.

Then

I am an experienced BI Consultant of 7 years working in Sales & Marking on A B C

That's all I do and that's how you tailor

It doesn't take minute to update a covering letter - I always send one, if it is read then fine, if it is not read then fine. Cover all bases is the name of the contract hunting game. And it also reduces space on the CV.

[kaiser78]

No, he just took off anything that might have indicated he was from Wales.

Says the young man from up norf

[Peter Loew]

You don't put a cover letter, you do it in your CV.

My CV is primarily the same apart from the header, which I have a different profile and I list key achievements differently.

Eg.

I am an experienced Project Manager of 10 years working in Retail & Banking on X Y Z

Then list the projects you've managed.

Then

I am an experienced BI Consultant of 7 years working in Sales & Marking on A B C

That's all I do and that's how you tailor

I've worked in a few different industries (except banking unfortunately), so I can't really say that. I have differing base CVs, e.g.:

Agile Project Manager
IT Project Manager
Strategic Project Manager

... Which I send off depending on the role. I will customise them further if something very specific is called for. I have the same header with is a general blurb on what a good and strong PM I am.

[Peter Loew]

All this being said...

So, what the hell is up with the market?

PMs, do you find there's lots of roles out there? I do, but the majority of them specific to banking, oil and gas, health care and basically all the sectors I haven't worked in!

P